PS3 for non-gaming use?

[KillerCharlie]

I need to get a bluray player. Since I have a 3D plasma it might be nice to get a 3D player too. I was thinking of upgrading an older computer to use for multimedia, but the cost of a new video card and drive and everything is just too much. I'm thinking about a PS3 (I already have an xbox for gaming).

I can get a 320gb PS3 for $225 at Target ($300 - $75 gift card they give you). I can sell the games and peripherals it comes with for a bit and it would cost around maybe $150 after that.

Is it worth it as a 3D bluray player? Is the net browser any good? Are the netflix/hulu apps any good? Can you watch the regular free hulu stuff with the PS3 (you can't with my built-in TV wifi)? 3D bluray players are like $100 and non 3D players are around $60. I'm just trying to see if there's other things I can do with the PS3 that'll make it worth it.

I'm actually leaning away from getting one for this purpose, since it won't work with universal remotes and supposedly has an awkward interface.

 

[alent1234]

nice blu ray player but the online capabilities are starting to annoy me. only netflix and Hulu. i would wait until CES next year and see if any nice players are announced that have netflix, hulu and amazon.

if the next x-box gets blu ray and can play 360 games i'm dumping my 360 and PS3 for it

 

[purbeast0]

the browser on ps3 is TTEERRRRIIBBLLEE ... it's so fucking bad I can't tell you enough how terrible it is.

and just fyi it's not really $225 for the PS3 sinec you can't use that target GC on the purchase.

but if you aren't going to be playing any games, i don't understand why you would even think about getting a $300 "bluray" player when you can get them for like $80 now a days.

 

[alent1234]

got mine when 3d internet enabled players were the same price once you include the optional wifi adapter. nice thing about the PS3 are the updates and you can play a file direct from USB stick

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I like the PS3 as a Blu-ray player and general media station (Netflix, primarily, but also YouTube on occasion). That said, if you're not playing games, I wouldn't recommend it. You can get the same functionality as far as media goes for something that's one third the price. I'd only recommend the PS3 if you were considering the possibility of wanting to use it as a gaming console, even if only occasionally.

 

[MikeyLSU]

I use mine to play movies and TV files streaming from my computer all the time. I use PS3 Media Server and it allows it to play just about any video file.

To the point, I rarely play games on mine anymore, but watch tons of HD TV and movies I have on my computer.

 

[micrometers]

you can get a blu ray player for a hundred bucks today. ps3 is 250 min.

When the ps3 first came out, standalone blu ray players cost MORE than a ps3.

Is $150 worth it for gaming and other features? Actually, I'd argue yes.

 

[Bonesdad]

3D plasma a Panasonic? I have a ps3 with Panasonic plasma...rarely game on it, mostly streaming with Netflix and Hulu, use the Amazon link through the Panasonic. Blu-Ray or DVD otherwise. All is good.

I need to get a bluray player. Since I have a 3D plasma it might be nice to get a 3D player too. I was thinking of upgrading an older computer to use for multimedia, but the cost of a new video card and drive and everything is just too much. I'm thinking about a PS3 (I already have an xbox for gaming).

I can get a 320gb PS3 for $225 at Target ($300 - $75 gift card they give you). I can sell the games and peripherals it comes with for a bit and it would cost around maybe $150 after that.

Is it worth it as a 3D bluray player? Is the net browser any good? Are the netflix/hulu apps any good? Can you watch the regular free hulu stuff with the PS3 (you can't with my built-in TV wifi)? 3D bluray players are like $100 and non 3D players are around $60. I'm just trying to see if there's other things I can do with the PS3 that'll make it worth it.

I'm actually leaning away from getting one for this purpose, since it won't work with universal remotes and supposedly has an awkward interface.

 

[RavenSEAL]

the browser on ps3 is TTEERRRRIIBBLLEE ... it's so fucking bad I can't tell you enough how terrible it is.

and just fyi it's not really $225 for the PS3 sinec you can't use that target GC on the purchase.

but if you aren't going to be playing any games, i don't understand why you would even think about getting a $300 "bluray" player when you can get them for like $80 now a days.

^This :thumbsup:

 

[jacktesterson]

I just bought my father a Samsung Blu Ray player that also plays Youtube and Netflix, as well as Divx/MKV's etc for $70 on sale.

Youtube is terrible, but Netflix works great on it. As good as consoles.

 

[mmntech]

the browser on ps3 is TTEERRRRIIBBLLEE ... it's so fucking bad I can't tell you enough how terrible it is.

NetFront has always been terrible. It wouldn't be so bad if Sony actually updated it. Newer versions use WebKit, which powers Chrome and Safari. IIRC, the last update for the PS3's browser was way back in 2009. It runs Flash 9 and doesn't support HTML5.