PS4 or XB1: Which system is better for non-gamers?

[Dari]

I don't have cable but I have access to TWC online services
Loyal SONY fanboy
Loyal ESPN watcher
Love HBO Go
Netflix whore

 

[Anteaus]

As a non-gamer, I suspect you will be using it primarily to consume multimedia. If that's the case, the XB1 has the edge. It has native NTFS support and can read all of your various media from any NTFS formatted external drive, including MKV. It also has full DLNA support if you need it.

For me, those two features alone are enough to pick it over the PS4, if you are specifically choosing as a "non-gamer". Many of the online features are similar.

If after reading this you decide to inquire about games, then please disregard my suggestion and refer to one of the many preexisting system wars threads littering the internet.

 

[mmntech]

That's easy. Xbox One hands down. It just offers an all around superior multimedia experience compared to the PS4, which is severely lacking in that department. Having cable will help, but I think it's going to have better app support in the long run. It also supports local media streaming and playback from external drives. Something the PS4 doesn't. Even the PS3 is better for media than the PS4.

IIRC (since I'm not an Xbox owner), they finally dropped the XBL Gold requirement to use online services, so all those apps are freely available.

 

[Dari]

Thanks. Have to report my findings to the wife. She wanted Playstation but she doesn't know any better.

 

[xantub]

Thanks. Have to report my findings to the wife. She wanted Playstation but she doesn't know any better.

you want Playstation if you want it to play games, but if you want a media center, an Xbox One (or a PS3 for that matter) is a better option.

 

[DistantShadow]

Yea go with the xbox 1. I think it is a all around better system.

 

[tdawg]

Why a console if you're not playing games? Why not a fire tv, roku, apple tv, or the like?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Roku, Fire or maybe a PS3.

I don't know about HBO Go, but my PS3 works great for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and of course blu-ray discs.

 

[Bateluer]

Why a console if you're not playing games? Why not a fire tv, roku, apple tv, or the like?

This was my thought as well. If not gaming, spend a fraction of the money on one of those instead. Even at idle, the gaming consoles will use more juice than the tiny ARM TV boxes.

 

[Dari]

Why a console if you're not playing games? Why not a fire tv, roku, apple tv, or the like?

This was my thought as well. If not gaming, spend a fraction of the money on one of those instead. Even at idle, the gaming consoles will use more juice than the tiny ARM TV boxes.

We already have a PS3, 360 and Wii. We play the Wii the most (Grand Slam tennis). But, mostly, the 360 is used for HBO Go and ESPN. I also play classics once every couple of months (Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun). Playstation is rarely played. So, games are played occasionally but they are not the major factor. What I really want is a media consumption device that is able to do IP TV well. From the responses here it looks like the XB1 does that. Same thing between the PS3 and 360. Of course, I could get one of those small media devices, but I feel a console will have a much better experience and support over it's lifetime than something you can buy for $100 or less. And with more entertainment companies betting on internet delivery of their products, a console would be a good place to set up shop.

 

[Kneedragger]

Roku 3 can get HBO Go, Watch ESPN and Netflix. Also has a Time Warner Channel. https://www.roku.com/channels#!details/23048/time-warner-cable

 

[purbeast0]

if i wasn't interested in gaming i wouldnt waste my money on either console.

i'd get one of those chromecast things that plugs into my tv for $35.

 

[sze5003]

If you don't care about dlna and playing your own media that you have stored on a PC or hard drive then get one of those media sticks like google Chromecast, amazon fire stick, roku, etc. But if you feel you would benefit from the dlna feature well you could keep the ps3 or go xbox one. If you aren't a gamer you can spend less for what you want to do.

 

[SAWYER]

Seems pretty dumb for a non gamer to buy either

 

[vi edit]

If you have a PS3, then I see zero need to add anything else. It's a great media streamer and movie player.

 

[mmntech]

if i wasn't interested in gaming i wouldnt waste my money on either console.

i'd get one of those chromecast things that plugs into my tv for $35.

Chromecast is pretty cool but you still need a tablet or smartphone to use it. Roku 3 and Apple TV are a bit more convenient even if they cost more.

I assume he wants the console to do some light gaming. If you're not doing that, it's pointless to spend $400 on just a media player. You can even build a basic HTPC for less than that.

 

[clok1966]

Chromecast is pretty cool but you still need a tablet or smartphone to use it. Roku 3 and Apple TV are a bit more convenient even if they cost more.

I assume he wants the console to do some light gaming. If you're not doing that, it's pointless to spend $400 on just a media player. You can even build a basic HTPC for less than that.

This, I own um all PS3, PS4, 360, Bone, My media center i built is used more then any. Intel g3240, mini ITX some ram, you have a great low power Media center and EMU machine. i spent more then $400 (not much), but i have 4TB raid 0 and a SSD in it .. XBMC and a visit to XBMCHUB and you can kiss cable goodbye. Some EMU's and while you cant play the latest's games, you will have almost anything made (video game wise) from 2005 (360 and ps3 release dates) back.

 

[drbrock]

I have an Amazon Fire Stick and a Google Chromecast. I would take the Xbox One everyday over them. I don't know why but it feels like a smoother experience.

Disclaimer though I do use mine for gaming. I would say 80% media 20% gaming. MKV support is huge!! Is it 10 times more valuable than a firestick? def not. But for the minimal amount of gaming I do, it makes it worth it.

 

[railven]

Non-gamer asking for which current-gen console to buy? WTH!?

My XBone still has terrible Netflix audio issues, the BD-player HAS improved but I still get video jutter, which really pisses me off considering X360 perfected this crap ages ago (well not BD-playback, but HD DVD playback).

PS4 is basically useless beside a gaming machine and it's library is basically all rentals at this point.

Do yourself a favor and buy a $50 Roku and save the remainder. And if you ARE going to buy one, XBone sale ends January 3rd, and PS4 probably won't change much.

 

[Blanky]

Xbox One. PS4 can't run jack shit in terms of files and I hope Sony is losing sales because of it. It does annoy me about my PS4 that it still can't play a damn MP4 file. It's ridiculous actually.

Other than blu-ray support, my amazon fire tv stick, which costs about 1/10th the price of the pS4 is much superior for playing media. Isn't that pathetic? And it's true.

 

[sze5003]

Xbox One. PS4 can't run jack shit in terms of files and I hope Sony is losing sales because of it. It does annoy me about my PS4 that it still can't play a damn MP4 file. It's ridiculous actually.

Other than blu-ray support, my amazon fire tv stick, which costs about 1/10th the price of the pS4 is much superior for playing media. Isn't that pathetic? And it's true.

Part of the reason I left the xbox one in the living room and moved the ps4 to my bedroom. I mainly game on the ps4 and if there is something to watch I use the Xbox one. But I also game on both systems either way at times. Supposedly the ps4 is suppose to get an update to let it do dlna but who knows when.

 

[DaveSimmons]

You already have a PS3? Why not try that first?

 

[HeXen]

My TV alone has dozens of video streaming services

 

[Dari]

You already have a PS3? Why not try that first?

No gaming on it and it lags the 360 when it comes to non-gaming features.

My TV alone has dozens of video streaming services

My tv does as well but who knows when they'll stop supporting it and move on to the latest and greatest tv...

From the opinions given here it looks like the XB1 is the best of all worlds.

 

[Arkaign]

A cheap HTPC build blows them both to bits for media. Small SSD for OS, big cheap HDD for storage, just a better option all the way if you don't care about 8th gen gaming.