Muadib
Lifer
- May 30, 2000
- 18,124
- 912
- 126
SlickSnake
Diamond Member
- May 29, 2007
- 5,235
- 2
- 0
Good link. I read that review before buying my HD-A2 for upscaling for $99 + 5 HDdvds + HDMI cable in the box!
And thanks to others for pointing out what a horrible BR and SD DVD player the PS3 is. You obviously can't have games and BR in the same unit for $400 and expect to get a high quality BR player that will compete with a quality stand alone BR playback unit.
Not to mention there is a lot more to break and burn out on a PS3, and it is an eyesore in a quality HT system, unless you hide it behind a cabinet door. Of course the rabid PS3 gamers will raise it up on a gold plated pedestal to cheesy consumerism partly blocking the front of the TV, but hey, whatever floats their leaky life boats.
Teen killed for stealing PS3
Man Killed over PS3
More PS3 related violence
Do you think all this pointless violence was caused by these people wanting BR playback? I kinda doubt it.
SlickSnake
Diamond Member
- May 29, 2007
- 5,235
- 2
- 0
lopri
Elite Member
- Jul 27, 2002
- 13,314
- 690
- 126
This format war has had a lot of folks get worked up, for sure. I mean, even our boss (hint: *Anand*Tech) had to show off his grudge in his blog after Warner's announcement. Time and time again proves that cyber space is just as real as the real world.
Originally posted by: Shawn
^^^
He knows one person who owns a PS3 and doesn't care about Blu-ray, thus everyone who owns a PS3 doesn't care about Blu-ray either. All the reports of Blu-ray disc sales are from analysts who have been paid off by Sony to deceive the public. HD DVD really has the higher number of movie sales.
I think that's about how it goes.
Wuzup101
Platinum Member
- Feb 20, 2002
- 2,334
- 37
- 91
In general, the PS3 is widely regarded as one of the better BR players currently on the market, as well as one of the better up converting players for standard DVDs. It does come with some definite tradeoffs.
Cons:
- No native IR support for universal remotes (there are 3rd party adapters that can be added)
- No included remote (though you can do everything with the included Sixaxis controller anyway)
- Non standard size and shape (can cause problems depending on how you want to fit it in with your AV rack)
- No current support for advanced audio (eg: DTS-MA)
- No analog audio output (well besides stereo)
- Older units can be quite noisy (60/20gb launch units tended to be the loudest, with 80gb units being substancially quieter, and 40gb units being nearly silent even at full load due to the 65nm cell replacement)
- Heat is also an issue if you plan to put the PS3 in a place with little air flow, again, this has been greatly improved upon with the new 65nm cell in the 40gb units
- Generally no discounts (though there is a $100 discount if you open a sony credit card account and buy the PS3 from sony)
Pros:
- One of the better BR players as far as playback quality (both PQ and AQ) is concerned
- Profile 1.1 compliant, with profile 2.0 compliance already planned via firmware upgrade (officially announced by Sony)
- $400 price point actually puts it on the lower end of the spectrum as far as BR players go (price wise)
- Built in internet browser with KB/M support (actually useful if you want to check a blog or whatnot)
- Bluetooth support
- Wireless net adapter built in (and possibly the easiest firmware upgrades available)
- Generally regarded as one of the better DVD upscaling players on the market (note: many negative reviews written about the PS3's DVD playback ability were written well before sony added upscaling via a firmware upgrade)
- 1080p24 support
- Um... it plays PS3 games... so if you do decide to get addicted to Warhawk or CoD4 you can play them (online for free)
- DLNA compatibility / streaming from PC & network boxes, etc...
- Internal HDD for media storage (HDD is also easily user upgradable and this user upgrade is supported by sony)
- One of the fastest physical HD players on the market as far as boot time and response time is concerned
In any case, I'm not trying to get anyone to buy a PS3, but to say it's a bad choice (if you are in the market) is stupid. The truth is, it is missing some key features. However, it does a damn good job using the features that it does have. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess - as I don't find my PS3 to be the least bit ugly. It's certainly no less attractive than my HD-A2 in my eyes. Just because it's not a box doesn't mean it's bad looking (and it's the same damn color for goodness sakes).
As far as the HD-A2 goes, I bought both of mine for $99 also. The biggest selling factor was the ability to watch red only releases and (of course) the price. It's a very good up-converting DVD player (but no better than the PS3). For $99, it's much more accessible than pretty much any current BR player on the market. However, the price is what sold me, not the feature list. I have nothing bad to say about the units, and if I had to do it all over again I still would have bought them.
As far as more things inside to break, yeah that would be correct. There is more gear inside a PS3 than in pretty much any other S/A HD player. There was also more development dollars and time spent on the PS3 than pretty much every HD player on the market combined. It alone has a bigger user base than every single other HD S/A player combined. The reported failure rates are statistically very low (unlike the 360 that I also own). The point is, it will be Sony's game console/media device/BR player for the next 4 years, and since they do want to sell them (and make a profit), they will probably be supported.
lopri
Elite Member
- Jul 27, 2002
- 13,314
- 690
- 126
That is a damn nice summrary for PS3, Wuzup101. Thank you.
If I were a console gamer, I probably had purchased XBOX360 long time ago and HD-DVD add-on as well. I am a PC gamer (just can't get used to the controllers of any kind) so XBox or Playstation wasn't thing of mine. That changed once I learned about PS3's internals and what it's capable of, not to mention Blu-Ray playback. At the time of my purchase, there wasn't a $99 deal for HD-DVD, and even so, the PS3's attractiveness as a complete system with nearly endless upgrade capability was just too good to pass. Even last year holiday season, unless you're Internet savvy and willing to stand on line outside a store for hours (which I refuse to do), $99 HD-DVD player wasn't a 'norm'. For people who shop at normal hours, the HD-DVD's price advantage wasn't huge. (~$100 at most, if at all) It's only this year I saw $299 HD-DVD player at Best Buys.
Before that, it was $399 HD-DVD player, $399 Blu-Ray player, and $399 PS3. The choice couldn't be clearer for me.
If I were a console gamer, I probably had purchased XBOX360 long time ago and HD-DVD add-on as well. I am a PC gamer (just can't get used to the controllers of any kind) so XBox or Playstation wasn't thing of mine. That changed once I learned about PS3's internals and what it's capable of, not to mention Blu-Ray playback. At the time of my purchase, there wasn't a $99 deal for HD-DVD, and even so, the PS3's attractiveness as a complete system with nearly endless upgrade capability was just too good to pass. Even last year holiday season, unless you're Internet savvy and willing to stand on line outside a store for hours (which I refuse to do), $99 HD-DVD player wasn't a 'norm'. For people who shop at normal hours, the HD-DVD's price advantage wasn't huge. (~$100 at most, if at all) It's only this year I saw $299 HD-DVD player at Best Buys.
Before that, it was $399 HD-DVD player, $399 Blu-Ray player, and $399 PS3. The choice couldn't be clearer for me.
Wuzup101
Platinum Member
- Feb 20, 2002
- 2,334
- 37
- 91
Thanks! It wasn't meant by any means to be an exhaustive list of pros/cons, simply a way to put things in perspective. I've always liked computer gaming; however, I've become pretty good at using a controller and really get an equal amount of "fun" out of both of them. I did buy my 360 about 15 months ago, and only recently got the ps3. I only really plan on buying exclusive titles on the PS3 (I currently don't own any games for it). There are some great exclusives coming out this year, so I decided to bite while I had some post holiday cash (still a poor college student). The consoles make sense for my current poor-ness, as they are pretty much guaranteed to play all games made for them until they are replaced. The computer "upgrade bug" simply owns me... and it got far too expensive to run modern games at 1920x1200 (on my 24") or 1080p (on my 40") with reasonably high settings... (as top tier graphics cards are just as expensive as the consoles themselves).
I just wanted to kinda write something from someone who wasn't really a fanboy for either side. To be honest, I could care less who wins. I know my parents love the HD-A2 that I bought them, and for the price, even if HD-DVD dies tomorrow, it will still prove to be a great investment in the form of an up-converting player. IF BR dies tomorrow, I will still get plenty of use out of my PS3. I'm simply waiting for one of them to die, so I can buy a bunch of discounted titles!
And yeah, the big HD-DVD player price drop was only like 3 months ago (beginning of nov IIRC). I want to say that the HD-A2 was selling for $300 at Wal-mart the day before I bought them (during that morning door buster sale which was super easy for me to take advantage of because I'm lazy and scheduled late classes). Around PS3 launch time, the PS3 was very competitive against everything in the market price wise. It still is when compared to other BR players (and 1080p HD-DVD players). If you can take advantage of some of the "extra" features, it's a strong candidate.
destrekor
Lifer
- Nov 18, 2005
- 28,799
- 359
- 126
Originally posted by: cubby1223
Originally posted by: Shawn
^^^
He knows one person who owns a PS3 and doesn't care about Blu-ray, thus everyone who owns a PS3 doesn't care about Blu-ray either. All the reports of Blu-ray disc sales are from analysts who have been paid off by Sony to deceive the public. HD DVD really has the higher number of movie sales.
I think that's about how it goes.
it's clear he's the most rabid anti-ps3 person I have ran into. It's disturbing how much he let's his hatred of all things Sony and PS3 get into the way of actual information. Sorry, the PS3 really is a great BD player. Screenshots of upscaling has proven this.
destrekor
Lifer
- Nov 18, 2005
- 28,799
- 359
- 126
The audio support is the ONLY thing I can complain about. I am missing my DTS-HD MA, but rumors are Sony and DTS are working on that. I'm starting to wonder if those rumors are false though, because that was mentioned in the Fall, with goals of releasing in the holiday season. hmm hopefully they get on that soon
Wuzup101
Platinum Member
- Feb 20, 2002
- 2,334
- 37
- 91
Yeah, and that would be the problem. I'm not sure how much processing power is required to decode DTS-HD MA. The cell itself is pretty powerful at certain things, it would be nice if they could write software to utilize it's strengths and get some of these problems ironed out. That being said, I don't have a receiver that would even allow me to benefit from it currently, so it's not an issue for me.
- Aug 23, 2003
- 25,375
- 142
- 116
Toshiba's marketing geniuses strike again.
Remember the hype about the Superbowl ad?
In theory, it was supposed to be a nationally run, brilliantly produced ad highlighting the low-price and great exclusive content of HD DVD.
In reality, it was run in select markets, an old commercial with a few new edits, and it was showcased in stunning standard definition regardless of whether you were watching an HD broadcast or not.
I would have thought an ad specifically targeting existing HDTV owners would have aired in HD.
Colleges should teach marketing classes around Toshiba's ability to run their format into the ground.
Remember the hype about the Superbowl ad?
In theory, it was supposed to be a nationally run, brilliantly produced ad highlighting the low-price and great exclusive content of HD DVD.
In reality, it was run in select markets, an old commercial with a few new edits, and it was showcased in stunning standard definition regardless of whether you were watching an HD broadcast or not.
I would have thought an ad specifically targeting existing HDTV owners would have aired in HD.
Colleges should teach marketing classes around Toshiba's ability to run their format into the ground.
If they were only running the ad in selected markets, then that means they purchased the air time from the local affiliates, and most locals don't have the ability to broadcast anything, including commercials, in HD yet. They can pass the network HD feeds on obviously, but anything produced in house (local news, local commercials, etc..) is still in SD.
- Aug 23, 2003
- 25,375
- 142
- 116
If you're waiting for quality HD downloads, looks like you'll be waiting for a while.
According to their tests, the quality is barely above SD quality, and a far cry from HD DVD or Blu-Ray quality.
According to their tests, the quality is barely above SD quality, and a far cry from HD DVD or Blu-Ray quality.
No, the PS3 cannot bitstream. As for the HDMI revisions, most of the features that we would care about are optional to the spec, so just because something is HDMI 1.3, does not mean it supports bitstreaming or deep color. Always get more in-depth descriptions of a product's features.
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