Xbox 360 Valhalla

[Obsoleet]

Last I read it should be available late this year or early '10. Anyone been following the Valhalla rumors? I'm going to get a console for Hulu streaming (and others) to my home theater and trying to decide between a PS3 (slim) or 360. Even though I won't be gaming, I'm leaning towards the 360 because of XBLA, but in it's current hardware form the PS3 has more pro's.

 

[mugs]

If you're not going to use it for gaming, doesn't PS3's Blu-ray player appeal to you?

Other things to consider -
1. PS3 has no built-in IR receiver, but there are other options. I just use the Blu-ray remote, though I'd love to use my Harmony instead
2. PS3 has optical audio built-in, 360 requires an additional adapter that is no longer included with any model that is still in production.
3. IMO the PS3 has a better interface for browsing uPnP media servers, but the 360 has better navigation within the video you're watching.

 

[gorcorps]

OP, what's the point of XBLA if you don't plan on gaming?

 

[Dari]

This is like the "Jasper" thread all over again. Rumors and rumors of rumors about a reliable XBOX 360. Sad.

Also, not sure why the OP wants XBOX Live if he isn't going to play games with it. Sounds stupid to me considering that's its specialty.

 

[DaveSimmons]

PS3 also has built-in wifi and no $40/year charge for Live Gold if that appeals to you.

360 has Netflix streaming without using a PC, but you need Live Gold.

Valhalla will just allow another price drop (or bundled Natal) and lower the power consumption a bit more, it probably won't add any other features. The Jasper 360s are already reliable so that won't change.

 

[zerogear]

PS3 + PlayOn = win

 

[Obsoleet]

Not paying for Live Gold is a plus.

No I won't be gaming, but I might be. I can't say at this point. I'm a PC gamer primarily and probably always will be. The XBLA games do appeal to me though.
For me, L4D on PC is as fun as fun gets. I also have SF4 through Steam and would like to get a Tournament Edition joystick, from what I know both the PS3 and 360 versions work on the PC as well. I'd like to have this for said XBLA games.

My tv is a Samsung PN50B650 (50" plasma). Right now I'm using the TVs DLNA to stream my movies, and it works great but I'd like Playon to play Hulu and other sites. Playon/Tversity doesnt work on Samsung DLNA, but the video file streaming is great.

Bluray hasn't impressed me. It's ok, better than DVD but DVD looks pretty good on my set. I'm definitely past the age where I'm going to run out and buy blurays. Just not into that idea anymore. I like the idea of Netflix streaming a lot more. Also, I understand the 360 has a bigger marketplace to buy other streams.

Steaming without using a PC would be a minor novelty as Playon does that, I just need my PC on. But that will be the case most of the time to stream mp3s, Hulu and other video files. Basically it comes down to bluray, which I've failed to be sold on. I can save a little bit of cash on a Netflix subscription without the bluray portion to, from what I understand. I'd like to move to a streaming only household, with my dvds kinda being the goodbye to shiny discs.

The PS3 is pretty sexy right now, but I have a feeling considering all of my thoughts above, Windows 7 will continuously enable more interactivity between my PC and 360 if I go that route. I can afford to wait for the moment, if Valhalla is worth it because I have everything I really need. Playon works ok with my tv's dlna if you do a trick with the remote... silly but it works for now.

I dont even have a DVD player for now, I simply rip the DVDs that I do own and play them over the network from my PC.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I don't buy blu-rays and have watched stacks and stacks of them thanks to Netflix.

Since you have PlayOn you should be able to stream Netflix to the PS3 -and- watch rented blu-rays. With a 360 you only get the streaming.

 

[Obsoleet]

True, and I've thought of that. Plus not having to pay the XB Gold subscription.. not that I'm sweating $50 a year by any means... I dont know why they charge anything if it's going to be so cheap.

How much is the cheapest Bluray plan for Netflix vs DVD only? I can't find the pricing on their website.

edit- I found pricing here http://www.engadgethd.com/2009...scribers-by-around-20/

Also, according to what I've been reading, only non-PC devices can get the Netflix HD streams? This means Playon on PS3 gets SD and the 360's native Netflix support gets HD?

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
True, and I've thought of that. Plus not having to pay the XB Gold subscription.. not that I'm sweating $50 a year by any means... I dont know why they charge anything if it's going to be so cheap.

How much is the cheapest Bluray plan for Netflix vs DVD only? I can't find the pricing on their website.

edit- I found pricing here http://www.engadgethd.com/2009...scribers-by-around-20/

Also, according to what I've been reading, only non-PC devices can get the Netflix HD streams? This means Playon on PS3 gets SD and the 360's native Netflix support gets HD?

You can get the Roku box for $99 if you do go the PS3 route...

 

[I4AT]

Originally posted by: Dari
This is like the "Jasper" thread all over again. Rumors and rumors of rumors about a reliable XBOX 360. Sad.

Also, not sure why the OP wants XBOX Live if he isn't going to play games with it. Sounds stupid to me considering that's its specialty.

Are you trying to say the Jasper isn't reliable?

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: zerogear
PS3 + PS3 Media Server = win

Fixed.

And in my experience, if you play anything HD (apple trailers, whatever) the PS3 is the best way to go. The 360 is constantly choking on HD media when I try streaming, and the best I can do is standard def material. The PS3 is also setup for wired gigabit; wired is especially important for HD streams to the speed advantage over wireless.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: I4AT

Originally posted by: Dari
This is like the "Jasper" thread all over again. Rumors and rumors of rumors about a reliable XBOX 360. Sad.

Also, not sure why the OP wants XBOX Live if he isn't going to play games with it. Sounds stupid to me considering that's its specialty.

Are you trying to say the Jasper isn't reliable?

Don't even bother. When you argue with Dari, everyone loses.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
No I won't be gaming, but I might be.

They why are you considering buying a game console?

Yes, the XBOX 360 does have some "media capabilities", but the PS3 is a much more fully-fledged "entertainment system". The strength of the XBOX 360 is gaming, and buying one but not really wanting to game is

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
No I won't be gaming, but I might be.

They why are you considering buying a game console?

Yes, the XBOX 360 does have some "media capabilities", but the PS3 is a much more fully-fledged "entertainment system". The strength of the XBOX 360 is gaming, and buying one but not really wanting to game is

As much as I'd like to defend the 360 I think he's right. While there is Netflix and such overall I think for media you'd be happier with the PS3.

Although the failure rate of the 360 has dropped drastically with the Jasper. If you were at all into gaming I'd say go 360, but with what you're looking for I'd say go PS3.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Get a PS3, pay $29.99 for PlayOn to stream netflix (vs 49.99 a year vs XBL Gold), and Upgrade your Netflix account (which I assume you have anyways) for $2 a month to have access to Blu-Rays.

This is a no-brainer.

 

[mugs]

Only suckers pay $49.99 per year for Live. :laugh: The rest of us get it for ~$30/13 months. The first year you might have to pay $40/13 months, because you can't always find a $30 deal. But I'd hate to pay for Xbox Live knowing that I'm not even using its best features.

So I guess he has to choose between the PS3 which gives him access to Netflix Blu-Ray (which he has to pay for) or the Xbox 360 which gives him access to Netflix HD streaming (which he has to pay for). It sounds like the best option for him based on his posts is the PS3 without paying for Netflix Blu-Ray. He doesn't seem too interested in Blu-Ray, and the PS3 does a good job of upscaling DVDs. Personally, I only see the value of Blu-Ray in a small subset of movies, genres where the visuals are a huge part of the experience (i.e. war movies).

I'd get the PS3; even if you don't want Blu-Ray now, it is the future.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
No I won't be gaming, but I might be.

They why are you considering buying a game console?

Yes, the XBOX 360 does have some "media capabilities", but the PS3 is a much more fully-fledged "entertainment system". The strength of the XBOX 360 is gaming, and buying one but not really wanting to game is

The only thing that the PS3 has over the 360 in terms of "entertainment system" that I'm aware of is Blu-Ray (and the audio capabilities that come with Blu-Ray).

One plus that the 360 has over the PS3 is the ability to act as a Windows Media Center extender. Plus, Windows 7 is supposed to expand the number of video codecs available to the 360.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
No I won't be gaming, but I might be.

They why are you considering buying a game console?

Yes, the XBOX 360 does have some "media capabilities", but the PS3 is a much more fully-fledged "entertainment system". The strength of the XBOX 360 is gaming, and buying one but not really wanting to game is

The only thing that the PS3 has over the 360 in terms of "entertainment system" that I'm aware of is Blu-Ray (and the audio capabilities that come with Blu-Ray).

One plus that the 360 has over the PS3 is the ability to act as a Windows Media Center extender. Plus, Windows 7 is supposed to expand the number of video codecs available to the 360.

Blu-Ray > Windows Media Center gimmicks

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
No I won't be gaming, but I might be.

They why are you considering buying a game console?

Yes, the XBOX 360 does have some "media capabilities", but the PS3 is a much more fully-fledged "entertainment system". The strength of the XBOX 360 is gaming, and buying one but not really wanting to game is

The only thing that the PS3 has over the 360 in terms of "entertainment system" that I'm aware of is Blu-Ray (and the audio capabilities that come with Blu-Ray).

One plus that the 360 has over the PS3 is the ability to act as a Windows Media Center extender. Plus, Windows 7 is supposed to expand the number of video codecs available to the 360.

Blu-Ray > Windows Media Center gimmicks

It's worth pointing out what each one has and doesn't have. On the video streaming front, the two are virtually identical in their support of video codecs. Both require something like TVersity or PlayOn to stream certain video containers (the exception again being the upcoming release of Windows 7).

Blu-Ray is a strong plus on the PS3 side but not all pluses are strong for all people. The 360's WMC Extender capabilities make it a strong plus for people that have a media PC with Vista or Windows 7.

 

[Obsoleet]

Yeah, I think the verdict seems clear between the two choices.. PS3.

Since it's true I could care less about console gaming.. My interest in gaming is exclusively PC based. What I'm going to do first is try first is running a long HDMI cable from my PC to my tv. Then running clone on the two displays. Switching to that input on my plasma when I fire up Hulu ect.


What this would mean though, is I have no way for people in the house to do two things at once. If someone wants to watch Hulu HD on the tv, that means the PC must also have fullscreen output of the same thing. You could start the video, then go in and change the settings around from clone-view. This is a possiblity at least. Cloneview keeps it simple though for anyone involved.
If I'm not happy with this solution, I'll go ahead and get a PS3. I already own Playon (bought it to try with my Samsung PN50B650's DLNA implementation).

Not only do I have little interest in console gaming, but also little interest in bluray. Which is why I think I'm going to try this first after the Radeon 5870s are released shortly. They'll have multiple native HDMI ports and DVI for my PC/TV as well as ATI's hdmi audio.

Sitting at the PC is solved by using VNC on my laptop from the couch, something I already do to move files into my Samsung PC Share directories.

The reason I don't just use my current PC as a dedicated HTPC or build another one is that I don't want to maintain two highend PCs. That's basically why I was looking at a prepackaged solution in one of these consoles. I'd rather put all that money into 1 rig when new things come out than maintain 2 pcs (stuff like SSDs, the 5870 ect). I'll feel less guilt that way.

As far as my dvd collection, I'll rip them to my PC and play them through Samsung PC Share or directly over HDMI. Blurays can be done the same way, either in a $99 PC bluray drive or ripped and streamed.

The reason I came to this conclusion is because I think Playon and others will end up playing cat and mouse with media companies. Also I won't be dependent on media codec conversions to a set top box. Playon doesnt support HuluHD streams either. I welcome thoughts on my plan here. And thank you to all who are chiming in about the 360 vs PS3 debate. I think it's clear that for me, the PS3 makes more sense if I need that.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Upgrade your Netflix account (which I assume you have anyways) for $2 a month to have access to Blu-Rays.

I didn't realize this, but they changed the pricing for Blu-Ray back in April.

http://blog.netflix.com/2009/0...access-to-blu-ray.html

1 DVD out at-a-time (2 DVDs a month)
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $1

1 DVD out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $2

2 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $3

3 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $4

Cost goes up $1 for each additional disc out per month (e.g. $9 for the 8 DVD plan).

 

[mode101wpb]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
True, and I've thought of that. Plus not having to pay the XB Gold subscription.. not that I'm sweating $50 a year by any means... I dont know why they charge anything if it's going to be so cheap.

How much is the cheapest Bluray plan for Netflix vs DVD only? I can't find the pricing on their website.

edit- I found pricing here http://www.engadgethd.com/2009...scribers-by-around-20/

Also, according to what I've been reading, only non-PC devices can get the Netflix HD streams? This means Playon on PS3 gets SD and the 360's native Netflix support gets HD?

You can get the Roku box for $99 if you do go the PS3 route...

I have the Roku box and it was the best $99 I ever spent, has built in WIFI and HDMI to boot.

Eventhough I got a 360, I'm not paying for Gold to watch Netflix on it.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mode101wpb

I have the Roku box and it was the best $99 I ever spent, has built in WIFI and HDMI to boot.

Eventhough I got a 360, I'm not paying for Gold to watch Netflix on it.

There were rumors a while back that they were going to add uPnP/DLNA support to the Netflix box... it'd be a killer device if they did. The only thing holding me back from buying one (or three) is that I don't watch enough Netflix streaming content.

 

[mode101wpb]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mode101wpb

I have the Roku box and it was the best $99 I ever spent, has built in WIFI and HDMI to boot.

Eventhough I got a 360, I'm not paying for Gold to watch Netflix on it.

There were rumors a while back that they were going to add uPnP/DLNA support to the Netflix box... it'd be a killer device if they did. The only thing holding me back from buying one (or three) is that I don't watch enough Netflix streaming content.

Not sure but they are and have added new things since I got mine and promise a lot more. Amazon on Demand is nice but it's not free. They update the software frequently as well, might be coming?