XBOX 360 & PS3 questions

I'd like to know if anyone has got mkv files to play on the PS3. I haven't been able to, but I haven't spent that much time trying.

I don't think it's that loud, but it does make some noise. Nowhere near as loud as the PS2.

My wife uses it to watch TV shows I've stored on our network and can navigate the XMB just fine.

 

I own both system. PS3 crushes the 360 as far as multimedia capabilities and ease of use. Not a hard decision if your main criteria isn't gaming.

 

I have an older 60GB PS3, and I very, very rarely hear its fan over the sound of my TV. The new PS3s have smaller, more energy efficient processor chips, so I wouldn't be surprised if they are comparatively more quiet.

I think the downside would be that it is advised to have a lot of air flow around the unit. I wouldn't suggest keeping it in an enclosed entertainment unit.

 

XBOX is fine for media, and there are some positives like you mentioned. (I use Netflix on the system and have a Macbook with Connect 360 on it to stream stuff to the XBOX - music, pictures, etc) Live also has a good chunk of options on it's own for getting/renting movies.

But if you are looking primarily at an entertainment center/media setup, then Blu Ray is the easy choice, hence why you see most people leading you in that direction. I don't believe PSN has as many movie options as Live just yet, and no Netflix. Still, though, I believe it is among the best Blu Ray players out there.

Of course, as someone mentioned, a PC as your media center with a Blu Ray drive in it isn't a bad option, either.

 

As somebody already mentioned, you ought to consider an HTPC. The biggest knock on both the 360 and the PS3 as media players is that they consume a LOT of power in comparison to a properly spec'd HTPC. Actually, if I just can't drop the gaming but had the money, I'd get an HTPC along with the video game console since the former will still pay for itself in energy savings in a year.

 

Its pretty much done deal to go with the PS3. It is really easy to use and the new games coming out are great and look to be that way for a while. The only downside is the price, but really its not that big of a gap given what comes in straight out of the box.

As for the Natal thing, it looks like an interesting step, but we'll see how well it actually works. Don't forget that the EyeToy sensed body movement as well. What Sony is working on could combine the best of both (Nintendo's Wii-Mote and XBox's Natal). If they pull it off it could be awesome, but like RC said I'll believe these gimmicks will be great when I see it.

 

I have both the PS3 and the HTPC. If I had to choose one I'd probably do HTPC. higher resolution games as well as better FPS gaming. Easier media file management and windows media center is a pretty slick interface. Well at least on windows 7 RC it is. At the time I didn't want to go HTPC route because I wanted blu-ray and the blu-ray drives at the time were astronomical.

HTPC is going to cost more but it's much more versatile. Of course none of the exclusive games from either console though, but more of the single player games are easier to get through bittorrent for PC.

But if it comes down between xbox 360 and PS3 I'd choose PS3 because it's more than just gaming. The blu-ray is awesome if you have the hardware for it. STreaming is easy from the PC using Tversity to, though that also puts another check in the HTPC department because with the PS3 you have to have both the PC on and the PS3 for streaming unless you upgrade the hard drive in the PS3 to hold all your media. I have over 1TB of media files so that's not an option for me with the PS3 since the largest 2.5 SATA drive is what? 500GB at the moment.

 

My PS3 plays everything I throw at it. Its easiest if you have

1. ethernet cables connecting everything (wireless just wasnt worth the trouble. look for ethernet connections on the back of your cable boxes, that is what I use)
2. fast computer. I have an i7 and I can stream 1080p without a problem
3. A good network? I'm not sure what the minimum would be or how much it influences the whole situation. I get 18 down 1.5 up .

 

heres something I wrote up in another thread:
I struggled forever trying to get my media server stuff to work but recently I got it working perfectly. I can even stream 1080 over our network to the big screen! The solution was so stupid simple that I regret not figuring out sooner.

First of all, you need to use this program (was a link to ps3mediaserver. just google). You start it, tell it what folders to scan and you are done.

Second, determine the best way for your data to get there. I used to get all kinds of crazy errors with the wireless, spend hours changing ports blah blah blah. And then it hit me.... there are ethernet ports on the back of most cable boxes. I have U-verse and there is one on each receiver. My computer is right next to my box in my bed room and obviously my ps3 is right next to my box in the living room.

I plugged in an ethernet cord from my computer to my cable box. Then I plugged in an ethernet cord from my ps3 to my other cable box. I started ps3 media server program......... and it all worked! No messing around - it just worked!

Everything is transcoded automatically by the program linked above so I have never had trouble playing ANYTHING I get off the net. Theres even a way to play without subtitles! (unless they are hard coded duh) Your network needs to have enough bandwidth and your computer has to have enough computing power to do 720p 1080i stuff, but it will surely play normal stuff if your equipment cant handle the HD.

Hope this helps

 

PS3 doesn't play mkv files, they have to be converted into .vob format. The program used to do this can be found at this site http://www.videohelp.com/tools/mkv2vob . Doesn't take that long since there isn't any compression or transcoding involved.

 

Blu-Ray settles it.

Which means, all Microsoft has to do is bite the bullet and come out with a Blu-Ray peripheral, or, if Sony refuses, Microsoft could simply license someone like Samsung to manufacture a compatible Blu-Ray device that would hook into the 360, the same way the HD-DVD one does now.

I happen to have both machines, and they are both good, but if Home Theater is honestly your #1 priority, then yeah, go with the PS3.

However, if you like gaming, seriously, then you are going to end up with both anyway.

 

That's true... but all I'm saying is... this Natal thing will out-do that motion thing... that motion thing is really the eye-toy and the Wii controller, that's it.

 

Is there anyone else besides me that thinks having to move around your entire body while playing a video game would be extremely annoying?

 

Everyone knows... PS3 isn't capable of catching XBOX anymore in terms of online play and offline game play anymore... it's pretty much too late... PS3 excels in media... while XBOX excels in gaming.... that's pretty much the vibe. I know... I own both consoles... there's a reason why I only have had 2 games since I bought the PS3 (that's when it first came out, I have the orig. 60 gb version).

 

XBOX360 is about quantity.
PS3 is about quality.

 

1. yes, I use my harmony for my 360
3. i sit like 10-11 feet away. i don't notice it. but i have a home theater system and tend to crank up the sound.
4. i can stream from my other windows pc, works fine.

 

thats a real accurate

its subjective of course


I have both system and I mainly play games on my 360 and use the ps3 for multimedia and blu-rays. If you are looking to build a home theater system then I would recommend going with the ps3 just because it has the blu-ray player (a must for any HDTV setup) and it still can play the majority of the popular games out there if you wish to game a lot too.



One thing that annoys the bejezuz out of me is that the ps3 uses blutooth technology for its wireless controllers and remotes. That means you wont be able to use your harmony remote for the ps3. I have a harmony 880 and I can use it fine for the xbox (when viewing hd-dvds) but I have to get my ps3 remote out when viewing blu-rays. You can always use the controller to pause, ff etc on blu-rays but for me personally I like having the feel and ease of a remote.

 

I bought that nyko remote for the PS3 and you can use the usb adapter with your harmony to control your PS3. Although you cannot turn on the PS3 with it though. Most of the times i have to get up to put the movie in anyway and you can turn off the PS3 through the menu. I have a controller close by like under the coffee table so when I do want to turn it on from the couch i just press the PS button real quick. You can find the remote for 15 bucks sometimes cheaper depending on sales.

 

The fanboy arguments over which console has "better" games always puzzle me because the types of games people like is purely subjective. If you are buying a console for gaming, you should buy with the "end" in mind, i.e. buy for what types of games you like to play. Seems like the most logical way to do this is by finding which console has the exclusive titles you most want to play, and then go from there.