| I own and game on an Xbox 360. This is also | | | | those files at all. It sees them but won't play |
| used as our media hub. I was an early adopter | | | | them. This is a technical issue that you wouldn't |
| and was convinced that HD-DVD would be the | | | | really find by reading the PS3 Console box and |
| wave of the 1080p hi-def own-your-own-media | | | | probably isn't much of an issue except for geeks. |
| future. Umm, no. And MSoft is avoiding BluRay like | | | | Geeks like say, me. |
| the plague going so far as to call it a "big bag of | | | | As a Bluray player it works fine and is very quiet |
| hurt". Ouch. What to do? | | | | in its operation. The Xbox sounds like a dump |
| So I got a PS3 Console slim 250GB player for | | | | truck driving through a nitroglycerin factory in |
| Christmas for the primary purpose of playing | | | | comparison. The image is very clear as you would |
| BluRay movies. | | | | anticipate and the sound is top notch. It's a little bit |
| It is a very easy installation. | | | | of a mystery at first how to operate the usual |
| Be advised it does NOT come with an HDMI cable | | | | play / stop / start modes with the little game |
| so if you order one online, be sure to also | | | | controller but after dubbing around for a few |
| purchase an HDMI cable or 2 instead of getting it | | | | minutes you can figure it out. The game controller |
| at the local stores that charge 3 to 10 times as | | | | is a rechargeable unit so after the first hour or so |
| much. The PS3 Console does not supply even | | | | you can unplug it from the mini USB charger that |
| component cables which is a surprise in a way, | | | | goes on the front of the PS3 Console. |
| but since not everyone has a modern TV I | | | | Haven't tried Netflix on this yet. On the Xbox it's |
| suppose you can see where Sony is covering the | | | | seamless and easy; my understanding is on the |
| primary bases. | | | | PS you need a disc to insert and then you can |
| I have mine running an optical connection out to | | | | play your 'watch it now' Netflix on the PS. This is |
| the receiver; HDMI direct to the TV (Panasonic | | | | pretty cool on the Xbox as you can occasionally |
| plasma). The only reason for this was because I | | | | get hi-def content free w/ your Netflix |
| only had one HDMI cable at the time so this is | | | | subscription and download. A selling point for the |
| jury-rigged but it works fine. | | | | PS? For some folks, sure. Will increase the Wife |
| It outputs at 1080p as advertised and is easy to | | | | Approval Factor which can be critical. |
| set up. You'll want your receiver manuals and TV | | | | As a media server, the Xbox seems to be better |
| manuals handy but it only takes about 15 minutes | | | | though it's way harder to set up the Xbox. |
| or so to rig it up. My TV and receiver are pretty | | | | Perhaps because I had the Xbox set up already |
| modern; both are only a year old so they can | | | | the PS could 'find' media files much quicker. As |
| take full advantage of all of the PS3 digital | | | | noted though, it doesn't 'like' lossless format |
| gee-gaws. Again, check your TV / receiver first | | | | whereas the Xbox plays lossless .wma. This is a |
| to ensure they can match up to the PS3 | | | | big deal if you have saved your CD's to an |
| Console's digital hotness. If not you may be | | | | external drive or something. If you haven't done |
| chagrined to not get 1080p on your old TV etc. | | | | that yet and buy a PS3 Console then just be |
| The PS will find your wireless network (if you | | | | aware of the limitations in advance. For most |
| have one) and connect to it automatically (unless | | | | people this is a non-issue. |
| you need to put in usernames and passwords | | | | As a standalone Bluray player it probably doesn't |
| etc.; then it's pretty simple to enter in your | | | | make sense in terms of its high price. However, if |
| information and go). You can also plug it into a | | | | you don't already have an Xbox but you do have |
| typical CAT5 jack (those blue computer wires are | | | | some of your digital media (e.g. pictures / videos |
| CAT5) if you have one handy. The internet | | | | .mp3s) saved on your local network and you |
| connection is the way they keep the firmware of | | | | don't want a lot of gear to play your .mp3 / iPod |
| the Bluray player up to date. This was an issue w | | | | files on your stereo then this is a good choice. If |
| early Bluray players. | | | | all of your stuff is in Microsoft formats, the Xbox |
| I was hopeful that it would play lossless .wma files | | | | is a better media server / erstwhile game unit. |
| like the Xbox does but it definitely doesn't like | | | | |