Sony Blu-ray for 399$

[kexodusc]

Just curious - what is the value of the added storage on the PS3 (or 360 for that matter)?
If you can stream from computer to console, do you really need the drive space for anything?

[GMichael]

Just curious - what is the value of the added storage on the PS3 (or 360 for that matter)?
If you can stream from computer to console, do you really need the drive space for anything?

From what I've read you can store pictures, movies, games (for faster loading, guess those 10 seconds are killer for some).
Other than that, it just seems to be a way to tell one version from the other.
60GB - full BC
80GB - semi BC
40GB - no BC

You can change drives in any of them to bigger fast drives. Or add external drives via USB ports.

[L.J.]

Just curious - what is the value of the added storage on the PS3 (or 360 for that matter)?
If you can stream from computer to console, do you really need the drive space for anything?

Although I can stream to my PS3, I still store photos & some video directly on the games HD. There's also a bunch of games, demos, videos and stuff you can download onto the HD as well. Last time I checked I only had 24g left out of 60. I bunch of it are game demos though and I leave it on there for my kid to play.

I could see where it would come in handy for someone who doesn't own an external HD and wanted to store such things on there games HD.

[kexodusc]

Although I can stream to my PS3, I still store photos & some video directly on the games HD. There's also a bunch of games, demos, videos and stuff you can download onto the HD as well. Last time I checked I only had 24g left out of 60. I bunch of it are game demos though and I leave it on there for my kid to play.

I could see where it would come in handy for someone who doesn't own an external HD and wanted to store such things on there games HD.

Next question - do external hard drives (computer type) work with either of these things? And is the ability to stream strictly one way? Or can the PS3/360 send stuff the other way too?

Think I'm gonna finally open and test out the 360 this weekend - not officially my birthday for another 6 weeks but it's killing me...not sure about he HD-DVD player though - I'm under the impression I won't be able to get any of the new audio formats out of it?

[L.J.]

Next question - do external hard drives (computer type) work with either of these things? And is the ability to stream strictly one way? Or can the PS3/360 send stuff the other way too?

Think I'm gonna finally open and test out the 360 this weekend - not officially my birthday for another 6 weeks but it's killing me...not sure about he HD-DVD player though - I'm under the impression I won't be able to get any of the new audio formats out of it?

Not sure about the 360, but with the PS3, you can quickly add storage by plugging an external HD into one of the USB ports or popping in a new internal drive (I believe this voids the warranty, so one would want to hold onto that old drive - also I think the internal drive is a smaller notebook type).

In my setup the streaming is one way, not sure if you can send stuff. You can install other OS on the PS3, so I'm not sure what functions one would gain after doing so.

Yeah, the add-on cannot decode the new audio formats and this is why I don't own a 360. HDDVD would be my main reason for getting one.

[kexodusc]

Not sure about the 360, but with the PS3, you can quickly add storage by plugging an external HD into one of the USB ports or popping in a new internal drive (I believe this voids the warranty, so one would want to hold onto that old drive - also I think the internal drive is a smaller notebook type).

In my setup the streaming is one way, not sure if you can send stuff. You can install other OS on the PS3, so I'm not sure what functions one would gain after doing so.

Yeah, the add-on cannot decode the new audio formats and this is why I don't own a 360. HDDVD would be my main reason for getting one.

Thanks, LJ.
I like more of the Xbox games than the PS games but that's just me - the price was a consideration as well, but I fully expect own both by the end of 2008. That was my big reason for the 360 - the on-line, streaming stuff etc is a distant second.
The PS3 holds a lot of intrigue for me as far as being a media server and blu-ray player - does the PS3 have limitations in audio processing as well? I'd love to not have to buy a blu-ray player...might get the PS3 sooner rather than later.

[L.J.]

Thanks, LJ.
I like more of the Xbox games than the PS games but that's just me - the price was a consideration as well, but I fully expect own both by the end of 2008. That was my big reason for the 360 - the on-line, streaming stuff etc is a distant second.
The PS3 holds a lot of intrigue for me as far as being a media server and blu-ray player - does the PS3 have limitations in audio processing as well? I'd love to not have to buy a blu-ray player...might get the PS3 sooner rather than later.

The PS3 has everything covered except for DTS-MA. But I don't think any current BR player is capable of decoding this. Rumor is that DTS-MA decoding will be added to the PS3 via firmware upgrade. I'll believe it, when I see it though.

DTS-MA is not a big deal for me though. Out of the 35 or so BR I own, only 2 titles have a DTS-MA track. The "core" 1.5mbps you get is good enough to live with. The "core" track on X-men 3 is sweet!! The good news is that most releases support uncompressed PCM or DolbyTrueHD. Fox seems to be the only studio supporting DTS-MA. Throw in the SACD playback and I gotta say I'm pretty happy with the unit overall.

Now for the bad news. No analog outs. To get the full benefits of it's audio capabilities, you need a AVR with at least HDMI 1.1.

[Groundbeef]

Thanks, LJ.
I like more of the Xbox games than the PS games but that's just me - the price was a consideration as well, but I fully expect own both by the end of 2008. That was my big reason for the 360 - the on-line, streaming stuff etc is a distant second.
The PS3 holds a lot of intrigue for me as far as being a media server and blu-ray player - does the PS3 have limitations in audio processing as well? I'd love to not have to buy a blu-ray player...might get the PS3 sooner rather than later.

Kex, tried to PM you back, but your box is full. Empty please.

[kexodusc]

Kex, tried to PM you back, but your box is full. Empty please.

been empty for a while...

[Woochifer]

Decisions decisions!

Now that I've found some third party applications that can stream media files to a PS3 from a Mac, I'm more tempted now to go with the PS3 rather than wait for the inevitable price tumbles on standalone Blu-ray players. While the $400 PS3 is a tempting option, its lack of backwards compatibility with PS2 games is a deal killer for me (my audio rack is crowded enough, last thing I want to do is make space for two gaming consoles)

[Groundbeef]

Decisions decisions!

Now that I've found some third party applications that can stream media files to a PS3 from a Mac, I'm more tempted now to go with the PS3 rather than wait for the inevitable price tumbles on standalone Blu-ray players. While the $400 PS3 is a tempting option, its lack of backwards compatibility with PS2 games is a deal killer for me (my audio rack is crowded enough, last thing I want to do is make space for two gaming consoles)

I think that it still has some PS2 BW compat. Its just done with software instead of the hard chip. I have never owned a PS2 game but from what I have seen on the PS3 boards, its not a total lack of BW compat, just no chip.

[musicman1999]

[QUOTE=pixelthis]AND you get five free movies worth from 120 to 150 dollars.
Which reduces the price of your inital outlay.
If you can show me where you can get blu-ray discs for free then I WILL BUY YOUR
ARGUMENT,
Buy a case of beer full price, get a coupon for a FREE case in a week, that reduces the price of your beer by half.

Pix
what it really does is double my supply of beer for the same amount of money.Seriously i will get the free movies but as there are only 1 or 2 that i would pay real money for it is not that big a value, and i still payed my $399.

bill

[GMichael]

Decisions decisions!

Now that I've found some third party applications that can stream media files to a PS3 from a Mac, I'm more tempted now to go with the PS3 rather than wait for the inevitable price tumbles on standalone Blu-ray players. While the $400 PS3 is a tempting option, its lack of backwards compatibility with PS2 games is a deal killer for me (my audio rack is crowded enough, last thing I want to do is make space for two gaming consoles)

I'm pretty sure that the 40GB has 0% BC with the PS2, but will run PS1 games. The 80GB has s/w for BC that gives it about 80%. I don't know why the s/w for the 80 could not be used with the 40.

[GMichael]

http://www.ps3news.ca/10182007/13/so...0gb_gets_a_cut

Sony has gone and made it official quicker than we had expected -- there will be both a new 40GB PlayStation 3 model and the 80GB version will be getting a healthy price cut.

As we said earlier, this was one of the worst kept secrets in the history of gaming, but we welcome the news nonetheless. The 40GB PS3 will cost $399 US and will include Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray. As previously reported, there will no PS2 backwards compat, with Sony claiming that the move is "reflecting the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles." Whatever that means. The 40GB bundle will be available starting November 2nd.

This is a move that can truly shakes things up in the next-gen race, and the company is hoping this kickstarts sales immediately. A quick check of Amazon shows that $399 makes it the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market, which ought to help seal the deal as well.

And if you're dead into backwards compatibility, there's always the 80GB which is priced at $499 effective immediately.

[GMichael]

Just spoke to the wife. Looks like the price on the 80GB bundle has already been marked down to $499 at Wal-Mart as well.

[Groundbeef]

Just spoke to the wife. Looks like the price on the 80GB bundle has already been marked down to $499 at Wal-Mart as well.

Well, that actually makes it "official". Because as we men all know, if the wife says its so.....it's so.

[GMichael]

Well, that actually makes it "official". Because as we men all know, if the wife says its so.....it's so.

Hahahahaha She called me from there and asked me if I wanted anything. I told her yeah, I want to know what they are charging for the PS3 80GB. She wanted to buy it till I told her no. I still think that Sony will have to make deals to get rid of the rest of their 60GB units.

[musicman1999]

Just watched my first Bluray film, Casino Royal, very impressed great picture, 1080i for me, and the 5.1 pcm is simply stunning. Connected to my Anthem by 5.1 analog hookup, it sounds amazing.Still trying to decide if i like component or HDMI for video.
Btw my coupon for the 5 free movies, says mail in by Oct 31 but also says player must be bought by Sept 30.I have heard we are getting an extension here in Canada, but have not confirmed.

bill

[L.J.]

Just watched my first Bluray film, Casino Royal, very impressed great picture, 1080i for me, and the 5.1 pcm is simply stunning. Connected to my Anthem by 5.1 analog hookup, it sounds amazing.Still trying to decide if i like component or HDMI for video.

bill

Yes, very nice soundtrack on CR. So what's on your list of must see BR?

[pixelthis]

No, it doesn't "reduce the price of your inital outlay". You PAY $399 + tax.

Send in coupon, and get 5 movies. Total cash outlay $399 + tax.

Now, if they sent you 5 FREE movies, and $100 cash, THEN your "total cash outlay" would be $300 and 5 movies.

This is why "Buy $100 of goods and get $25 off works so well." Consumers "spend more, to SAVE more" Its a marketing ploy, and it works pretty good.

It works quite well, because you're getting over 500$ worth of merchandise for 400 bucks
FOR that 400 bucks you're getting a player at retail for 499$, and over a hundred dollars
worth of movies.
Knock off the value of the movies and that puts the player at under 300 bucks.
This is what you are paying for the player.
This is why people do these things.
Its actually a better deal that I showed, go into most places and that player will set you back 499$, and the movies over 100$.
BUT you're only paying 400$ , and thats for a 100+ worth of movies and a player , which, when you subtract what the movies are worth comes out at less than 300 bucks.
Your argument is that the movies are worthless, which is silly.
I know you HDDVD guys are worried because the price diff is the only real advantage to buying HDDVD, and thats disapearing rapidly

[pixelthis]

Still not the same as buying a PS3 for under $300. What if you didn't want any movies?
You still paid $400.

This is the price for a MOVIE PLAYER , why would you not want any movies?
Stay off the crack pipe son

[musicman1999]

Yes, very nice soundtrack on CR. So what's on your list of must see BR?

Not sure yet, 2001 comes out next week and that might be on the list.Tonight i picked up Deva Vu and the first Pirates of the Caribean both for $26.98.It seems Disney has some Bluray on buy one and get one free.

bill

[L.J.]

Not sure yet, 2001 comes out next week and that might be on the list.Tonight i picked up Deva Vu and the first Pirates of the Caribean both for $26.98.It seems Disney has some Bluray on buy one and get one free.

bill

Yeah I got in on that and picked up a few titles B1G1. I usually bargain hunt and find some decent prices. Pirates is easy demo matl. Give Planet Earth a try, if your into that kinda stuff. Excellent video!

Some good releases coming out over the next few months. I'm gonna end up getting myself in trouble.

[pixelthis]

Not sure yet, 2001 comes out next week and that might be on the list.Tonight i picked up Deva Vu and the first Pirates of the Caribean both for $26.98.It seems Disney has some Bluray on buy one and get one free.

bill

2001? Getting harder and harder to resist.
BTW for those who are vexed that some great movie (like transformers) is on a deadend format like HDDVD don't worry, soon as it goes "tits up" as the brits say then it will be available in BLU RAY

Thats the diff between today and the VHS-BETA duel, back in the day movies came out in both formats , you choose which format you wanted based on real issues instead of stuff like if rocky and bullwinkle is on the one you want.
If studios were neutral this "format war" would be over yesterday and we all could get back to wasting money on collecting movies again, and they'd save a ton of money.
But thats not the real world, unfortunately

[GMichael]

This is the price for a MOVIE PLAYER , why would you not want any movies?
Stay off the crack pipe son

Dude, the PS3 is a game player. Many people who buy them don't give two squats about HD movies. Also, have you seen the list of "free" movies available? I wouldn't pay a dime for most of them.
Now, I'm not saying that it's not a good deal. It's just not the same as getting a PS3 for under $300.
You should see that too. Unless that crack pipe of yours has been working overtime. Again...