HTPC vs PS3 as a media center.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by prerich

You've got 320gb of HD space - that's 4 times more space!!!! And it has the same functions as the PS3 plus some.

ps3 hard drive is upgradable.....many ps3 users have a 320gb harddrive.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by brett_day

i was going to say....is it really an advantage if you end up spending $1500 - $2000 on a HTPC when a $400 PS3 can do those things

you are right, I mean I don’t think anyone’s arguing that comps aren't far more superior in performance than any gaming system but you will pay for it like i've done for so long..

I do love top notch pc's but I don't like when a game like crysis comes out I've gotta dump my system and top notch it out again. Like I did with the 6800ultra for pre BF2 days, and then the 7800gtx's for battlefield 2/Fear, and now the 8gtx's for crysis, game systems have it down pat pay 400-600 now get a good system for 5-maybe 10 years with this current gen.

[dadkins]

My laptops(2 of them) have 2 HDDs.
A desktop case can have 4-5-??? HDDS
... can also have 2(or more) BD burner drives.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brett_day

i was going to say....is it really an advantage if you end up spending $1500 - $2000 on a HTPC when a $400 PS3 can do those things

When the ps3 breaks and you have to spend money to fix because its out of warranty or worse yet - you have to buy a new one - where as to fix a HTPC its simple. Most repairs and upgrades you can perform yourself (nothing like free labor) and the price of parts is coming down everyday. So either way you pay, PC's BSOD - PS3 Yellow whatever it is of Death. I can recover form a BSOD - you don't from the PS3 issue.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by dadkins

My laptops(2 of them) have 2 HDDs.
A desktop case can have 4-5-??? HDDS
... can also have 2(or more) BD burner drives.

ps3 can have 5 aswell 4 usb ones and 1 inside it'll look like crap but you can have 5

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by supersix4

you are right, I mean I don’t think anyone’s arguing that comps aren't far more superior in performance than any gaming system but you will pay for it like i've done for so long..

I do love top notch pc's but I don't like when a game like crysis comes out I've gotta dump my system and top notch it out again. Like I did with the 6800ultra for pre BF2 days, and then the 7800gtx's for battlefield 2/Fear, and now the 8gtx's for crysis, game systems have it down pat pay 400-600 now get a good system for 5-maybe 10 years with this current gen.

... and like the PlayStation, then the PlayStation 2, now the PlayStation 3.

[caliminius]

Originally Posted by prerich

#8 PS3 can't do extreme HD AT 1920X1200 lets not talk 2560x1600

Since I'd assume both systems would be hooked up to a TV, anything beyond 1080p is a moot point.

#11 Same with HTPC and faster internet connection is possible. Advantage HTPC

I don't think there's currently a residential internet connection that would max out 802.11g wireless so until that time the HTPC and PS3 are tied when it comes to internet speeds.

#12. Best webbrowser, picture viewer and editor, music editor,player - advantage HTPC

Plethora of various interface for web browsers, picture views, music players, etc. (sort of kills the convenience and ease of use factors)


To me the biggest advantage of a HTPC is:
1.) It's a PC and can therefore do all the things a PC could do: play games, web browse, email, instant message, music, movies, etc.

To me the biggest disadvantage of a HTPC is:
1.) It's a PC and therefore suffers all the same issues a PC has: hardware and software incompatibilities, numerous updates from numerous sources to keep it running its best, uneven support especially if user built, etc.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brett_day

ps3 hard drive is upgradable.....many ps3 users have a 320gb harddrive.

How much was the upgrade?

[Kyzer the Medic]

I have both a very nice PC and the PS3. The biggest factor for me really was the asthetics of the home theater. The PC case just does not fit in with the rest of the audio equipment whereas the PS3 does. Also, when I am playing WOW or surfing the net, or even playing Crysis, I actually find that I enjoy sittting at the desk with the mouse and keyboard more than I do with a wireless keyboard on the coffee table or lap board. Another reason for the PS3 is when I buy a game, I know that all I have to do is pop it in and it will work for me just like it will for everyone else. With the PC there are always differances in drivers, video cards, sound cards, monitors etc. I honestly can't remember playing a game that looks exactly on my PC the way it does on a friends. The best solution would be to have both and keep the PC seperate, if you had to choose one the PS3 will play games and blurays just as good as your PC, if not better, and you will save yourself about what $800 or so ? thats alot of movies and games..

[prerich]

Originally Posted by supersix4

it'll look like crap but you can have 5

That's a good one! But is good to know that it can do it

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by prerich

When the ps3 breaks and you have to spend money to fix because its out of warranty or worse yet - you have to buy a new one - where as to fix a HTPC its simple. Most repairs and upgrades you can perform yourself (nothing like free labor) and the price of parts is coming down everyday. So either way you pay, PC's BSOD - PS3 Yellow whatever it is of Death. I can recover form a BSOD - you don't from the PS3 issue.

which is why you get an extended warranty for $50.....the failure rate of the ps3 is like 2 % dude...where as a pc's is far...far higher.....and yeah you're right you can repair a PC for free but the new part will cost you.....prices coming down or not...still extra $$$ your throwing at that PC

Buy a ps3 and get a 1 year warranty (or an extended 3 year warranty for $50) and sony will fix the ps3 for free or with the extended warranty get a new one from the store where you purchased it....build a pc yourself and have no warranty

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by dadkins

... and like the PlayStation, then the PlayStation 2, now the PlaySytation 3.

yeah your right but..

PS1 launched 1994 ($200)
6 years
PS2 March 2000 ($299)
6 years
PS3 Nov. 2006 ($600)
$1099 over 12 years

lol I paid about $500 for the 6800 ultra , $599 for the 7800gtx and $599 for 1 8800gtx have yet to buy another
$1698 over 4 years on vid cards alone but thats just me

and thats in a span of 4 years (6800 ultra launched in 04) this doesnt even take into account the cases /psus memory , mobos, wd raptor hard drives, processors , screen changes

It's really comes down to what you like and what you do if you need the features of the computer and want it to run your HT and dont want to spend much low end/or high end HTCP is the way to go..

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by prerich

How much was the upgrade?

i don;t have a 320gb i have a 160gb and the drive cost me $40....so $440 compared to $1500......

[dadkins]

Uhm... the theoretical max of 802.11g is ~24mbps
Verizon has 30+mbps service.
Paxio can obliterate wireless because if you are lucky enough to live in a served area, and have $395 per month for internet, they will hit you with gigabit.
I know someone who has Paxio 100x100...



Poor NIC card!

I run into the max of "g" wireless all the time.
When I want to download a file I will light it up on the A Series on the desk that is wired.
It regularly gets 28-35mbps, as where these wireless laptops hit 17-20mbps.

Comcast with PowerBoost that lasts for 50+MB
Wireless laptops cannot take advantage of PowerBoost.

[camper]

Originally Posted by brett_day

i don;t have a 320gb i have a 160gb and the drive cost me $40....so $440 compared to $1500......

And you voided your warranty on the PS3.

~Camper

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by camper

And you voided your warranty on the PS3.

~Camper

actually no i havent voided my warranty...ever read the ps3 manual??....it actually walks you through upgrading the hard drive...Sony on purpose made the ps3 upgradable because if they had not someone would have figured out a way to do it anyway. Which is also why they included the option of you being able to install linux on there so that hackers would not have to play around trying to get linux installed on the ps3. Upgraded and no warranty voided....Boo Ya

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/1...-warranty.aspx

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by brett_day

actually no i havent...ever read the ps3 manual??....it actually walks you through upgrading the hard drive...

lol so does the guy on youtube

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by supersix4

lol so does the guy on youtube

LOL

[camper]

Originally Posted by brett_day

actually no i havent voided my warranty...ever read the ps3 manual??....it actually walks you through upgrading the hard drive...Sony on purpose made the ps3 upgradable because if they had not someone would have figured out a way to do it anyway. Which is also why they included the option of you being able to install linux on there so that hackers would not have to play around trying to get linux installed on the ps3. Upgraded and no warranty voided....Boo Ya

My mistake, I stand corrected

That is pretty awesome that they let you do that then, does it have to be a sony HDD or can it be one you get anywhere?

~Camper

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by camper

My mistake, I stand corrected

That is pretty awesome that they let you do that then, does it have to be a sony HDD or can it be one you get anywhere?

~Camper

anywhere as long as its the 2.5''