The PS3 Review Thread

[boss]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

I went to monoprice and saw a lot of choices for HDMI cables. Which one should I get? Could you post the link to the one you got?

These are the ones I bought, there 6 footers:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

This is the page for all of them, you'll need to scroll down toward the bottom:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10240

They are 28 gauge. Gold tipped (although I hear you don't need gold tipped). I switched the Monoprice and Monster cables a couple of times to test the picture, and it looked great.

It's always better to order a little longer then you think you will need (most people under-estimate the length of cable they need). But try to keep it under 10 feet, like others have said. If it's more then 10 feet, I guess you may want to go to a higher quality cable, because that's where it tends to get worse.

You don't want to get your new cables in the mail, get all excited and find out their too short.

[Cinemaddict]

Thanks boss!

Or I could just get one free here:
http://www.yourguide2freestuff.com/index.html

(joking of course)

[Zen Slug]

[hijack on]

just a public service announcement to be careful when swapping out hdmi cables as the hdmi ports can sometimes break loose inside the monitor (as they did on my old 1080p lcd monitor) if you man-handle the port and/or cables too much.

many lcd monitors (and some cable boxes, etc.) have the hdmi port soldered directly onto a circuit board, instead of being attached with a flexible ribbon connector. if you break these soldered connections your hdmi port won't work any more and you may end up having to buy a bigger TV.

for the same reason, i would not recommend the CL-2 rated "in-wall installation" type heavy duty hdmi cables that monoprice sells unless you are actually going to be installing them in the wall. these heavier cables are much more stiff and can cause torsion at the hdmi port. save a few bucks and just buy the regular weight cables (from monoprice or wherever). your hdmi ports may thank you for it by showing less wear and tear down the line.


[/hijack off]

[guartho]

Now we know, and knowing is half the battle.

[rbowden81]

Hey guys, first post. I have a quick question and was hoping to get a few responses. After doing some research I've decided to pick up a PS3 40GB for the Blu-Ray player. I currently have an XBOX360 but wanted a Blu-Ray player and after Blu-Ray winning the war I figured now would be a good time to make my purchase.

One of the main reasons the PS3 won was I decided the internet connectivity was a pretty big reason. My laptop is almost dead and I figured it'd be nice to be able to watch blu-rays and also be able to connect to the internet using my 46 inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD.

I've a good bit of this thread and am convinced that the Blu-Ray player is well worth it and one of the best for the money. I was just wondering if anyone here uses it for the internet and how the browser is and the ability to watch movies online or download them and watch them without having to burn them and play them in a player.

Thanks in advance!

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by rbowden81

Hey guys, first post. I have a quick question and was hoping to get a few responses. After doing some research I've decided to pick up a PS3 40GB for the Blu-Ray player. I currently have an XBOX360 but wanted a Blu-Ray player and after Blu-Ray winning the war I figured now would be a good time to make my purchase.

One of the main reasons the PS3 won was I decided the internet connectivity was a pretty big reason. My laptop is almost dead and I figured it'd be nice to be able to watch blu-rays and also be able to connect to the internet using my 46 inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD.

I've a good bit of this thread and am convinced that the Blu-Ray player is well worth it and one of the best for the money. I was just wondering if anyone here uses it for the internet and how the browser is and the ability to watch movies online or download them and watch them without having to burn them and play them in a player.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome onboard.

IMO PS3 is the best value for money for blu-ray. You will not go wrong with it. There are regular firmware updates from Sony and it is keeping up with technology evolution.

We have downloaded some demo games from Sony store, but I do not have much experience in downloading via PS3. From my limited experience in downloading, PS3 was friendly and was easy to download. We have a download cap on our Internet service, hence downloading large games is not a viable option for us.

I think there is some discussion on movie and music downloading to PS3 and I believe, Sony is committed to this concept. However, I don't think this service is available yet. Also, note that blu-ray movies takes large amount of capacity (could be close to 40 - 50 GBytes), and this will severely impact on your free download allowance if your ISP has a download cap on your service. At this stage, IMO, the preferred method is to purchase blu-ray movie disks. However, music downloads to PS3 (via Sony store) is a viable future application.

The breadth and depth of the collective knowledge of this forum on blu-ray is enormous and you will soon get a comprehensive answer to your question.

[ixlegitballinxl]

ps3 is awesome

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by rbowden81

One of the main reasons the PS3 won was I decided the internet connectivity was a pretty big reason. My laptop is almost dead and I figured it'd be nice to be able to watch blu-rays and also be able to connect to the internet using my 46 inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD.

I've a good bit of this thread and am convinced that the Blu-Ray player is well worth it and one of the best for the money. I was just wondering if anyone here uses it for the internet and how the browser is and the ability to watch movies online or download them and watch them without having to burn them and play them in a player.

The PS3 can't do that. Think of it as a having a basic browser capability. You can save images from the browser but you can't watch movies online - by that I mean at least 60 minutes long movies. PS3's internet streaming capability is limited as well so this is no good for you. You can't download a movie clip using a PS3; you can download on your PC/Mac and then play it on the PS3 provided the format is supported. Again, it's a basic browser that is handy when you all you want to do is a quick peek online.

If a computer is important to you, then I'd suggest getting a computer first.


fuad

[rbowden81]

Thanks for the replys. I'm headed to Best Buy after work today to make the purchase and pick up the blu-ray controller with it. I was hoping some good movies would come out today for Blu-Ray also. My girlfriend is a big fan of Atonement and I actually enjoyed it also but I don't think it's coming out on Blu-Ray today, just regular DVD format. I'm also going to be picking up a HDMI cable from the website listed in this thread.

But, back to my original question on the internet use. Basically what I'm looking to be able to do it not exactly download movies but stream some from sites such as youtube and the new site www.hulu.com which just came out. Both of which are legal movie sites. With hulu being one of the newest sites to allow you to watch tons of TV shows and certain movies directly online streaming without having to download anything. Is that possible with the PS3 brower. To say watch a streaming movie on my tv, and blowing it up to full screen?

[rbowden81]

Thanks for the responses! I hope this isn't a double post. I tried to respond yesterday and haven't seen my response posted yet.

In regards to using the internet browser the main thing that interests me is being able to watch certain tv progams and movies from a site such as Hulu.com (legal site). Just being able to watch the shows on my large tv instead of computer monitor is a big plus for me.

Oh, and by the way... after work yesterday I went to Best Buy and picked up the 40GB PS3 along with the Bluetooth remote, Enchanted on Blu Ray (points from girlfriend) and Atonement on DVD (I just liked that one). Watched Enchanted and the picture was great! No problems loading or viewing special features. The PS3 came currently updated with version 2.10 I think it was. Once I get internet I'll download the newest update.

[phlydude]

most sites that stream videos use flash...if they do, you won't be able to watch them

Youtube.com has worked since the day I went to it but other ____tube.com sites don't (if you know what I mean)

You will have to check it out and see but the PS3 browser is not very friendly IMHO

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by rbowden81

Oh, and by the way... after work yesterday I went to Best Buy and picked up the 40GB PS3 along with the Bluetooth remote, Enchanted on Blu Ray (points from girlfriend) and Atonement on DVD (I just liked that one).

I'm holding out for Atonement on BD. I haven't bought DVDs in months. I'm sure Atonement on BD would look awesome.

The PS3 came currently updated with version 2.10 I think it was. Once I get internet I'll download the newest update.

Firmware 2.17 wouldn't affect BD playback much. Congratulations on your purchase.


fuad

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by rbowden81

Oh, and by the way... after work yesterday I went to Best Buy and picked up the 40GB PS3 along with the Bluetooth remote, Enchanted on Blu Ray (points from girlfriend) and Atonement on DVD (I just liked that one). Watched Enchanted and the picture was great! No problems loading or viewing special features. The PS3 came currently updated with version 2.10 I think it was. Once I get internet I'll download the newest update.

Good choice. Congratulations. PS3 will give you a stunning picture for blu-ray and will be trouble-free for a long time to come. Sony is committed to evolve PS3 with the blu-ray technology.

However, it is not the best DVD upscaler, IMO. In my case my PC does a better job in upscaling. I hope that this issue will be fixed in a future firmware upgrade.

[Blu Haze]

My PS3 turns on when so nicely with the beep etc.

[Zen Slug]

firmware version 2.20 with BD Live finally announced


LINKY

Sony just announced that the next PlayStation3 firmware updated -- v2.20 -- will add the new interactive features to your PS3. As such, PS3 owners should expect downloadable video content, ringtones, interactive movie-based games, and the always intriguing "more" when the software is released in "late March." In other words, in the next 11 days. The update will also allow you to copy photos and music playlists over USB from your PS3 to your PSP. The rest of the new features after the break.

-- "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc
and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been
removed.(*1)
-- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP
to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
-- PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly
linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's
view speed will be improved.
-- DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
-- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the
control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)

*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
*2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.

now i'm wondering which BD Live disc to check out first... seems like Walk Hard might be a waste of the technology

[Trean]

Originally Posted by Zen Slug

now i'm wondering which BD Live disc to check out first... seems like Walk Hard might be a waste of the technology

considering that all the songs were actually sung by john c. reilly in a cox across america tour or something like that before the movie was released, i would hope that the live features or extra features some how tied these two things together.

[Cinemaddict]

I've been having a problem with my PS3. Movies look too dark. I turned the brightness on the TV all the way up and it still looked too dark. After watching the Sweeney Todd DVD for about 10 minutes, I gave up and put it in my DVD player (on a different input), and it looked much bettter.

I had noticed this before, but with film like Sweeney Todd, it's a really big problem.

The image definitley looked a little clearer on the PS3, so if I could just fix the brightness problem, I would much rather watch DVDs on PS3. Any ideas? Thanks!

[saginawjuggalo]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

I've been having a problem with my PS3. Movies look too dark. I turned the brightness on the TV all the way up and it still looked too dark. After watching the Sweeney Todd DVD for about 10 minutes, I gave up and put it in my DVD player (on a different input), and it looked much bettter.

I had noticed this before, but with film like Sweeney Todd, it's a really big problem.

The image definitley looked a little clearer on the PS3, so if I could just fix the brightness problem, I would much rather watch DVDs on PS3. Any ideas? Thanks!

I had the same problem... Turn the "RGB Full Range (HDMI)" to "Limited"

[Cinemaddict]

Originally Posted by saginawjuggalo

I had the same problem... Turn the "RGB Full Range (HDMI)" to "Limited"

Already set to "Limited."

[JimboTHX1138]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

Already set to "Limited."

Then you need to change the PS3 output from RGB to YCbCr with superwhite on.