Playstation 3 : non-bias

[RazedInBlack]

It was a valid question, involving the difference between .flac and .pcm; streaming quite of trancodes and there may quite well be a reason you preferred it in the original format.

Fair enough!

So this thread is as much meant for gathering information as giving it out then?

 

[StNick]

However, you can get cheaper alternatives (mines arriving in a few mins!) that will play .mkv without the need to transcode.

What I'm really curious about is how these cheap players, and others, deal with the embedded subtitles inside MKVs. First prize would be to simply have a subtitle button ala your DVD player, but I am not sure that the implementation is that simple.

Let me know how you go with your new player. I've often considering getting one myself. What has always held me back is the evolution of codecs, and the lack of updates for the software on the device. Also, the quality of the hardware concerns me. As I've mentioned, although it could all be in my head, the overall quality I get from my PS3 outshone that of my last Media PC, which was admittedly a bit rubbish.

Interested to hear your comments.

 

[Lemon369]

I'm sorry Dolby, but this thread is a *FAIL*...it's going to end up the same as all the others...You said PS3 : non-bias...and with your experience on this site, you should know that it's not a post you can put together in 20 minutes with the vague and broad comments you have made and call it "un-bias"....hopefully someone will come along and do it properly, but you would have needed to give a very accurate and complete picture of the PS3, you reduced it to a comparison to the x-box (which really you could have titled the thread "How does the PS3 fair against the x-box" or simply "PS3 vs 360"...

There was nothing insightful or researched about your post, it could have been stuck in any of the other PS3 threads....

 

[Fudzy]

I've never tried.

But did you read the initial reason of the post? To get a more realistic view of the PS3 and it's functions? Not a comparison?

I think you're more than qualified to start an equivalent thread for the XBox media features.

 

[Oculate]

I'm sorry Dolby, but this thread is a *FAIL*...it's going to end up the same as all the others...You said PS3 : non-bias...and with your experience on this site, you should know that it's not a post you can put together in 20 minutes with the vague and broad comments you have made and call it "un-bias"....hopefully someone will come along and do it properly, but you would have needed to give a very accurate and complete picture of the PS3, you reduced it to a comparison to the x-box (which really you could have titled the thread "How does the PS3 fair against the x-box" or simply "PS3 vs 360"...

There was nothing insightful or researched about your post, it could have been stuck in any of the other PS3 threads....

This thread is effectively getting the opinions of PS3 owners regarding Dolby's OP

You'd rather Dolby posted in the PS3 faq? Where he'd no doubt be called a troll

 

[Dolby]

Do you not agree that non console owners, after reading many of these threads, would get the wrong idea?

My brother 'met' a few guys on the PS3 forum and was convinced that this was *the* most amazing item ever with *the* best graphics ever. You should have seen his face when his GT compared to my Forza graphics wise. Likewise you should have heard his disappointment when watching his first Blu Ray on his new HDTV - or even the SMS's at night asking why he couldn't watch movies I'd given him the day before, due to my codecs/containers.

Hell, if I didn't have access to a PS3 I'd probably have believed the same thing and expected way, way too much. The purpose is to show it's LIMITATIONS. This is supposed to be a REALISTIC view of the Playstation.

 

[StNick]

So basically you have made a thread whereby you get to bash the PS3 and expect to have immunity for this because you are "merely trying to be realistic?"

Sounds like your brother had unrealistic expectations of the device. Like, if I bought an Xbox 360, I would EXPECT it to play games, and play them well, but not much else. Then I'd EXPECT it to break. I'm just being realistic, not biased or anything.

Obvious thread is obvious.

 

[RazedInBlack]

Do you not agree that non console owners, after reading many of these threads, would get the wrong idea?

My brother 'met' a few guys on the PS3 forum and was convinced that this was *the* most amazing item ever with *the* best graphics ever. You should have seen his face when his GT compared to my Forza graphics wise. Likewise you should have heard his disappointment when watching his first Blu Ray on his new HDTV - or even the SMS's at night asking why he couldn't watch movies I'd given him the day before, due to my codecs/containers.

Hell, if I didn't have access to a PS3 I'd probably have believed the same thing and expected way, way too much. The purpose is to show it's LIMITATIONS. This is supposed to be a REALISTIC view of the Playstation.

By that logic, I'm convinced that this thread is completely biased!

 

[Nod]

If you expect the PS3 to be like a Xbox, you are going to be disappointed, because it obviously isn't like a Xbox, and doesn't pretend to be one.

If you know it can play only some codecs, then transcode your movies into that codec before trying to play it. Trying to get movies that played on a Xbox to play on a PS3 is not being fair towards the PS3, and vice versa.

In the end, you have to make a choice based on your own research, and not other peoples opinions. Read as many reviews as you can, and if possible play on both systems before committing to either. The games are pretty equal in genre, so you will find something that you would like to play on either platform.

 

[Dolby]

So basically you have made a thread whereby you get to bash the PS3 and expect to have immunity for this because you are "merely trying to be realistic?"

Where's a bash? I don't recall a single bash.

Sounds like your brother had unrealistic expectations of the device.

.

+1 ... because of people like IAP. Not him - people like him. Geez, I was told nothing under R10,000.00 would compete with the BR payer in a PS3 ...

Like, if I bought an Xbox 360, I would EXPECT it to play games, and play them well, but not much else. Then I'd EXPECT it to break. I'm just being realistic, not biased or anything

.

Fair enough comment. I use mine only for games - that's it. Not sure of everything else it can do. I bought it, expected it to play games, expected them to play WELL and expected it to break. It did. I don't really see a point if that was a stab :/

 

[Dolby]

By that logic, I'm convinced that this thread is completely biased!

How so?

 

[Dolby]

If you expect the PS3 to be like a Xbox, you are going to be disappointed, because it obviously isn't like a Xbox, and doesn't pretend to be one.

If you know it can play only some codecs, then transcode your movies into that codec before trying to play it. Trying to get movies that played on a Xbox to play on a PS3 is not being fair towards the PS3, and vice versa.

In the end, you have to make a choice based on your own research, and not other peoples opinions. Read as many reviews as you can, and if possible play on both systems before committing to either. The games are pretty equal in genre, so you will find something that you would like to play on either platform.

+1

That's pretty much what I said though ...

 

[StNick]

Your thinly-velied bashing comes in the form of a thread that is dedicated to showing the limitations of the device, and the disappointment that potential buyers (like your tragically ill-informed brother) will have to endure if they were to buy one. Oh, if only he had bought an Xbox!

 

[Dolby]

So you're all ok with people mentioning how FANATSTIC Blu Ray is? THat very few BR units could compare? How this machine is a fully fledged home theatre device and that the games almost jump out at you because of realism?

Then you're right - we do disagree. I believe in calling a space a spade - and while the PS3 is pretty good all-in-one system, I don't believe people should build up expectations and even lie about what the machine can do. On the OP - what do you disagree with? Do you believe the BR is higher than a stand alone entry level? Do you disagree with games being the same?

 

[Dolby]

PS You could have answered like Gambit earlier. Facst to prove me wrong. A good example :

a) Games are pretty equal. We're getting the edge slowly though

b) BR is pretty entry level when compared to stand alone.

c) Disagree with you because of XYZ reason

 

[Fudzy]

Then you're right - we do disagree. I believe in calling a space a spade - and while the PS3 is pretty good all-in-one system, I don't believe people should build up expectations and even lie about what the machine can do. On the OP - what do you disagree with? Do you believe the BR is higher than a stand alone entry level? Do you disagree with games being the same?

Are the entry level standalone players upgradable?

 

[Kerrrang!]

So Dolby is a little closet-fanboy - who would have thunk...
You know what, this thread may have had *some* relevance 3 years ago when the PS3 launched, when it was the cheapest blu-ray player around, and at that time pretty much the best one available.

Currently, however, there are media centres and blu-ray players that are cheaper than the PS3 - whether they're better or worse than the PS3 is imo irrelevant, since anyone who wants to pick up a PS3 today will want to pick it up for gaming first, anything else the console may offer is a bonus. Why would someone in the market for a top-of-the-range media centre or BR player buy a PS3?

These days, if you're a gamer, you'd pick the console that suits your needs, and has the games you most want to play.Period.

 

[RazedInBlack]

How so?

You're PS3 bashing all over this thread dude!

Personally I play PS3 and watch movies on a full HD TV and its fantastic. I've seen the X Box do the same. Nothing special there . . . Forza! Nothing special there either. Doesn't make me wanna go out and buy an X Box!

Maybe your brother's TV wasn't properly calibrated! Who knows!

 

[Dolby]

You're PS3 bashing all over this thread dude!

Personally I play PS3 and watch movies on a full HD TV and its fantastic. I've seen the X Box do the same. Nothing special there . . . Forza! Nothing special there either. Doesn't make me wanna go out and buy an X Box!

Maybe your brother's TV wasn't properly calibrated! Who knows!

Post the bashing?

 

[Dolby]

GAMES : Games are roughly equal on either console and it comes to down to the exclusives. I've tried a PS3 and Xbox side-by-side with similar games (Forza 2 and GT5 Prolugue) with both on HDMI. Guess what? That massive difference everyone has been telling you does not really exist. Some games are slighly better on the 'box, some are better on the PS3 and some are negligable. There are people on the forum with BOTH consoles and they'll confirm.

BLU RAY : Well that's pretty decent and could be a reason to buy for many. A few things to keep in mind : if you have a small TV, you're going to be hard pressed to notice a huge difference between DVD and BD - let alone upscaled DVD. Also bear in mind that not all BR players are the same. The PS3 BR was actually a great BR when it was launched - but towards late 2009it's performance is on par with entry level players from Samsung and Sony.

Listening to certain people on here, you'll be think the PS3 is *the* best when it comes to every function. Truth is, it isn't, and it's up to the indivual to determine what he currently has (equipment wise), what he will get in future (equipment wise), what he values most about the functions (BD? games? streaming?) and what games you prefer.

Great machine - but it does have limitations which should be told and may - or may not - be relevant

You know what, this thread may have had *some* relevance 3 years ago when the PS3 launched, when it was the cheapest blu-ray player around, and at that time pretty much the best one available.

Currently, however, there are media centres and blu-ray players that are cheaper than the PS3 - whether they're better or worse than the PS3 is imo irrelevant, since anyone who wants to pick up a PS3 today will want to pick it up for gaming first, anything else the console may offer is a bonus. Why would someone in the market for a top-of-the-range media centre or BR player buy a PS3?

These days, if you're a gamer, you'd pick the console that suits your needs, and has the games you most want to play.Period.

:/