PS3 Backwards Compatibility not so?

GavinMannion

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Aug 2, 2005
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5,861
I just saw this one as well

Sony has confirmed on its official PlayStation 3 site that the low-end $500 PlayStation 3 configuration will not be able to play Blu-Ray movies in their full 1080p resolution. Playback of Blu-Ray discs at 1080p requires an HDMI connection, which the $500 model lacks.

From the site (emphasis mine):


* Video output in HD requires cables and an HD-compatible display, both sold separately. Copy-protected Blu-ray video discs can only output at 1080p using an HDMI cable connected to a device that is compatible with the HDCP standard. HDMI cable not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector.
** HDMI cable not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector.


In short: if you want to get the full benefits of Blu-Ray, you'll need the $600 PlayStation 3, which does have an HDMI connection.

So what is the point of putting a Blu-Ray drive in the lower range one if it can't play HDTV?

This is all a bit weird
 

arf9999

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Jul 5, 2004
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6,791
I just saw this one as well



So what is the point of putting a Blu-Ray drive in the lower range one if it can't play HDTV?

This is all a bit weird

1080i and 720p are still HD, and can be output via component (much like the XBox 360's HD-DVD drive will have to do it).

1080p only works via HDMI 'cos of *spit* HDCP.
 

arf9999

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http://www.ps3.net/newsboard/view.php?id=440

Thanks Rhodan at Prophecy for the link



So Sony's Blu-Ray poster child may have problems playing Blu-ray discs, among other backwards compatibility issues.

I'm a bit confused, I read the article, and it goes from Sony saying that in "rare" situations it may not play disks to the author saying something about 1 in 5 not working. WTF? did I miss something?
 

noxibox

Honorary Master
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Apr 6, 2005
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1080p only works via HDMI 'cos of *spit* HDCP.
Isn't it just that most TVs only accept 1080i over component?

Is there really a significant visible difference between 1080i and 1080p?
 

doobiwan

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Jul 28, 2005
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Isn't it just that most TVs only accept 1080i over component?

Is there really a significant visible difference between 1080i and 1080p?

While I'm sure some folks would dissagree with me, I personally cannot see the difference between interlaced and non-interlaced, and that's @ 480 on a CRT.

On Plasma's and LCD's the effect is apprently even less pronounced as they 'naturally' deinterlace the signal because they don't scan like a CRT.

So the effective difference is one runs your picture at 'i' 25fps the other at "p" 50fps (PAL 30/60 for NTSC). Now it's not like gaming benchmarks where that's an average, we're talking fixed frame rate. The eye technically can't tell the difference, so you're asking the console to render twice as many frames per second for no real reason.

I'll take "gorgeous" over "indecernibly faster" any day ;)

@Gavin here' a rather rough overview of HDTV:
http://www.mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=658886
 
Last edited:

useless

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Jun 22, 2005
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message to Sony - just ship the dang PS3 labeled as a microwave and slap in a DVD drive! :D
 
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