xBox 360 or PlayStation 3

[Chubbyrain]

I bought the extended warranty when I got my 360 almost 2 years ago. Simply because I heard all the horror stories about the red rings of death.  I've had no problems with it whatsoever. Works like a charm and it's not noisy.

I've had 3 Sony CD players and 2 DVD players over the years and they have had a 50% failure rate within the first 12 months.

I had a Sony TV that had tuner issues so bad and went back for repairs so many times that in the end the dealer offered me a Panasonic.

Even my Wii had to go back to Nintendo for repair when the GPU became faulty.

So basically, your mileage may vary when it comes to reliability.

I'm not a big fan of M$ (I'm a Mac user) but I will admit that I think the 360 is a great console and the best choice on the market today.

[dnelsonfl]

trekiej wrote:
How does one know that the PS3 can play PS2 games?
Edit:( Serial number, model number,etc)

Most of the game news sites had information on this when Sony announced the changes to the PS3 product line. The original 60GB model can play nearly 100% PS2 and PS1 games because it includes some of the PS2 hardware inside. Sony removed the hardware in the 80GB and 40GB models. The 80GB model is able to play upwards of 80% (maybe closer to 90%) of PS2 games through software emulation. The 40GB has no backwards compatibility. I am not sure why the 80GB can and the 40GB can't if supposedly they are the same revised hardware. Anyway, Sony has a compatiblity support page:

Compatiblity status

[dnelsonfl]

swift240 wrote:
Microsoft needs upgrades/updates to keep working in a full order.

Both my Wii and my PS3 have downloaded a couple patches/upgrades over the internet by now. A few were to address compatibility issues, a couple bug fixes, and in the PS3's case, some new features that Sony apparently didn't have time to perfect before launch. It's not such a bad thing: When Sony finally releases the new PS3 controllers with the rumble back in them early next year, several game publishers intend to release updates/patches to add rumble to their games.

PS2 had at least one major recall dealing with its power supply.

Nobody's perfect, and like I said, updates/patches aren't always such a bad thing. I think sometimes it does have a downside: a manufacturer or publisher may think they can get away with rushing a product out the door and figure they'll correct any problems with updates. You're right about Microsoft seemingly doing that ALOT, at least on the PC side of things. A clean Vista install from one of the first Vista DVD batches resulted in over 142MB of updates/patches to be downloaded on one of my PCs!

[Donar]

@dnelsonfl
Sony released the first PS3's with PS2 Chips Graphics Synthesizer (GS) and Emotion Engine (EE) probably in one big chip. The European release version only had the GS in it leaving out the EE but emulating it in software. The newest version incorporates  neither of the PS2 Chips, and no emulation.

[Darrin]

Donar wrote:
@dnelsonfl
Sony released the first PS3's with PS2 Chips Graphics Synthesizer (GS) an Emotion Engine (EE) probably in one big chip. The European release version only had the GS in it leaving out the EE but emulating it in software. The newest version incorporates  neither of the PS2 Chips, and no emulation.

Well, a quick visit to the Sony site show that (at least in the USA) that they market 2 different models of the PS3.  The 40 GB one has no PS2 emulation, no memory card slots and only 2 USB ports while the 80GB model has PS2 emulation, SD/MMC/Mem Stick slots and 4 USB ports.

That's why I went with the 80GB model.  It's not just hard drive size, there's a physical difference between the models.

[Donar]

:-D Ah yes forgot that there is a part of the world outside the EU. :lol: I think *your* 80 Gig model is *our* 60 Gig Model + 20 Gig, so to speak. The 60 Gig model is phased out in the EU and only the 40 Gig version is here to stay.

[Darrin]

Donar wrote:
:-D Ah yes forgot that there is a part of the world outside the EU. :lol: I think *your* 80 Gig model is *our* 60 Gig Model + 20 Gig, so to speak. The 60 Gig model is phased out in the EU and only the 40 Gig version is here to stay.

That explains why my brother kept talking about a 60GB model on the phone (He's in England) and I couldn't find it.   :-)

Mind you, the prices in the UK seem to be a real rip off compared to the USA.  As I said in the previous post, I spent $625 for the 80GB with an extra controller, extra game (2 total), the remote and the card reader.

In the UK, the 60GB version with the same extras (minus the card reader which I couldn't find listed) would have cost £443 ($886).

Even the base 40GB version retails for $399 in the USA and £299 ($600) in the UK!

I suspect that the prices difference is probably echoed on the XBox too.

[adonay]

I have both they are the same noisy thing and i tend to only use the 360 as the ps3 games sux balls ... I would go for xbox 360 if you want a PS3 you can buy mine  :lol:

[SHADES]

Other way around dude.

80GB had the Emotion Engine and extra HW, the real guts of the PS2, the 60GB does not.
Sorry, that's for Australia and we couldn't buy it. We only ever got the choice of the 60GB or 40GB models.

 The 60 GB is software emulation only. I know, I own one. The 80GB model only came out in the US and Japan from memory. It is no longer in production. It was too expensive to add in the PS2 hardware and hense the 60GB model was made. Then again they cut down, took memory card readers and less USB ports to again cut down cost.

[SHADES]

@Donar
Correct.

but it's only for the 60GB model here in Australia.

The 40 GB model does not include either the hardware or software emulator or the memory card readers and only 2 USB ports.

There is no tal of changing that at this time. I would personally make sure you at least get a PS# that has the memory card readers, it was a silly move. I know I used to take my saved games to mates places to play all the time. No chance of that on a Australian 40GB model.

[jj]

its more or less impossible without paying over a grand to get the 60GB version in the UK. WTF are sony playing at.  Lower costs, but removing functionality that people actually want is just silly

[foleyjo]

SHADES wrote:
@Donar
Correct.

but it's only for the 60GB model here in Australia.

The 40 GB model does not include either the hardware or software emulator or the memory card readers and only 2 USB ports.

There is no tal of changing that at this time. I would personally make sure you at least get a PS# that has the memory card readers, it was a silly move. I know I used to take my saved games to mates places to play all the time. No chance of that on a Australian 40GB model.

No model has the memory card reader. They have card slots but they arre not memory cards. To use ps2 saves you make a virtual memory card and transfer your current saves using a usb memory card adapter sold seperatly.Though its pointless if your using a 40gb model as you cant play the ps2 games anyway. You can also buy usb adapters and usb card readers if you really want them. So the features are removed but you can buy them back for cheaper than it would cost for you to have the 60gb model.

@JJ my 60gb ps3 was about £350.
 

[jj]

where u get it from.  I know loads of people that been trying to get them, they are harder to get hold of than wii, unless u lready had a wii for over a year  :-D

[SHADES]

@foleyjo

Fair enough, I never said they were memory cards, I said Card readers. Card reader, flash readers, all semantics. I think people knew what I was getting at. There was support for the Sony Memory stick too. Anyway, it's not important. I liked not having to tie up the USB ports to have them available, and removing the other 2 USB ports, eek. I already use that for a keyboard/mouse, printer and I want to get  a camera too. 2 ports is not enough, yes I could get a hub, but it's convienece.

As for saving games, I did this no problem. There is a reader for PS2 game memory cards but it's not relevent for the PS3 any more as the latest models won't play ps2 games. I still play Sons of Liberty on my ps3. I am glad I don't have to have a seperate PS2 console for this and with such a huge library of PS2 games and lack of in PS3, I thought this to be a mistake. Perhaps Sony believes everyone has a PS2. I  sold mine. Anyhow, I like the PS3. I bought one after getting no love from AMIGA and the BluRay is fantastic.

[da9000]

Sorry guys, I think Terse was right: this discussion, although informative, doesn't belong in this sub-forum.

[foleyjo]

@ JJ -Theres still a few available in the North East of England. Also 2nd hand ones can be found.

@ Shades - Recheck your post you clearly say "Memory card reader" and talk about having to go to a friends to play your ps2 saves.
I still stand by the fact that 2 USB ports are enough for the average PS3 user.
1 for keyboard 1 for camera Joypad can be used instead of mouse and thats wireless and headsets use bluetooth. As I said if you really really want more they can always be added at a later date. So its not that bad an idea.

The 80GB PS3 due for release in the UK is said to have all the features of the 60gb