Before everyone goes ballistic please read with an open mind. I decided to look at the two systems and see what value you would receive for your money. This is not about the games or each systems abilities. This only about the hardware.
XBOX360: $399
3.2 ghz 3 core processor
ATI 500mhz graphics processor
512mb RAM
Ethernet controller
wireless game controller
DVD player
20GB Hard Drive
Wireless Head Set
1080i max output
Playstation 3: $499
3.2 ghz CELL (8SPE) processor
NVidea 550 mhz RSX graphics processor
256mb XDR main RAM
256mb GDDR3 VRAM
Ethernet controller
Bluetooth Wireless game controller with Axis Sensing
Blu-Ray Player
20GB Hard Drive
1080p max output
Since we are now moving into parallel processing we cannot really determine if the CELL will be more powerful than the processor used by the XBOX360 until the PS3 comes out and we start seeing games on the PS3. And it is quite possible that the ATI graphics chip can do many things better than the Nvidea graphics chip. Once again the games will bear this out. But this is a discussion about price and value.
I have compared the two 20GB systems as they are pretty much equal in terms of hardware. You can not talk about the cheaper version of the XBOX360 because it does not have a hard drive nor does it come with a wireless controller. It is not fair to compare the more expensive PS3 because it comes with HDMI 1.3, a wireless Ethernet and a 60GB hard drive. This is why I have compared the two systems most like each other.
The PS3 comes in at $100 more and lets see the differances. Bluetooth technology, Blu-Ray (high def) Drive, 1080p output. That is it. Just three little things but are they worth the extra $100?
First the Bluetooth technology. What does it mean? Simply, an industry standard that means anyone can make a bluetooth controller for the PS3 easily. It also means faster response times. Considerably faster response times than the basic wireless controllers we have all been using and that is what is on the XBOX360. As a side note-- Sony is in talks with Immersion and we still might see vibration in the PS3 controllers. Personally I am very excited about the axis sensing. Imaging driving and flight games using this technology!
Second the Blu-Ray high def drive. Anyone with a High Def monitor will want one of these. You will be able to play High Def movies from your PS3. The movie studios have agreed to allow high def playback over the componet outputs for the next 3 to 5 years. It seems the copy protection of Blu-Ray is very difficult to break. That does not mean that it will not happen -- just that initially the movie studios are in agreement about allowing HD over the componets for now with Blu-Ray. This technology alone is worth the extra $100. There is no way Microsoft will be able to bring out a High Def drive for the XBOX360 for $100 without losing their shirt. We shall see.
1080p output. Is this really an advantage? I know this can be debated but progressive is definately prefered to interlaced -- especially when playing video games. Hands down this will be the best output you can view. And this brings me to an interesting part of this discussion.
These next gen gaming systems really do not start to shine until you hook them up to a High Definition TV. Lets face it, hooked up to a regular tv and an XBOX360 does not offer much over the XBOX playing the same game! Only when you hook up the XBOX360 to a HDTV do the graphics pop and you start to see why the next gen XBOX is worth the money. So if we can get off of the debate about whether or not someone has a HDTV and can agree about the need for a HDTV with any next gen gaming system then the additon of Blu-Ray and 1080p output is a definate plus for the the PS3.
The XBOX360 is a known quantity. It is out, it is a fantastic gaming machine. It is a suped-up PC in a box. Microsoft really did a nice job bringing this out. It has some very nice games on it but as of yet no must have game -- no killer game yet. Hold on there guys - I know -- Gears of War and Halo 3 is on the Horizon and I bought an XBOX just to play Halo and Halo2. So killer games are on the way.
As for the PS3 we still know very little. As is with any new video gaming system, untill it is actually in our greedy little hands their abilities and hardware can only be debated. I have used Sony's specs as to the final PS3 configuration. We do not know what the final version will be. But there are some interesting things brewing.
I already meantioned that Sony is in conversation with Immersion. Vibration in the new controllers still might happen. Immersion has already stated that it is possible to have axis-sensing and vibration and that they might bring out their own controller for the PS3. Remember Bluetooth?
Sony has already stated that the PS3 could be upgraded. Does this mean larger Ram chips? We already know you can put a larger hard drive as the more expensive unit has a 60GB drive. A replacement for the video chip? Who knows what Sony is talking about but the idea is pretty neat. Most of us already do that with our computers.
Using Bluetooth technology could mean alot of hardware applications for the PS3. Printers, keyboards, mouses, I-Pods. They demonstated the Formula One game using a PSP as a rear view mirror using Bluetooth. The implication here for future gaming is enormus!
Blu-Ray gaming! Most programmers have always gripped about having limited space on the disk. Even though they have not tapped out DVD9 that is being used on the XBOX360 Blu-Ray does two things -- considerably more space and alot harder to copy. Is there an advantage here -- who knows -- we will have to wait for the games.
Finally Sony has stated that their on-line service for the PS3 will be free! If they pull this off this will be a coup!! Imagine most online gaming for free. You pay for the downloads to play online and then play as long as you want for free! I personally do not see how they can do this unless they plan to have lots for us to purchase that we want. Of course imagine downloading any music you want for a price and then transfering to your I-POD with Bluetooth-- I'm getting chills!
Both systems will do some things well and others not so well. There will be killer games on both systems. Who is salivating about MSG4 or WARHAWK or Killing Zone or a Grand Turismo in High Def? Probably the same folks salivating over Gears of War and Halo3!
I hope both systems survive and do well. Competition breeds better games. I also hope that both systems are differant enough that you can not direct port to either system. That means the same game with differant ablilites both visually and game play on both systems. I fear that the XBOX360 will get direct ports of PC games with little changes and the PS3 will get some ports but either with major changes in play or with some things left out. Only time will tell. However I see the gaming future as being very bright!
As for the price differances in the XBOX360 and the PS3? I do not believe the extra $100 is going to hurt the PS3 at all. You definately are getting more bang for your dollar with the PS3. I think Sony will not have any problems selling out their PS3 allotment. As for the higher priced PS3 $599. The wireless Ethernet, HDMI 1.3 and 60GB hardrive is a good value for an additonal $100.
Those of us with a High Def Home Theater System will buy one of these if only for the Blu-Ray! There might even be a Home Theater enthusiast who doesn't give a hoot about the PS3 gaming -- they just want a High Def Blu-Ray player and the PS3 will be the least expensive one on the market. I bet the $599 sells out before the $499!
:
XBOX360: $399
3.2 ghz 3 core processor
ATI 500mhz graphics processor
512mb RAM
Ethernet controller
wireless game controller
DVD player
20GB Hard Drive
Wireless Head Set
1080i max output
Playstation 3: $499
3.2 ghz CELL (8SPE) processor
NVidea 550 mhz RSX graphics processor
256mb XDR main RAM
256mb GDDR3 VRAM
Ethernet controller
Bluetooth Wireless game controller with Axis Sensing
Blu-Ray Player
20GB Hard Drive
1080p max output
Since we are now moving into parallel processing we cannot really determine if the CELL will be more powerful than the processor used by the XBOX360 until the PS3 comes out and we start seeing games on the PS3. And it is quite possible that the ATI graphics chip can do many things better than the Nvidea graphics chip. Once again the games will bear this out. But this is a discussion about price and value.
I have compared the two 20GB systems as they are pretty much equal in terms of hardware. You can not talk about the cheaper version of the XBOX360 because it does not have a hard drive nor does it come with a wireless controller. It is not fair to compare the more expensive PS3 because it comes with HDMI 1.3, a wireless Ethernet and a 60GB hard drive. This is why I have compared the two systems most like each other.
The PS3 comes in at $100 more and lets see the differances. Bluetooth technology, Blu-Ray (high def) Drive, 1080p output. That is it. Just three little things but are they worth the extra $100?
First the Bluetooth technology. What does it mean? Simply, an industry standard that means anyone can make a bluetooth controller for the PS3 easily. It also means faster response times. Considerably faster response times than the basic wireless controllers we have all been using and that is what is on the XBOX360. As a side note-- Sony is in talks with Immersion and we still might see vibration in the PS3 controllers. Personally I am very excited about the axis sensing. Imaging driving and flight games using this technology!
Second the Blu-Ray high def drive. Anyone with a High Def monitor will want one of these. You will be able to play High Def movies from your PS3. The movie studios have agreed to allow high def playback over the componet outputs for the next 3 to 5 years. It seems the copy protection of Blu-Ray is very difficult to break. That does not mean that it will not happen -- just that initially the movie studios are in agreement about allowing HD over the componets for now with Blu-Ray. This technology alone is worth the extra $100. There is no way Microsoft will be able to bring out a High Def drive for the XBOX360 for $100 without losing their shirt. We shall see.
1080p output. Is this really an advantage? I know this can be debated but progressive is definately prefered to interlaced -- especially when playing video games. Hands down this will be the best output you can view. And this brings me to an interesting part of this discussion.
These next gen gaming systems really do not start to shine until you hook them up to a High Definition TV. Lets face it, hooked up to a regular tv and an XBOX360 does not offer much over the XBOX playing the same game! Only when you hook up the XBOX360 to a HDTV do the graphics pop and you start to see why the next gen XBOX is worth the money. So if we can get off of the debate about whether or not someone has a HDTV and can agree about the need for a HDTV with any next gen gaming system then the additon of Blu-Ray and 1080p output is a definate plus for the the PS3.
The XBOX360 is a known quantity. It is out, it is a fantastic gaming machine. It is a suped-up PC in a box. Microsoft really did a nice job bringing this out. It has some very nice games on it but as of yet no must have game -- no killer game yet. Hold on there guys - I know -- Gears of War and Halo 3 is on the Horizon and I bought an XBOX just to play Halo and Halo2. So killer games are on the way.
As for the PS3 we still know very little. As is with any new video gaming system, untill it is actually in our greedy little hands their abilities and hardware can only be debated. I have used Sony's specs as to the final PS3 configuration. We do not know what the final version will be. But there are some interesting things brewing.
I already meantioned that Sony is in conversation with Immersion. Vibration in the new controllers still might happen. Immersion has already stated that it is possible to have axis-sensing and vibration and that they might bring out their own controller for the PS3. Remember Bluetooth?
Sony has already stated that the PS3 could be upgraded. Does this mean larger Ram chips? We already know you can put a larger hard drive as the more expensive unit has a 60GB drive. A replacement for the video chip? Who knows what Sony is talking about but the idea is pretty neat. Most of us already do that with our computers.
Using Bluetooth technology could mean alot of hardware applications for the PS3. Printers, keyboards, mouses, I-Pods. They demonstated the Formula One game using a PSP as a rear view mirror using Bluetooth. The implication here for future gaming is enormus!
Blu-Ray gaming! Most programmers have always gripped about having limited space on the disk. Even though they have not tapped out DVD9 that is being used on the XBOX360 Blu-Ray does two things -- considerably more space and alot harder to copy. Is there an advantage here -- who knows -- we will have to wait for the games.
Finally Sony has stated that their on-line service for the PS3 will be free! If they pull this off this will be a coup!! Imagine most online gaming for free. You pay for the downloads to play online and then play as long as you want for free! I personally do not see how they can do this unless they plan to have lots for us to purchase that we want. Of course imagine downloading any music you want for a price and then transfering to your I-POD with Bluetooth-- I'm getting chills!
Both systems will do some things well and others not so well. There will be killer games on both systems. Who is salivating about MSG4 or WARHAWK or Killing Zone or a Grand Turismo in High Def? Probably the same folks salivating over Gears of War and Halo3!
I hope both systems survive and do well. Competition breeds better games. I also hope that both systems are differant enough that you can not direct port to either system. That means the same game with differant ablilites both visually and game play on both systems. I fear that the XBOX360 will get direct ports of PC games with little changes and the PS3 will get some ports but either with major changes in play or with some things left out. Only time will tell. However I see the gaming future as being very bright!
As for the price differances in the XBOX360 and the PS3? I do not believe the extra $100 is going to hurt the PS3 at all. You definately are getting more bang for your dollar with the PS3. I think Sony will not have any problems selling out their PS3 allotment. As for the higher priced PS3 $599. The wireless Ethernet, HDMI 1.3 and 60GB hardrive is a good value for an additonal $100.
Those of us with a High Def Home Theater System will buy one of these if only for the Blu-Ray! There might even be a Home Theater enthusiast who doesn't give a hoot about the PS3 gaming -- they just want a High Def Blu-Ray player and the PS3 will be the least expensive one on the market. I bet the $599 sells out before the $499!
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