Playstation 3

What's the latest news re. the UK release of the PS3..is it March '07?

How much will it be?

Does anyone know if it will work OK with my computer monitor which is a Samsung 215TW see here. http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/...fessional/sm205bw_and_sm215tw_and_sm225bw.htm Do you need HD capable monitor to get the best out of the PS3?

I think my 2 year old son will just have to have one, don't want to deprive the poor kid...

 

march 07 is the official release date. industry gossip says that sept 07 is more realistic given their supply problems. there will probably be a limited release in march and then the supplies will more than likely dry up while they get their ducks in a row with a big blitz around xmas.

 

Julian what's your professional opinion regards the comparative fun/wonder factor between XB360 and PS3?

 

Good question, the Xbox has come down in price a bit lately.

Maybe one of those would get me through until after Xmas 2007 when PS3 prices may start to soften (I can always sel the Xbox 360 games on eBay if I buy PS3)

 

I really fancy moving up to an Xbox 360.

Is their much improvement from the Xbox ?

 

a mate has one Levi, and I'd say there definately is.

Project gotham racing, gears of war etc all look amazing. Halo 3 when it comes out later this year will have me rabidly digging up the back garden for pennies.

Looks like the Sony killer apps are coming out on xbox 360 too.. the one's they usually keep... like the latest resident evil, grand theft auto etc.

Ive gone from a PS1 to an Xbox, and the xbox 360 is going to be the next step, not a PS3.

As a reasonably new console, most xbox 360 games are still 30-40 pounds - which doesn't fit in with what I want..

Personally I'll wait another year or so then get an xbox 360..living on a diet of older games bought off t'internet for a tenner a throw.

 

the 360 wipes the floor with the original xbox.

 

some video clips

gears of war


halo 3


pgr 3 ( a bit low res, but you get the idea)

 

That PGR3 clip is unreal. This new generation of consoles are taking graphics to another level.

I am still not up to speed on how to get the best from the console in terms of displays. My 21" Samsung LCD computer screen has DVI(HDCP) and component video inputs. The LCD is 1680 x 750 so will I be seeing the full resolution an XBox 360 is capable off if I plug it into the DVI input?

I have checked the XBox 360 spec's re. video output and I can't get to the bottom of it all.

 

Maybe it's just me, and perhaps it'll look better "in the flesh".

But doesn anyone else feel from a style pov at least, they've messed up with the ps3?

 

Thing is I am not a big fan of Madden, I much prefer ESPN football, and as there is not likely to be another ESPN I am still playing 2005/6 season !

 

i'm not a big fan of sony at all - so my opinion may be biased however the only big advantages that the ps3 has over 360 is the fact it can output 1080p via hdmi and has the unproven bluray format built in.
everything else seems to be much of a muchness.
sony's grip on franchises like gta and others has slipped along with their release dates with publishers now having to release on 360 first or face huge losses due to sonys inaccurate user base predictions.
power wise they are both pretty much equal with the sony perhaps having a bit more processor grunt (albeit harder to actually program to realise this) whereas the 360's graphics processor is better so it pretty much evens out.
history suggests that the 360's online experience will be far better than sonys.
for the geeks out there it's possible to put linux on a ps3 and program it but that's not a major point for joe average
rumour has it that the 360 hardware is actually making a profit now on each unit sold whereas ps3 is losing around 400 bucks per unit so I'm expecting some impressive spoiler deals from Microsoft when the ps3 does eventually launch.

 

Useful insight Julian. Cheers.

 

Julian, interesting you say there isn't much difference between the processor speed of the 360 and PS3. You would normally expect the more recent product to be more powerful but if that's not the case, a 360 may well be what I'd go for.

I think Sony have really cocked up on this one, they must be loosing mega bucks over this whole PS3 delay saga. Anyone that gives Microsoft a head start in any market is asking for trouble.

p.s. How will a 360 look through the DVI (HDCP) input of my 1680 x 1050 LCD... will I get the full benefit in terms of graphics?

 

the cell processor has the edge on the 360 however the cell uses new (to the games industry) technology which means that it's difficult to get the best performance out of it / them and if you do it means that code is not that portable to other platforms - specifically 360 / wii and pc. conversely the latest pc's, the wii and the 360 all use broadly similar processor technology so the conversion process is an order of magnitude simpler.
i'm sure as things progress there will emerge techniques and systems that allow easy code porting however it's not here yet.
i think sony have been coasting and unless they really get on top of the situation are going to be swept aside by microsoft. aparently sony have something like a 5bn cash reserve big until you consider that microsoft have something like 30bn so microsoft can throw a hell of a lot more money at this than sony can. these figures are off the top of my head so they may be wildly inaccurate.
not sure about dvi - i think the 360 only has component out that can handle hi-def and i don;t think it will do 1080p only 1080i or 720p.

 

Personally, I would not like to see Microsoft gain control of the gaming market.

Microsoft appear to be chasing the gaming market just as intensely as the PC operating system market. If I was one of their competitors, I'd be shaking in my boots for sure.

 

One of their strategies (alongside Apple's) is to find their way into the living room. Media Server, XBOX, etc. Sony's natural place is the living room, but if the 360 usurps the PS3 Sony are in trouble. My understanding the Playstation is relied on to provide 40% of their annual profits!

 

The next few years really are going to be interesting. Processing and storage power and going through the roof and everyone wants to get in on it.
I still look at the little external hard disk on my desk and can't believe I can back-up ALL my business data onto it, it only cost as much as a meal in a restaurant for me and the missus!!

I am old enough to still find many things appearing now as being a bit "Buck Rogers", but the younger generation just take them for granted.

And I'm ONLY 36