True, True... the stuff does usually make it to the PC.

I got a Wii for my kids... so I think I'll try it out there first. Probably a lot more fun to swing a light saber with a Wii controller anyway.

What I dislike about games on the PC (in general) are:
1) I never seem to have that perfect mix of hardware to run the things flat out
2) Configuring for optimal performance is such a time consuming pain... and I usually seem to break 5 other things that were working fine in the process.
3) PC games don't seem to work out of the box! There seems to be this expectation nowadays that you must D/L patches before the thing will run.

What I dislike about console games:
1) Nobody is making games for Sim/RTS fans (with the possible exception of car racing games). I want SH3 and Falcon on the x360.
2) Limited FCS, keyboard, and mouse support for games.
3) Limited support for modders.

What's interesting is that I see the negatives related to PC gaming continuing to get worse while the negatives associated with console gaming will probably diminish. As the cost of next-gen consoles climb into the $300+ range I don't see them continuing to be viewed as playthings for children... I think that perception has already begun to shift. Now we just need the games to catchup a bit in sophistication. I'd be content to never play a game on the PC again... it's just that console game devs aren't making the kind of games I like.

Not only that but there's also Folding@Home - http://folding.stanford.edu/, which, if you check out the active processors and processing power, the PS3 is leading @ 913 TFLOPS.

Um, I do.:D They made it possible to have a PS3.:p

Yep, If I owned a 360 and it croaked as quickly as some have, I would love to have the opportunity to return it in person.;)

Presently, PS3 appears to be lagging behind the x360 in popularity; could just be my misguided perception though. Although the recent house-cleaning at Sony sorta confirmed that suspicion for me. I think Sony really shot themselves in the foot with their release date lag more than anything. You can't just give your competition a full year headstart and expect it to not have any consequences.

I have read that the PS3 appears to have more horsepower. Yet there does not seem to be many (if any) games that take advantage of this processing/graphics edge. Are there any PS3 exclusives out there that should sway my opinion?

I'm getting ready to install Vista 64 on my main home PC and I've skimmed a few articles here and there mentioning some sort of Vista media management software/system that allows the x360 to display video from the PC.

I kinda like the idea of setting up a slingbox (or something like that) to allow my PC to record TV (like Tivo) and storing that to a huge network storage drive to recall later with the x360. But I dunno, the PS3 might have the same features... I'm just thinking maybe if MS developed Vista and the xBox, they might play nicer together?

Recently, I would say it's your imagination, though I suspect anyone who really wanted one already had them. As far as shooting themselves in the foot, a little, but I don't think the difference in releases dates has hurt Sony as much as one might expect.

I'm not aware of any that really pushes the hardware like they can, nor any must have exclusive, however, PALs will be getting a tivo for their PS3 unlike poor americans who have those lovely Assrape-Associations of America to crusade against the free peo- protect copyright laws under a court of jus- law.

I'd be interested in a 360, IF THEY ADDED BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY. That's why I have a PS3, and the fact that sony killed that feature makes me want to... to.... draw a cartoon! Of Muhammad! And name Sony as the author!

worldwide its outselling the 360.

subman1 - the ps3 is quiter then the 360, mine is dead silent makes less noise then a single 80mm cooling fan in my PC.

herr_pete - the bluray drive actually has a more constant and slightly faster average read rate then the 360's dvd drive not that that has anything to do with framerates anyway.

also bluray isnt a sony only propriety its controlled by over 20 companies and sony isnt the biggest of them.

Don't worry FIREWALL, it is very confusing.:yep: It's not helped by the many different types of PS3 available.

I would suggest that, if you can, find a 60gb PS3 that supports backwards compatibility. Of course thats only an issue if you wish to keep playing PS1/PS2 games.

I favour the PS3 over the 360 purely because you get everything in the one package and that package is very easy to use. While the 360 limits you to specially designed MS hardware addons, the PS3 is plug and play on all devices, just like a PC, so you can use a USB HDD from your PC as additional storage, use your USB or wireless Keyboard/Mouse or hook your digicam directly to it. The PS3 recognises everything plugged into it. It makes life a lot easier.

One of my personal favorite features of the PS3 is the Remote Play/Remote Start feature. This means that wherever I am in the world, as long as I have WIFI access, I can switch on my PS3 via my PSP and use any/all content stored in the PS3, games, movies & music alike. Also, as my PS3 is hardwired to my PC, vie router, I can also stream any additional content from my PC over the same remote WIFI connection.:rock:When I'm done, I can remotely switch the PS3 off again.

As to the 'horsepower' of the PS3. It's true that no-one as even come close to tapping the processing power of the PS3. Currently the most demanding game available for the PS3 is Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and this game only used 30% of the available processing power. I think we'll soon see the devs really begin tapping the available power, with titles such as Haze, Killzone 2, Gran Turismo 5 & MGS4 (all exclusive to the PS3). From now to the end of 2008 is the time the titles on the PS3 will really make the console shine.

TIVO for the PS3: There is (available soon) a device called PlayTV which connects directly to your PS3 which will enable you to view & save free-to-air digital channels directly to your PS3 with no DRM limitations. I'll admit that this service might be a little limited within the US, however, here in the UK, we get around 50+ free digital channels, these and more will be available to us.:rock:

If the Wii interaction/motion is your thing. The PS3 also supports this type of interaction through the Sixaxis controller & PSEye. While these titles/content are still in their infancy, there are some awesome titles already available, such as High Velocity Bowling, I can tell you this is great fun, and Eye of Judgment, which is an innovative interactive digital card game.

All this aside, I'll concede that console preference is always down to the individual. Just happens that I'm a Playstation man.

My advise to anyone who want's more info is to check out - http://www.ps3forums.com/ - I'll give you fair warning, it's not Subsim. People over there are quite petulant at times & rude. Also, due to the console nature of the members, the English language seems to be left at the login.:rotfl: However, it is the most active PS3 forum around with many detailed reviews and hardware explanations. As well as a lot of bitching.:lol:

Either way, I'll answer any questions people may have.:up:

Sounds to me like...

If you decide to go with a PS3, buy the cheapest model (aka. smallest HD) and then swap out the HD later if necessary. Are there other features to be aware of between PS3 versions?

Have to admit, I like what I'm hearing about the PS3 plug-n-play compatibility.

Yes, there are other differences between the models, based on the UK models:

IIRC the US has/had 20gb, 40gb, 60gb, 80gb. However, I'm not sure about the features of each except the ones I list below. Also, in the US, is don't know which are currently on sale.

60gb model's features:

-60gb hard drive
- Backward compatibility with Ps2 & Ps1 (hardware or emulaton BC)
- 4 usb ports
- memory card slots (x5)
- 90nm cell chip
- Plays SACD's

Latest 40gb model's features:

-40gb hard drive
- Backward compatibilty with PS1 only (now discontinued on latest batch)
- 2 usb ports
- No memory card slots.
- 65nm cell chip - helps to run cooler and quieter (RUMOR UNCONFIRMED)

There is also a 20gb model (US only I think) which has no HDMI output or WIFI.

Personally, for the intended full fuctionality of the PS3, the 60GB is the only model to go with. Try the stores, ebay/amazon etc, these are still stocked regardless of the latest Sony statments. Just double check with the vendor of the features list.

FYI, the PS3's file storage system uses FAT32 on external drives, so you are limited to a (approx) 4gb max file size. However, with streaming and virtual/real media servers, it's not a problem.;)

EDIT - If your intent is to upgrade the HDD, my 250gb 2.5in SATA 5400 HDD cost me £62.99. Bargin. However, you will be able to get cheaper now.

EDIT EDIT - How could I forget....The PS3 Online Service (aka PSN) is 100% free, so no annual charges.

EDIT EDIT EDIT - Disclaimer time - For christ's sake do not decide to buy a PS3 (or any console for that matter) due to what I have put in this post, I standby what I say but the choice is yours. Get yourself out to the stores and play test one, just make sure your testing a PS3 exclusive game and not a crappy port, failing that try friends/family if they already own one. My brother & sister all owned a 360 until they tried my PS3. ;)

Lololol, Danlisa, you'd make a good PR person for Sony. :rotfl:

Yeah, shut up and buy one.:D

MGS4 is released on June 12th with bundled online play (MGSO).:rock::rock:

I'm looking forward to seeing what PS3 games are going to be like in a few years time. For example, look at say... Red Faction on the PS2, then look at BLACK, see how much the gfx have improved? Uncharted's graphics are awesome, so what the hell are they gonna be like in 4 years??? You can probably tell I don't like 360s. MS don't seem to care that they are so unreliable. You'd have thought that after being released for over a year, they'd have been fixed.

:hmm: Why wait 4 years. It's here now - http://www.autoblog.com/photos/gran-...ogue-2/686853/

BTW, that's a fixed 60fps driving simulator called Gran Turismo 5 - Prologue (aka somewhere between a demo & full game) Hitting your PSN Store soon.:p:rotfl:

Well good news on that front. I got a call today from the hardware store I was in last summer (the warehouse job) and they asked if I'd want to go there this spring and work till late fall. Gonna go sign the contract on Thursday. So, mid-summer, I should have plenty of money to buy me a PS3. :up:

Have to say... My opinion has been swayed more in the favor of a PS3.

For some reason though, the styling of the thing reminds me of Spiderman 3.

In which case, everytime I look at it, I get this image in my head of Tobey Maguire whining and crying. Perhaps this is the real reason why the PS3 sales are lagging?

If there's ever a 4th movie; might as well just start Peter Parker off crying in a skirt.