Considering the PS3 for my Blu-ray player...

[Sonnie]

If I go the PS3 route... is this about all I need:

PlayStation 3 80GB Motorstorm Pack $499




PlayStation 3 Blu Wave Remote $14




PlayStation 3 Wireless Sixaxis Controller $42




I figure I may as well grab the extra controller just in case our daughter has some company all along.


I assume there's really no discounts to be had on the PS3.


I wonder if anyone if offering any coupons anywhere.

[wbassett]

Where ever you get one if you go this route make sure you can get an extended warranty. Not because they have problems or anything, but because it's an expensive piece of gear (compared to the nowadays disposable DVD player prices). Piece of mind is always worth it if you ask me. Definitely stay away from the 40GB version.


Also here's the list of the five free offer you get to pick from-
Category 1

• The Prestige
• Wild Hogs
• Pirates of the Carribean:
• Curse of the Black Pearl

Category 2

• Swordfish
• Superman: The Movie
• Full Metal Jacket

Category 3

• Stir of Echoes
• American Psycho
• The Devil's Rejects

Category 4

• The Patriot
• S.W.A.T.
• Ultraviolet

Category 5

• Chain Reaction
• Omen 666
• Flight of the Phoenix
• Species
• Hart's War
• The Last Waltz

Just like the HD DVD free movie offers, not many good ones listed.

Also and not now, but if you decide on a PS3, add this to your list of future items... I like the My Book drives, but any USB 2 external drive will work. These are great for storing your TV Episode DVDs all in one spot or movie trilogies, things like that, and it's like using a DVR in that respect- Just navigate to what you want to watch and click play.

Oh, it upconverts these video files as well...

[Ayreonaut]

You can play media from an external drive with the PS3? Cool!

I read in several places that a firmware update is coming that will enable the PS3 to output 1080p24 via HDMI.

Here's my scheme:

PlayStation 3 -> HDMI 1.3a (1080p24 & 7.1 PCM) -> Denon AVR-1908 -> Sony KDS-50A3000

Will this work?

[wbassett]

Ayreonaut wrote:

You can play media from an external drive with the PS3? Cool!

yepperdoodle you sure can, and it even upconverts to 1080p

I've been doing this for 6-8 months now.

[Ayreonaut]

Does it play ISO files? FLAC?

[Sonnie]

It's my understanding that the PS3 already outputs 1024p/24 via HDMI.

[Ayreonaut]

I found this:

The following types of files can be displayed under (Photo).

• JPEG (DCF 2.0/Exif 2.21 compliant)
• TIFF
• BMP
• GIF
• PNG

The following types of files can be played under (Music).

• Memory Stick Audio Format(ATRAC)
• MP3(MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer 3)
• MP4(MPEG-4 AAC)
• WAVE(Linear PCM)
• WMA

The following types of files can be played under (Video).

• Memory Stick Video Format
• - MPEG-4 SP (AAC LC)
• - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC LC)
• MP4 file format
• - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile (AAC LC)
• MPEG-1 (MPEG Audio Layer 2)
• MPEG-2 PS (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2, AAC LC, AC3(Dolby Digital), LPCM)
• MPEG-2 TS (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2)
• AVI
• - Motion JPEG (Linear PCM)
• - Motion JPEG (μ-Law)
• AVCHD （.m2ts / .mts）
• DivX
• WMV
• - VC-1（WMA Standard V2)

[Ayreonaut]

Sonnie, you're right. Hooray!

I found this in the manual:

BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI)

Set whether to use 1080p 24 Hz video output mode for output of BD video. Set this option when the system is connected to a TV using an HDMI cable. Adjust the settings as necessary for the TV in use.

Automatic Set to automatically switch the video output mode to match the TV that is connected.

Off Set to output at the maximum resolution that has been selected in the video output settings of the PS3™ system. (The video output will not be displayed at 1080p 24 Hz.)

On Set to output BD video that was recorded at 1080p 24 Hz directly at a resolution of 1080p 24 Hz.

Hints

• The TV or AV amplifier (receiver) in use must support 1080p 24 Hz video mode. For details, refer to the instructions supplied with the device.
• The Blu-ray Disc (BD) that is to be played must also support 1080p 24 Hz video mode. In most cases, video is recorded at 1080p 24 Hz resolution for commercially available BD video software (BD-ROMs) for which "1080p" is displayed as the recording mode.
• If the video output settings do not match the TV in use, video may not be displayed on the screen when the resolution changes. However, the setting will automatically reset to the original resolution after a short while. If nothing is displayed on the screen for more than 30 seconds, turn off the system, and then turn it on again.
• If video does not display correctly when [Automatic] or [On] is selected, set this option to [Off].

http://manuals.playstation.net/docum...ings.html#2462

[Ayreonaut]

And this concerning the PS3's decoding capabilities:

Channels that can be used for output - HDMI - 7.1 Ch.

*1 A device compatible with Linear PCM 7.1. Ch. is required to output 7.1 Ch. audio from the HDMI OUT connector.

*2 The system does not support output from DTS-HD 7.1 Ch. DTS-HD 7.1 Ch. audio is output from 5.1 or a lower channel.

http://manuals.playstation.net/docum...diooutput.html

** Dolby TrueHD can still be decoded inside the PS3 and sent as uncompressed audio to the AV receiver, but if the AV receiver has an integrated decoder it can't be used instead of the PS3's decoder. **

** This was confirmed by a Sony representative.**

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/05/08...or-ps3-owners/

[HomeTeam]

wbassett wrote:

Piece of mind is always worth it if you ask me. Definitely stay away from the 40GB version.

What's wrong with the 40 GB version? I was thinking of getting that one mainly for the Blu-Ray and since I'm not a big gamer (I'm only looking foward to Metal Gear Solid 4) I figure that'll be the best one for me.

[Hakka]

I see there area few references to the ps3 being HDMI v1.3 compliant, this is not the case. The HDMI transmitter chip inside the PS3 is only v1.2.
The PS3 will never be able to bitstream TrueHD and DTS Master to a compatible AVR.
It is possible that the PS3 will be firmware upgraded to decode DTS-MA and pass it as linear PCM.

Hakka.

[John Simpson]

Hakka wrote:

I see there area few references to the ps3 being HDMI v1.3 compliant, this is not the case. The HDMI transmitter chip inside the PS3 is only v1.2.
The PS3 will never be able to bitstream TrueHD and DTS Master to a compatible AVR.
It is possible that the PS3 will be firmware upgraded to decode DTS-MA and pass it as linear PCM.

Hak, is there any way we can absolutely confirm this? I did a Google search and found a number of articles claiming the PS3 was the first consumer product to have HDMI 1.3a, and I'm almost certain that's what's in the manual too (although I can't seem to find mine -- handy!).

Are you sure you don't mean the XBox 360? That's HDMI 1.2, I believe...

Not arguing with you -- just intrigued to know!

[wbassett]

Everything I have read and manual states it is 1.3.

[Hakka]

http://formatwarcentral.com/index.php/2007/05/08/does-the-ps3-really-have-hdmi-13/

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/05/08...or-ps3-owners/

The hardware is not capable of transmitting HD bitstream audio, although technically it is a v1.3 port, it doesn't support all the 1.3 features. This is not something that can be fixed by a firmware upgrade.

Sony reps have acknowledged that this is correct.

Hakka.

[yourgrandma]

I've been scanning Craigslist for PS3's and I've found a 60gb for $400 (I'm offering $350). I really can't find a whole lot of info on the 60gb version, though. Do they even sell them anymore? What is the actual price on them? All I could find was preliminary pricing info.

I think I'm gonna go the PS3 route, makes good sense to me, but I'm not sure what I should spend. (I don't feel like paying full price)

[MrPorterhouse]

yourgrandma wrote:

I've been scanning Craigslist for PS3's and I've found a 60gb for $400 (I'm offering $350). I really can't find a whole lot of info on the 60gb version, though. Do they even sell them anymore? What is the actual price on them? All I could find was preliminary pricing info.

I think I'm gonna go the PS3 route, makes good sense to me, but I'm not sure what I should spend. (I don't feel like paying full price)

I bought a 60GB PS3 right around launch in Dec 2006. It has been flawless since day one. Its built like a tank and has all the bells and whistles, including the Compact Flash, SD Card adapters on the front panel, and actual hardware to play the older PS2 games, not just software emmulation like they use in the 80GB PS3. The 60GB version is the way to go if possible.

[yourgrandma]

Word. Hopefully I can still get it. I sent an email, but haven't gotten a reply yet. I can get 720p out of it wit component, right? I don't have HDMI switching and haven't gotten a switch and cable yet, so for the time being I'd be using component video.

How does it's upconversion compare to, say, a Denon DVD-1920? I know I'll be keeping that to play DVD-A anyway, but should I bother with using HDMI on both the PS3 and DVD player?

Sorry, Sonnie, I don't want to jack your thread. I think these questions will help us both out, though.


EDIT: I got a reply and he still has it. Is $350 reasonable? He says it's basically brand new. His first one pooped out on him and Sony sent him a replacement that he rarely uses, and is thus selling.

[MrPorterhouse]

yourgrandma wrote:

Word. Hopefully I can still get it. I sent an email, but haven't gotten a reply yet. I can get 720p out of it wit component, right? I don't have HDMI switching and haven't gotten a switch and cable yet, so for the time being I'd be using component video.
How does it's upconversion compare to, say, a Denon DVD-1920? I know I'll be keeping that to play DVD-A anyway, but should I bother with using HDMI on both the PS3 and DVD player?

Sorry, Sonnie, I don't want to jack your thread. I think these questions will help us both out, though.


EDIT: I got a reply and he still has it. Is $350 reasonable? He says it's basically brand new. His first one pooped out on him and Sony sent him a replacement that he rarely uses, and is thus selling.

$350 is a fair price. I paid $599 for mine and I'd pay that all over again. I am VERY HAPPY with it! If you are looking for a fantastic Blu-ray player, I'd still recommend the PS3 over anything else under $1000. Now, that Marantz looks awesome, but for $2500, I would hope it is.

[Sonnie]

I agree... $350 sounds like a great price.

I'm still considering the 1400 and am having a hard time deciding. One minute I think PS3, the next 1400. Supposedly firmware updates have the 1400 up to par and it does have the Reon processor in it.

[yourgrandma]

Well shucks! The guy selling the 60gb PS3 sold it today. Do they even make them anymore? From what I'm hearing, the 60gb is the best option. Are the others actually not compatible with ps2 games? I guess I won't be getting into high def after all. (Moans in disgust)

[yourgrandma]

I've been doing some homework and the 60gb PS3 is no longer produced. In order to get PS2 game compatability, I'd need an 80gb. Way to reward repeat business, Sony. Thanks. I really cant think of any reason I need any hard drive space, so this bothers me. $500 is sort of a lot for me right now, especially for a game consol. I'm doing some more shopping.

EDIT: Ya know, I'm looking at the other BD players, and I guess I'll just have to get the infernal PS3. It just bugs me that I'm buying another computer.