bobsmith

@20 IMHO it is impossible to separate out power and architecture. On paper, the PS3 has more "raw power" if you add up all the SPEs. However, it is next to impossible to actually use that power in any meaningful way. Thus, in practice, 360 has more usable power in real world scenarios. Certain functions well suited to the PS3 (e.g. Folding@home) are the one place where I think that we will see even a fraction of the PS3's processors used to their potential.

I am a part-time game developer, and I cannot even imagine how I would go about efficiently writing actual game code for the PS3's architecture. Basically, while the Cell processor is a very powerful thing, IMHO it is simply the wrong tool for the job...kind of like trying to go offroad racing in a Bugatti Veyron.

@30

If it was me, I would just try to repair it myself. There are a bunch of guides floating around (e.g. http://rbjtech.bulldoghome.com/pages/rbjtech_bulldoghome_com/XClamp.htm)

I am also in the no problems crowd. I have a launch day 360, and no issues whatsoever (except for 3 or 4 lockups in the last 18 months). I'm not even careful with airflow etc...I have it horizontal with stuff crammed all over it, and the HD-Dvd drive sitting on top.

Honestly, I have kind of been waiting for this one to die so I can justify getting an elite...

@urbanstorm

But in this case we are ONLY talking about the NPD
numbers, which are the same regardless of manufacturer, and they go on retailer sales. From these articles and numbers, the conclusions that I draw are:

1) 1.5 million copies of FFXII were shipped to North American retailers for launch day.

2) As of the end of November, United States consumers had bought 896,000 copies of FFXII.

3)Therefore, either the remaining 604,000 copies were sold to Canadian/Mexican consumers, OR many of those launch day copies are still sitting on retailer shelves.

4) Regardless of where those copies of FFXII are, more copies of GOW have been sold to consumers in the US than FFXII.

@urbanstorm and Derbeste

You are both incorrect. Read the articles I posted in #27 above. FFXII launch day was NOT included in October NPD reporting period, and WAS included in the November period. GOW has outsold FFXII in the US.

@Eagle

At least according to the following two articles, the NPD reporting period for October was October 1 – October 28, and FFXII falls outside that period. Therefore the November results include the FFXII launch day, and it was second to GOW for the month. I believe the 1.5 million number you referenced was the amount shipped to retailers for launch, not the actual number sold.


http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11555

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4173&Itemid=2

To the folks saying that the comparison is invalid because "you cannot compare 2nd gen 360 stuff to PS3 launch titles," bear in mind that Fight Night 3 was basically a 360 launch title. It was released on Feb. 20, 2006. Moreover, the demo was released on Jan 6, 2006 (about 6 weeks after the 360 launched) and looked basically the same as the final. So, in practice, this really is an apples to apples comparison.

At least according to its datasheet: http://www.3dconnexion.com/docs/Navigator_ds_FF.pdf, the SpaceNavigator supports a ton of applications such as 3D Studio, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, XSI, Maya etc. There must be a disconnect somewhere...

IMHO it is silly to say that extended warranties are a bad deal without context. Like ANY insurance, you will generally pay out more in the cost of insurance than you will recover from it when/if it pays out (otherwise the insurance companies would go bankrupt). However, the purpose of insurance/extended warranties is to manage and control risk. For example, if you know you will need a laptop for 4 years (eg for school), and you know that you cannot afford to replace it if it fails, then a 4 year warranty makes perfect logical sense.

Funny, reading the articles themselves gives a TOTALLY different impression than the engadget post. Overall the articles were fairly positive (while still noting the shortcomings), and certainly were nothing like the panning that the engadget story suggests. IMHO the engadget writer needs to work on his journalistic integrity here..