Ric

#39 - Jago, The playstation *helped* usher in cd technology as a storage format by showing the obvious benefit enhanced storage space gave at the time.

Also just because I cited Bill Gates opinion doesn't mean I agree with him or that it's a for sure thing. I'm actually happy the hd-dvd drive is just an add-on for the 360, although i'd prefer it over blu-ray also. I'm not a supporter of either next gen format yet.

#41 bd - I haven't seen any reports or news articles that claim Blu-Ray will be easily extractable like HD-DVD. Can you please show me where you've seen this? I apologize if I am wrong, but have only seen specs that contradict this.

#46 D - I'm not a supporter of either format, but believe HD-DVD to be more consumer friendly if it is the only format that lows for easy extraction via DRMS to other devices. Once again like with #44, I can only find info that is contrary to blu-ray supporting DRMs.

#48 bearattack79 - Thats a big question we'd all like answered.

***

Once again I plan on buying a ps3 eventually (depending on the launch date, line up and price) but don't considered myself biased in favor of Microsoft just because I've honestly been impressed with my 360. I really truely enjoy the new xbox live system and the media extender functionality and would recommend it to anyone looking for the same features.

bearattack79,

Blu-Ray is a next-gen media storage format that in my opinion is anti-consumer and pro-corporation. DVD is a hi def digital format and the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray is hardly noticeable unless you have an extremely expensive and high quality television.

Sony essentially wants everyone to forsake their existing dvd format movie collections and games for blu-ray media so that they can get a license fee off of every blu-ray product made. They feel that since they helped usher in cd technology (ps1) and dvd technology (ps2) that they should determine the markets direction. It is true that a benefit of Blu-Ray is more storage space (54 gigs I believe as opposed to 9 gigs on dvd) but you will find many arguements out there that the market doesn't need, and won't ever need bigger optical disks.

It is widely believed that dvd-9 is that last true media format before everything moves towards online distribution a la music sales on iTunes. (Essentially digital rights management "DRM" is the next big thing)

Sony hopes otherwise with Blu-Ray, and Microsoft has put it's eggs in two baskets counting on X-box live to be an eventual distribution point or HD-DVD disks to tide everyone over.

HD-DVD is another upcoming media format (by toshiba I think?) that has around 32 gigs of storage space I believe and allows users to freely copy the contents of disks to any device for portable use via a DRM technology. Bill Gates is a big proponent of portability, and believes HD-DVD is the best choice if the choice has to be made.

Regardless I'd rather just have a dvd drive in my ps3, and have them spending all their time on making a service similar to x-box live for the ps3. But then again I'm not smoking the same crack they are. =P

I buy all consoles, but have to say in all honesty that I love the online connectivity of the 360 and have never had as much fun connecting with my friends so easily to play games as I do on the 360. It's a great console and probably will be my favorite out of the next generation. In all honesty the original xbox was my least favorite last generation.

-Ric

I think launch date and demos become increasingly more important as the launch price goes up. Giving consumers a choice is important to Sonys success. If consumers have to wait to long, and have to pay to much Sony could be playing with fire. Seriously, besides for blu-ray which is bad for the industry imo.. what feature of the ps3 *clearly* outdoes the 360 and warrants the extra cash?

That alone warrants this as a hot topic, and comparing Sony to Apple is irrelevant. Apple has a long standing tradition of dependable product unveilings bi-annually and really has only seen wide success with it's ipod platform. While both the ps3 and ipod are consumer electronics, no one has been able to come up with an ipod killer but microsoft has a great ps3 killer available now.

-Ric

"This is nothing, but don't even try adding the power supply!" - Cat

or

-In Sony's vision of the future you'd need a Sony branded cat for the ps3-

or

-Thats one frikkin cute and fuzzy HD-DVD player add-on-


-Ric

=)

Everyone jokes about the 360 and it's parallels to the dreamcast, but I'm starting to think Sonys mistakes due to format choice and programming difficulty might make for a rehash of the n64.

If it launches with 2 games and none on the horizon for another half a year, the market could be turned upside down. At least the n64 was relatively cheap.

-Ric