PS3 or XBox 360

[MartyFunkhouser]

Also, I would hesitate to use a game console as a blueray player, when cheap bluray players can be had for $90 or less. I don't see a reason to put too much wear and tear on the game disc player.

I realize that I'm putting a lot of strain on the xbox360 and that I will eventually burn it out. It is basically the media center now for me. I don't have cable or satellite, so I use it frequently for Netflix/espn3. I also now have a 2 terabyte hard drive attached directly to it that I use for my DVD collection. It works well and I realize that I'll probably be buying another xbox in 2 years, if I'm lucky.

[Surfah]

That is very cool. Also the USB memory option is nice for dlc.

My brother has a few game stores. He sometimes buys blown xbox consoles and refurbishes them for resale. He suggested that I buy the 4mb version and later but the 256mb hard drive on ebay for $50. But with cloud storage and USB memory, perhaps that isn't an issue.

The Xbox media center is also very useful, as it will stream media from my main computer directly to the tv, plus Netflix and hulu.

How much is xbox-live annually? I will probably get that console.

$50 at Costco. Last week I saw it for $38 on Buy.com or something.

[NorthwestUteFan]

USCoug,

I forgot about the RRoD problem. It seems every one of my son's friends who have Xbox have experienced the red ring of death. I also did not know about the PS3 media system, thanks for correcting me. Lastly, my kids already have problems using appropriate language. If they are going to be inundated with adolescents screaming obscenities over the mic then I am less interested in online play.

Funk,

I am more concerned about using the mechanical bluray player ocntinually than in using the electronic side of the system. For the most part if an electronic system survives the initial 24 hour burn in, it will last a very long time. Keep the Xbox cool and you will probably avoid the RRoD.

Overall it seems each system is nearly on par with the other.

[lambdacoug]

First and foremost, it depends on what your friends have. Do they have an Xbox? Get an Xbox. Do they have a PS3? Get that. If neither of these matter to you, get a PS3. I've had extensive experience with both and I can confidently say that the PS3 is a better system. It's a great system with many perks. Let me elaborate by first responding to some posts in this thread.



and this...



And don't even get me started on RRoD. Pretty much every single person I know has had to either repair their Xbox or buy an entirely new system. The new "elite" models are also getting the red ring of death.

As mentioned above, the PS3 is also a Blu-Ray player. Not only is it a Blu-Ray player, it's a good one. It'll play 3D movies if you have all the right stuff. Although this is not my thing, it can be something you can do down the road. A 3D Blu-Ray player on it's own retails for about $150-$200. This is great for doing both movies and Netflix.

I'm not like most people, but I prefer the PS3 controller since it's better for platforming games and things like those. However, the PS3 controllers come with rechargable lithium batteries that you can recharge without buying anything extra. The comparable basic Xbox controllers will require buying of AA batteries. If you absolutely love the reversed joysticks and triggers of the Xbox controller, there are ones available with similar design for the PS3 so there's really nothing missing here.

Sony has said that they will be supporting the PS3 for 10 years. So that means it will have another 4-5 years while rumors of a new Xbox being announced next year are already springing up with some people I know.

I'm a PS3 guy. I've loved the Playstation platform from the beginning. Thanks for the info. I use my PS3 as my media center, Netlfix, Hulu and PSN have completely replaced the need for TV in my house. I have about 9GB of my music on it as well, and I can stream things from my (linux) laptop through the media connector it provides. That set up though is beyond what most people are willing to do. The comment about online play was specifically in regard to support, not the quality of the play. Because xbox gamers are paying for online access, MS has a greater liability to help the paying customers.

[Zubaz]

PS3, all the way.. The only reason I even touch my xbox is for Call of Duty and the only reason I have COD on the xbox is because my friends and family do.

My xbox has RROD on me TWICE! The second time they gave me a huge hassle because I had already sent it in before. The third xbox they sent me was a completely different unit so now I'm just waiting on that to RROD.

The whole argument about xbox being better online is nothing more than people wanting to justify paying sixty bones for something that is free everywhere else. As far as competition goes, My K/D on COD is way higher on xbox. The ps3 seemed to have better competition.

Besides that, the only exclusives the xbox has that are worthwhile that aren't on ps3 are all of the halo games. ps3 exclusive games are much better. (which were outlined earlier in this thread.)

[falafel]

I'm not like most people, but I prefer the PS3 controller since it's better for platforming games and things like those. However, the PS3 controllers come with rechargable lithium batteries that you can recharge without buying anything extra. The comparable basic Xbox controllers will require buying of AA batteries. If you absolutely love the reversed joysticks and triggers of the Xbox controller, there are ones available with similar design for the PS3 so there's really nothing missing here.

I'd be interested in what you've found along these lines. I searched long and hard for an xbox-style PS3 controller but found nothing that was very close. I even looked seriously at trying to make a PS360 controller, but eventually decided I couldn't handle it.

[USCoug]

I'd be interested in what you've found along these lines. I searched long and hard for an xbox-style PS3 controller but found nothing that was very close. I even looked seriously at trying to make a PS360 controller, but eventually decided I couldn't handle it.

That looks like an impressive project...but it might be easier just to buy one of these!

http://gizmodo.com/5563483/power-a-m...er-for-the-ps3

The thing about the Xbox controllers is the carved out joysticks. Some people prefer that, some people prefer the mound of the PS3 controller. This controller has pretty much the same exterior design as the standard 360 controller. The only different really is the triggers might be a bit different. A wired version of this controller retails for $19. There are a few others that I can find for you that work pretty well if you're that interested.

I still prefer the PS3 controller over the Xbox design though. I've been playing a lot of the new Mortal Kombat game lately on my PS3, and the controller is perfect for it.

[Pheidippides]

OrangeUte, you've kicked a hornet's nest. What you're going to get is a bunch of fan boys for one or the other.

We have both, but it's not a fair comparison even in my house because most of the gaming is done on the xbox since my family and friends are on there. The PS3 is mostly used for netflix and DVDs/blue rays. I like xbox live better than PSN (cost aside). I like the interface better on the PS3. I'd give the PS3 a very, very, very slight edge on graphics. I hate the PS3 controller (despite it being more or less the same one I had with my PSX) and I like the Xbox controller. I can't properly compare sound because one is hooked up to surround sound and one is not. The PS3 has some great titles for it only, the Xbox has Halo (but that's long in the tooth).

I can keep going. My advice is to get whatever friends/family have. Most of us are on Xbox right now because of the PSN outage, but the past may not be a good predictor of the future.

[OrangeUte]

OrangeUte, you've kicked a hornet's nest. What you're going to get is a bunch of fan boys for one or the other.

We have both, but it's not a fair comparison even in my house because most of the gaming is done on the xbox since my family and friends are on there. The PS3 is mostly used for netflix and DVDs/blue rays. I like xbox live better than PSN (cost aside). I like the interface better on the PS3. I'd give the PS3 a very, very, very slight edge on graphics. I hate the PS3 controller (despite it being more or less the same one I had with my PSX) and I like the Xbox controller. I can't properly compare sound because one is hooked up to surround sound and one is not. The PS3 has some great titles for it only, the Xbox has Halo (but that's long in the tooth).

I can keep going. My advice is to get whatever friends/family have. Most of us are on Xbox right now because of the PSN outage, but the past may not be a good predictor of the future.

Great advice. most of my friends and family use Xbox so i went with that. i figured we would probably end up swapping games, etc., and with online gaming, that would be more fun. I got a great deal on the Xbox through best buy. 250gb for $299 and a $75 gift card (until this Sunday for anyone interested). i put the $75 toward the Kinect and got it for $50 less than the bundle.

Kids will like the kinect, and late at night, i will enjoy some alone time with halo or call of duty or whatever else there is. i won't be good, but that's okay. i'm glad to finally be moving on from the wii. aside from super mario bros. and mario kart, i wasn't a big fan of many games on the wii.

thanks for the input everyone!

[Colly Wolly]

Great advice. most of my friends and family use Xbox so i went with that. i figured we would probably end up swapping games, etc., and with online gaming, that would be more fun. I got a great deal on the Xbox through best buy. 250gb for $299 and a $75 gift card (until this Sunday for anyone interested). i put the $75 toward the Kinect and got it for $50 less than the bundle.

Kids will like the kinect, and late at night, i will enjoy some alone time with halo or call of duty or whatever else there is. i won't be good, but that's okay. i'm glad to finally be moving on from the wii. aside from super mario bros. and mario kart, i wasn't a big fan of many games on the wii.

thanks for the input everyone!

You have chosen...wisely.