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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Halo on February 28, 2008, 08:52:35 PM

Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Halo on February 28, 2008, 08:52:35 PM
How many of you use your Sony Playstation 3 mostly for viewing Blu-ray movies?  I didn't realize this was one of its main uses until researching for a Blu-ray disc player.  

Are you satisfied with the 40-gig version or do you use/want the 60-gig or 80-gig version?

Do any of you use the HDMI from Playstation to DVI on your HDTV?  My HDTV is four years old so it has DVI but not HDMI.  

I'm just starting to think about a Blu-ray disc player, and was surprised to see the Sony Playstation 3 is such a popular choice in addition to its appeal as a game machine.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Hoarach on February 28, 2008, 08:53:59 PM
Wow I never thought about watching movies on my PS3.  Forgot all about that it was a blu-ray disc player.  I have the 60GB version when it first came out.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: sluggish on February 28, 2008, 09:02:09 PM
Not only is the PS3 one of the best bluray players out, it is also a great networked media player.  The forty gig is fine as long as you don't care about playing PS1 or PS2 games (it's not reverse compatable).
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: JB73 on February 28, 2008, 09:10:41 PM
I know I posted about it before
http://forums.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=153196&highlight=sony


and somewhere else besides this. I think I was saying even back then the blu-ray will prevail because of storage size, and the might of sony at the time. add in for $399 you got a blu-ray player, opposed to a $600+ stand alone player

but IIRC back a year ago or so, they blu-ray player in the PS3 was only allowing 720P not 1080P.

how is it now?

also, unless you have a 1080P monitor it doesn't really make a difference.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: sluggish on February 28, 2008, 09:25:48 PM
Full 1080p.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: OOZ662 on February 28, 2008, 10:11:19 PM
Remember that the PS3 uses industry-standard hard drives. If you get one with the right specs and install it (goodbye warranty, though) you can have a 500 GB PlayStation.

EDIT: Looks like currently the NTSC 60GB version of the PS3 has the most features, including the Emotion Engine (PS2 CPU for backwards compatibility) and emulation of the PS1. The 80GB version has some little feature losses and dropped the Emotion Engine for emulation of the PS2, meaning that compatibility with older games decreased quite a bit from what I've read.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: mg1942 on February 28, 2008, 11:52:24 PM
The PS3 is more powerful than current Intel/AMD powered high-end PCs today.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: TwentyFo on February 29, 2008, 12:29:02 AM
Quote
Originally posted by sluggish
Not only is the PS3 one of the best bluray players out, it is also a great networked media player.  The forty gig is fine as long as you don't care about playing PS1 or PS2 games (it's not reverse compatable).


It is reverse compatible. My friend owns a PS3 and we play Madden 08 from the PS2 counsel all the time. The reason we play the PS2 version is because Madden08 on PS3 is garbage. Why can't they combine the PS2 gameplay with the PS3 graphics.......:rolleyes:
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: TwentyFo on February 29, 2008, 12:32:38 AM
Quote
Originally posted by JB73

but IIRC back a year ago or so, they blu-ray player in the PS3 was only allowing 720P not 1080P.

how is it now?

also, unless you have a 1080P monitor it doesn't really make a difference.


It definitely produces 1080P picture. My roommate has one in his room and it is breathtaking. Of course you need a 1080P monitor/TV to produce max quality. I recommend Planet Earth on BluRay for anyone wanting to see what 1080P is all about.

Side Note: Speaking of cool technologies on the horizon check out Sony's Organic LED's. Here is a youtube video, prepare to be amazed.:aok

Paper Thin OLED Screen (http://youtube.com/watch?v=NcAm3KihFho)
More OLED Screen. Gonna be out this year (http://youtube.com/watch?v=TZBj0lxg5v0)
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: mg1942 on February 29, 2008, 12:55:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by TwentyFo
It definitely produces 1080P picture. My roommate has one in his room and it is breathtaking. Of course you need a 1080P monitor/TV to produce max quality. I recommend Planet Earth on BluRay for anyone wanting to see what 1080P is all about.

Side Note: Speaking of cool technologies on the horizon check out Sony's Organic LED's. Here is a youtube video, prepare to be amazed.:aok

Paper Thin OLED Screen (http://youtube.com/watch?v=NcAm3KihFho)
More OLED Screen. Gonna be out this year (http://youtube.com/watch?v=TZBj0lxg5v0)



I thought 1,000,000 : 1 contrast ratio was a mis-print

OLED and Solid State Disk on laptops... I can't wait!
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: mg1942 on February 29, 2008, 01:00:38 AM
lol  the next iPOD might have an OLED~ cost will definitely be above ~$1000
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: OOZ662 on February 29, 2008, 01:29:44 AM
Quote
Originally posted by TwentyFo
It is reverse compatible. My friend owns a PS3 and we play Madden 08 from the PS2 counsel all the time. The reason we play the PS2 version is because Madden08 on PS3 is garbage. Why can't they combine the PS2 gameplay with the PS3 graphics.......:rolleyes:


That depends. The 40GB PlayStation is NOT able to play PS2 games, but has PS1 emulation capability. It lacks both the Emotion Engine and PS2 emulation code.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: TwentyFo on February 29, 2008, 01:53:43 AM
Quote
Originally posted by OOZ662
That depends. The 40GB PlayStation is NOT able to play PS2 games, but has PS1 emulation capability. It lacks both the Emotion Engine and PS2 emulation code.


Yea, then my friend has the PS2 emulation.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: OOZ662 on February 29, 2008, 04:29:40 AM
Well, like I said earlier (plus more)...

The 20GB one has the Emotion Engine CPU.
The 40GB one doesn't have an Emotion Engine and no software based emulation.
The 60GB one has the Emotion Engine CPU.
The 80GB one doesn't have an Emotion Engine, however it provides software emulation for the PS2.
ALL models provide PS1 software emulation.

The Emotion Engine is the core CPU of the PS2, meaning a system with it can fully replicate a PS2. An emulated system appears to have reduced graphics and more CPU-to-Screen/Frame Skip/Frame Stop lag time.

Only the 40GB and 80GB models are currently in production.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Dnil on February 29, 2008, 08:52:01 AM
swapping the hard drive with compatible lappy hard drive wont void the warranty.  Sony encourages it, thats why it is so easy to do it.  It will even auto reformat it for you.

I love my ps3.  I use it for all kinds of stuff.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: OOZ662 on March 01, 2008, 04:32:05 AM
I figured you had to open the case, which generally voids.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Eagler on March 01, 2008, 06:56:44 AM
PS3 as a Blu Ray Player (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com:80/reviews/2008/02/ps3_as_a_blu_ray_player.php)
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Halo on March 01, 2008, 08:06:03 AM
Excellent latest link, thanks Eagler.  Guess I'll wait until April for a Playstation 3.  Seems like the way to go for a first Blu-ray player.

Ironically, the game stuff becomes the bonus instead of vice versa.

Still haven't heard from anyone connecting the Playstation 3 HDMI (1080p) to an older HDTV with DVI (1080i), but other sources say HDMI to DVI should be no problem.
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: DrDea on March 01, 2008, 10:03:32 AM
With Toshiba and several other companies now switching to Blu ray Sony now comes out as having made the right choice on formats.An issue I was waiting  to see how it ended up playing out.I think just about all the big mfg'swill fall into line now and Blu ray will become the standard.Makes the PS3 a little more attractive.
Title: now that the format has been set
Post by: Eagler on March 01, 2008, 12:08:01 PM
my guess is that within a year - ie next xmas/jan 09 - the average price for a decent blu ray player will be about  $100
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Nilsen on March 01, 2008, 02:39:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by mg1942
The PS3 is more powerful than current Intel/AMD powered high-end PCs today.


source? :D
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Russian on March 01, 2008, 02:41:45 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Nilsen
source? :D
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/28/ps3s_put_to_use_simulating_blackholes/
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Nilsen on March 01, 2008, 02:46:30 PM
I seriously doubt its more powerful than a pc buildt with the latest quad core intel cpus and max ram, but im not gonna go count gigaflops or whatever they use ;)

If it is then i wonder why IBM is not the king of desktop cpu's when they have something that "old" that can wipe out other systems and at that dirt cheap price. I mean... the PS3 costs a fraction of the most expencive Intel CPUs
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Russian on March 01, 2008, 02:51:26 PM
I think this quote describes it perfectly

Quote
its highly plausible that the raw computing power per dollar that the PS3 offers, is significantly higher than anything else on the market today!
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Nilsen on March 01, 2008, 02:57:02 PM
per dollar does not translate into highest performing, but yes it answers the question of why they were using it in this project
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Vulcan on March 01, 2008, 03:13:04 PM
Blueray? Old technology, X.264 files on a HTPC for me :D
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Russian on March 01, 2008, 03:31:25 PM
And for current PS3 users.....when not in use, donate PS3 performance power by running Folding@home software
Title: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: OOZ662 on March 01, 2008, 05:06:06 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Russian
And for current PS3 users.....when not in use, donate PS3 performance power by running Folding@home software


And start using BOINC (http://boinc.berkeley.edu/) on your desktop. It's better on your hardware (especially hard drives) to never turn off the computer as it is.

All of the following computing projects use it:
World Community Grid (http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/) (Various Projects, including Human Proteome Folding like Folding@Home, AIDS research, and more)
Climate Prediction (http://www.climateprediction.net/) (Only for those who have their computer always on and a good amount of downtime)
ABC@Home (http://www.abcathome.com/) (Runs mathematical equations for the advancement of mathematical understanding)

[/plug]
Title: Re: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Halo on March 06, 2008, 10:45:27 PM
I couldn't wait any longer -- bought a 40-gig Sony Playstation 3 and am thoroughly enjoying it.  Fabulous picture and sound even with component cable to four-year-old Sony 1080i screen.  All home movies and photos as well as older commercial DVDs look much better, and of course Blu-ray is dazzling. 

Great fun playing Warhawk on line too.  Tour of Duty 4 is impressive.  The games are nice bonuses when main impetus was just getting the best Blu-ray player for the money.

I even prefer the Playstation controller to a standard DVD player remote.  Color me a total convert.
 
One interesting setup problem.  Had an irritating hum from the speakers.  Did all the usual isolation exercises and Google research.  Finally found a post by an electrical engineer who solved the problem.  All I had to do was insert a two-pronged non-grounding plug between the Playstation 3 power cord plug and the socket. 

That eliminated a superflulous second ground causing a ground loop in my overall home entertainment system.  The main ground is from cable, which is enough for one system.  Most home entertainment system components apparently have only two-pronged plugs to avoid this problem, but the Sony Playstation 3 has a three-pronged grounding plug that has to have its grounding nullified to avoid audio and apparently sometimes visual interference in home entertainment systems that already are grounded.

But as legalese puts it, I'm not responsible if something is wrong in this solution and you try it on your system and mess up your equipment or yourself.   
Title: Re: Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray Movies?
Post by: Dnil on March 06, 2008, 11:30:46 PM
sorry I am a wee bit late to respond.  To replace the hard drive you dont actually crack it open.  It has a side panel that has 2 screws on it, then a handle to pull out the hard drive.  After that just pop the new one in and it auto reformats.