[mr.steevo]

We're planning on purchasing a PS3 this week. It's primary use will be for watching discs and streaming video with some gaming. Now that I started looking at what the big box stores offer I am not sure what it is I am suppose to focus in on.

The game titles mean nothing to me. I don't mean that I am not interested, it just is that I have no idea what to expect or what is good. I've played Halo on a friend's xbox back in 2005 and arcade games in the 80's.

There are different hard drive sizes. I don't know if this is important or not but I do know there are different prices depending on the hdd size.

Some come packaged with a remote but it doesn't appear to function with TV's (I have an LG LCD). Is a remote needed?

They appear to come with one controller. I would prefer two. Do these packages come sealed from the factory or do the stores make their own bundles that they would be willing to swap a game for a controller?

Thanks for the input.

 

[audacity]

These are packaged boxes ("SKUs") and you won't be able to swap one item for another.

Price out the packages when compared to the lowest priced SKU with the extras purchased later (e.g. 2nd controller). It doesn't sound like you need a large hard drive in your PS3.

 

[hugh]

They come pre-packaged

Simply speaking the PS3 is the same except it comes in three Hard drive sizes and all with one controller. Second controller or remote control sold separately.

The remotes and controller work with the PS3 so you will need to use your TV remote to control the tv.

 

[pinner62]

I personally would get the bluray remote for movie watching ,its around 20 bucks and is way easier to use than the game controller.Get the bigger hard drive ,so you never have to worry bout upgrading later,especially if you fill it with high def movies!Oh if you need a second gaming remote ,there 55.00 bucks ,but if u look at the controller with a packed in game its a way better deal,same price !Hope that helps ,oh and enjoy your new ps3 ,its a great machine ,second to none!

 

[Neild]

PS3 plays blu-ray discs out of the box, and every package includes at least one game controller. You can use the included game controller to control the blu-ray movie, I find it works fine.

You can also get a 'PS3 blu-ray controller' for about $25 ($20 on sale) There are knock-off brands and genuine Sony... I would avoid the knock-offs. The PS3 blu-ray controller looks and behaves like a conventional TV remote control.

Note that PS3 can't easily be used with a typical universal remote because the console doesn't have the required common infrared receiver built-in. That's why you need to use the game controller or the special PS3 blu-ray controller.

If you do already have a sophisticated remote control system that you really want to integrate with PS3, you can buy an expensive third party accessory that will accept conventional remote control signals.

Disc size determines how much content (games, videos, media) that you can download or store. Personally I find any of the sizes is more than enough, but I guess some users store a lot more than I do.

PS3 is very easy to change the hard disk later as you can plug in many common laptop hard drives and simply format them for use in the PS3. So you could safely start with a 120 GB or 160GB system, then throw in a 500 GB drive later if you find yourself tight on space.

I guess PS3 hackers also like a large hard drive capacity since you can now dump games direct to the hard drive, and blu-ray based games are 20-50 GB each.

PS3 is often sold in different bundles, sometimes including the blu-ray remote, or extra games, sometimes an extra controller, and sometimes bundled with their motion control system.

The general belief is that the 'slim' PS3 units are better since they have less heat and noise, and consume less power. Time will tell, but the assumption is they may prove to be more reliable over time.

The PS3 does a very capable job of playing blu-ray discs and a somewhat OK job of upscaling DVD's. However whenever an incompatible new blu-ray discs is released, you'll need to download a full PS3 system firmware upgrade from Sony to make them work. This doesn't happen often, but you will be forced to take a full upgrade of the entire system just to fix tiny blu-ray bugs.

These full upgrades have been known in the past to remove functionality, add in 'phone home' snoop code, or in some cases, wreck your system. Just the act of accepting a PS3 firmware can expose pre-existing but harmless faults, which then render your system useless.

PS3 controllers are sturdy but expensive, with built-in rechargable batteries. They'll cost you $45-60 at the store. They can be charged while they are being used with a generic USB cable.

PS3 only comes with a basic low def cable, so you'll have to obtain either an HDMI cable or a special PS3 component cable if you want high definition.

 

[gzink]

As above but you can get cheaper controllers (logitech I think)

 

[BCScott]

Futureshop has a deal on until the 17th with a 320gb PS3, Blu-Ray remote, Uncharted 2, Modnation Racers, Alice in Wonderland Blu-Ray for $299.99.

 

[mr.steevo]

I noticed the bundle with the remote and am thinking about picking up that package today or tomorrow.

I have also read that newer TVs will allow the remote to control the PS3 through HDMI cable. I just bought a 2008 LCD from a friend so I doubt that will work.

To further the confusion I have read about the motion controllers that look like wii style. Now I'm not sure if I should wait for the package to come down in price or just buy the current package. They don't make it easy.

 

[Gord Lacey]

mr.steevo, definitely buy that bundle at Future Shop. It's the best deal I've seen for a long time.

Don't concern yourself with the motion controllers just yet; you'll get lots of use out of the main system with that bundle, and you can add the motion controllers later.

 

[chillonhill]

Uncharted 2 is also a very fun game,
as for games you can download a whole bunch of demos for free from the ps3 store, and try them out, and you will see what you like.
Next step will be the PS3 Move, it is really good, I enjoyed that a lot over the holidays, frisbee golf and archery were pretty fun.

 

[Mixar69]

Also keep in mind if you download movies (DIVX format) and burn them to DVD it can play them straight off the disk without needing to buy a DIVX DVD player.

 

[Gord Lacey]

Burn to DVD? You can easily stream files from a computer to a PS3 - no need to burn anything to disc.

 

[mr.steevo]

Just picked up the Entertainment Package for $299.

The big box store was empty but do you think I could find a person to sell me a PS3? I went through 5 employees before being shown the item and buying it. Said no to the extended warranty.

Thanks for the opinions everyone. Now I will try to get my old iBook to network with the PS3.

 

[Gord Lacey]

I recommend using "PS3 Media Server." It's free, and works quite well:
http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/downloads/list

 

[mr.steevo]

Intel only. No big deal though.

The other thing I would really like is to have local weather displayed with the clock and date. That way I would know that it is warm enough to shut off the PS3 and go outside!

 

[mz3nb]

PS3 vs Xbox 360

Which would you buy if you had neither at the moment?

 

[cooper83]

Depends what you're using it for.

But regardless, PS3 hands down

 

[dezzpayne]

I think if you don't own one at this point and are unsure the easy answer is the PS3.

The major reason to own a 360 over PS3 is so you can play Call of Duty, Halo, Gear of War with your buddies. It's the more popular console in North America and I assume in Canada although I have never seen any specific Canadian numbers.

If you don't intend on playing online much and are not a hardcore First Person Shooter fan then the PS3 is the better choice. Online play is free, the PS3 doubles as a Blu ray player and the PS3 has a wider range of games in it's library whereas the 360 is heavily concentrated in aforementioned First Person Shooters.

 

[pinner62]

i just added another ps3 to my house ,the 320 gb infamous 2 bundle for 299.00.So the games 60 bucks so a 320 gb for 240 not a bad deal!All the ps3 exclusives coming soon and available yea hands down ps3 ,plus my blu ray collection is growing lol,i love the steel book blu ray collectables ,just got scarface ,awesome,and free online is always a bonus ,and find netflix improving ,watching it more ,picture quality is getting better!

 

[Steve604]

Which would you buy if you had neither at the moment?

For me, both is the only answer,

if you didn't have either I would go with PS3 out of pure versitility, Bluray. media player. gaming and the online is free,

I'm a hardcore online gamer, mainly FPS, 360 is the only way to go,
IN MY OPINION Live blows the doors off the playstation network, especially when it comes to speed and reliability, there are a few features when it comes to partys that PS3 doesn't have as well,
I've always had party problems with PS3, I also find with fps's, xbox has a bit more competition when it comes to skill and ability, my KD's on PS3 are always a fair bit higher than on 360,

the $60 a year for Live wouldn't be worth it if you weren't right into gaming, and chances are if you don't have either yet, you aren't that into gaming