A comparison of PS3 and 360 as media players

[NeoTechni]

If you want to use the Xbox as a storage medium for all your content

I didn't say all. But there are times you want a video or a photo on it and you cant even do that on 360. And copying MP3s takes a lot less time than ripping a CD

PS3 lets you record video using the PSeye for example.
I had to use PS3 to copy photos to an SD card cause my PC couldnt for some unknown reason. 360 doesnt allow copying at all.
My roommate has a bunch of comedy videos loaded on his PS3

There are a lot of uses to the features. Just cause you dont use them doesnt mean others dont.

Xbox exceeds as a media player when your source of your data is located elsewhere. Microsoft got that right.

I disagree. The menu system is horribly convoluted for starters. And lacks features even PSP has had since launch.

but since I can now get a Bluray player under $150, there is no reason to invest in a PS3

.

But that makes your whole post seem anti-PS3 rather than trying to pick apart a valid advantage

 

[joker454]

Btw, I do store all my media on the ps3, but some are backed up elsewhere.

Ok, two questions.

1) If your PS3's hdd crashes tomorrow morning, does that mean you will lose all that data, music, videos, photos or whatever, that aren't backed up?

2) Are you ok with that?

I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of "its ok to lose data", but I'm having a hard time of it.

 

[makattack]

I disagree. The menu system is horribly convoluted for starters. And lacks features even PSP has had since launch.

I'm not a huge fan of either consoles UI -- but I do like the streaming model the 360 uses, where it doesn't require everything to be stored on the console. If one wanted to setup a NAS or even a SAN for their data storage needs (as I do with a NAS model), I wouldn't bother storing things locally on a console -- and I don't.

I like that I can stream my stuff anywhere... on my console, on a PC, even on a networked TV -- in my case, all computers at home and work are linux based with a few odd Windows and OSX guest OS setup in KVM or VirtualBox/VMWare VM's -- one drawback of having to ensure what I develop works on all platforms. Anyway, I went through the effort to setup Azureus/Vuze to work as my Media Server, and it works great. Sure the 360 makes it look like I'm streaming from a Windows system, but it works fine. I can even stream from the PS3 -- I don't see the point in installing media locally on either system. But, granted, that's just me. It's overkill in my case probably... I have a highly engineered storage/server setup that ends up feeding distinctly old media receivers/clients -- I use a 2 year old 24" LCD monitor as my TV with sound going through a 10 year old 5.1 receiver/speaker system..

Another silly thing I do is instead of streaming to my PC clients (4 year old Dell 6110 laptops) I simply NFS mount and play media through mplayer/amarok/rhythmbox even though they can all be configured to stream and I can save on my bandwidth by doing so... that's a low priority project.

 

[NeoTechni]

I'm not a huge fan of either consoles UI -- but I do like the streaming model the 360 uses, where it doesn't require everything to be stored on the console. If one wanted to setup a NAS or even a SAN for their data storage needs (as I do with a NAS model), I wouldn't bother storing things locally on a console -- and I don't.

But PS3 does that as well. And with wifi on all but one model.
PS3 also lets you copy media from the NAS

 

[makattack]

But PS3 does that as well. And with wifi on all but one model.
PS3 also lets you copy media from the NAS

Right, that's why I don't see why people are saying one model of media usage (storing locally) is better than another (remote serving) -- and how people are comparing consoles on that level. Both can store media locally (on their HDDs) -- my question is: Why bother?

Even on the 360, when I buy videos/movies from their Zune service, I always choose the "streaming" version.

On the PS3, I only have games saves and game installs on the HDD and my 80GB is less than 1/4 full.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

And copying MP3s takes a lot less time than ripping a CD

And playing it off the network or directly off a USB drive is faster than copying an MP3. I'm not sure what your point is here. Not to mention playing off a network store or external drive keeps your data far more secure in the case of a console hardware failure. Somehow I don't think my 10 terabytes of media are going to fit on any existing console.

But that makes your whole post seem anti-PS3 rather than trying to pick apart a valid advantage

Pot calling kettle black? You're also cherry picking features to deny valid advantages for the X360.

BTW - before you start claiming whether I favor one or the other. I think both consoles are subpar for media serving purposes. I use an HTPC for everything except Netflix streaming where the X360 is considerably better, IMO.

Regards,
SB

 

[NeoTechni]

And playing it off the network or directly off a USB drive is faster than copying an MP3

But some of us do store our media on the console, 360 makes that very difficult or impossible in some cases

Pot calling kettle black? You're also cherry picking features to deny valid advantages for the X360.

Except I didnt say I see no reason to invest in a 360 cause there are $50 HD DVD players, or something retarded like that

 

[AzBat]

I didn't say all. But there are times you want a video or a photo on it and you cant even do that on 360.

But why do you even want it stored locally? The point of this thread was a comparison of the _Media_PLAYER_ functionality. What's the point of storing it locally if all you really want to do is play or view the content?

And copying MP3s takes a lot less time than ripping a CD

Again, why do you want the content stored locally? If the MP3s are sitting on a USB device or your computer perfectly fine, why do you want to go through more hoops to get it on the console before you play it? Are you stealing somebody else's content?

PS3 lets you record video using the PSeye for example.
I had to use PS3 to copy photos to an SD card cause my PC couldnt for some unknown reason. 360 doesnt allow copying at all.
My roommate has a bunch of comedy videos loaded on his PS3

There are a lot of uses to the features. Just cause you dont use them doesnt mean others dont.

You're talking up all those features as big advantages for the PS3. I'm just saying that those are pretty niche features that the majority of the media users won't need.

I disagree. The menu system is horribly convoluted for starters. And lacks features even PSP has had since launch.

Matter of opinion. It's pretty easy for me.

But that makes your whole post seem anti-PS3 rather than trying to pick apart a valid advantage

LOL, and your one sided bullet war you started doesn't show you're anti-360? I make no apologies for my Xbox 360 slant, but I've never gone and started a message such as yours to hail one side, yet crap all over the other.

Tommy McClain

 

[AzBat]

Except I didnt say I see no reason to invest in a 360 cause there are $50 HD DVD players, or something retarded like that

For this latest discussion, you were the one that brought up both Bluray & HD DVD. You showed it as an advantage for your side. I just showed a reason why that advantage isn't clear cut. If that's retarded, then maybe you'll have more fun discussing that somewhere else.

Tommy McClain

 

[patsu]

Ok, two questions.

1) If your PS3's hdd crashes tomorrow morning, does that mean you will lose all that data, music, videos, photos or whatever, that aren't backed up?

They are all stored in multiple places but everything is on the PS3, except for those that are still on my digital camera. Some are uploaded online.

2) Are you ok with that?

Of course. That's after a few years of evolution. I tried the centralized RAID route and lost data twice. Now, my valuable data are kept in multiple places. PS3 is just the most convenient and complete way to retrieve them (and my preferred way). I could use a dedicated PC for it, but there is no real need to. My Mac HDDs are choked full of work and business stuff.

I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of "its ok to lose data", but I'm having a hard time of it.

Keeping everything on PS3 does not mean losing data. You're limiting your options.

 

[Mize]

I have a server with all my media streaming to both 2x 360s & 1x ps3 with mediatomb & playon. I prefer my ps3 overall for the built in blu-ray & quieter operation. Until I get a tv tuner with pvr software (never in USA) both are very lacking.

 

[joker454]

Keeping everything on PS3 does not mean losing data. You're limiting your options.

The consoles limit my options because they don't support 6tb of internal drive space which is what I need, so for me the console internal hdd's are worthless either way. Not that I'd ever use them for data, that seems like such an archaic/primitive method of data access to me but we've gone down that discussion path before so no need to rehash.

I guess it works for you since you have presumably < ~500gb of data which isn't very much, and presumably you only access said data from one place. Or do you have a PS3 in every room that you need access you data, and you manually copy new files to each PS3 every time you say take a new photo?

I still think you guys are brave trusting console hdd's, and I guess you have far more patience than I do to micro manage your data all over the place. Manually keeping track of multiple data sets everywhere seems like recipe for disaster, I'm amazed you can keep everything in perfect sync.

 

[patsu]

There is no micro management of data ^_^ Just dump them where I want and forget about them. The data are duplicated all over the place on demand (e.g., my PSP has its own collection, my office PS3 has some too. Heck, my office RAID server has some of my collection as test data too ).

The larger media (e.g., some purchased TV programs and full length movies) are all in disc form or backed up to HDD/storage. I don't convert/transcode media anymore. It's too time consuming.

Would be nice if PS3 can write to a remote file system. For now, all my family media fit there.

EDIT: For what it's worth, my home media environment has always been very dynamic. I evolve it on-demand with minimal effort. It accommodates my lifestyle, adhoc needs and allows me to optimize for the latest cheap or sexy hardware. Very soon, I will add iPad and iPhone to the mix too.

 

[NeoTechni]

For this latest discussion, you were the one that brought up both Bluray & HD DVD. You showed it as an advantage for your side. I just showed a reason why that advantage isn't clear cut. If that's retarded, then maybe you'll have more fun discussing that somewhere else.

No, what is retarded is saying PS3's only value or reason to purchase is bluray functionality.

I wasn't listing advantages that either one alone makes a system worth purchasing over the other. Just advantages that have served me

 

[NeoTechni]

But why do you even want it stored locally? The point of this thread was a comparison of the _Media_PLAYER_ functionality

And storing it locally is still what a media player does.
My ipod stores media locally.

Again, why do you want the content stored locally?

Why not?
Just cause you dont doesnt mean no one else does.

why do you want to go through more hoops to get it on the console before you play it? Are you stealing somebody else's content?

Stealing my own content?

LOL, and your one sided bullet war you started doesn't show you're anti-360?

No, it doesn't. Mine are valid advantages that have served me and others.

You made a troll claim saying there is not reason to buy a PS3. Big difference

 

[AzBat]

No, what is retarded is saying PS3's only value or reason to purchase is bluray functionality.

I wasn't listing advantages that either one alone makes a system worth purchasing over the other. Just advantages that have served me

Go back and read son. Here's my comment in it's full context...

Personally, I don't see how the PS3 could add anything more to that other than Bluray. I've contemplated adding Bluray, but since I can now get a Bluray player under $150, there is no reason to invest in a PS3.

In my personal case, the Xbox 360 functionality serves MY media requirements EXCEPT for Bluray. There's no reason for me to spend twice as much money than a standalone player to get Bluray. I agree there are more to the PS3 than just media(games, Home, etc), but we're not talking about that. We're talking about media functionality.

Tommy McClain

 

[NeoTechni]

I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy a PS3 though.

I saw a topic discussing comparing the 2, and I posted the points that affect me and others I know

 

[AzBat]

And storing it locally is still what a media player does.
My ipod stores media locally.

You still haven't explain why. Just that you can. I can play my music from a radio. They're not stored locally. I can watch my TV shows on a TV using Cable & they're not stored locally. Just because you can doesn't tell me why.

Why not?
Just cause you dont doesnt mean no one else does.

You're the one that brought it up. I'm trying to figure out why. Is it as simple as you don't have access from your PS3 to your network? Can't afford a portable USB storage device? There's got to be a reason why you would rather have it on the box & not somewhere else.

Stealing my own content?

I thought that was pretty funny. You're moving content from one source that's perfectly capable of serving the data. So why move it? Is your PS3 hard drive larger than your other storage devices?

No, it doesn't. Mine are valid advantages that have served me and others.

Like Silent_Buddha said your picking advantages for the PS3 to the detriment of the 360. If you're not anti-360 & have used the 360 enough then go back & redo your list showing advantages to the 360 that the PS3 doesn't have.

You made a troll claim saying there is not reason to buy a PS3. Big difference

I did not. You just wanted to see it that way. See my last post.

Tommy McClain

 

[AzBat]

I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy a PS3 though.

And neither was I.

I saw a topic discussing comparing the 2, and I posted the points that affect me and others I know

Yeah, but had you left out the 360 counters you wouldn't have been taken to task.

Tommy McClain

 

[-tkf-]

PS3 Media Server is what makes my PS3 the king of my entertainment room.
Since my PC is pretty much always on there isn´t any issues with not being able to get access to my data.
And my PC does a fantastic job of recording TV via the Windows Media Center, so good a job i am running out of space... again

I do have CD´s ripped on my PS3 and i do have Pics that i have copied over, mostly to be able do stuff with the gallery, and other features on the PS3 that doesn´t support PS3 Media Server.

I firmly believe that the idea that ALL data has to be accessed from ONE spot is totally wrong. I think that the idea is to make sure that ALL your data is on one "spot", and then it doesn´t matter if you have some of it duplicated on mutiple locations, like a phone, a PSP, locally on a PS3 or on a notebook you use for work. I don´t have to micro manage, i just have to make sure that i copy pics, mp3s, etc on to my main storage, then i can mess around with it on all my devices and not having to worry what happens with the fragments.