I doubt this will happen but I'd like the 'Home Server' PS3

[Megadrive1988]

....to have much more CPU & GPU performance than the basic PS3.
like PS3 but 'GSCubed' -with more Broadband Engines and Visualizers. say at least 4 each. plus several GB of memory. games could run with higher detail, in higher resolution. not going to happen, I know, but just a dream. it would be the NeoGeo of Sony. however, the games would still cost the same. $50. you have one game for both standard PS3 and high-end PS3 but each game has standard and "HiSpec" modes. again, this will almost certainly not happen. It's not even the point of a Home Server PS3. the point of it is to have many more features than the basic PS3, like PSX. not to have better processors or more processors. still, it is possible given the modular nature of Cell.

SGI does this type of thing all the time. the RealityEngine and InfiniteReality families have these type of options. so will SGI's new UltimateVision line (graphics powered by ATI!).

My dream will come true, but only for computer graphics specialists, developers, etc. it won't happen for the consumer. probably not....

 

[cthellis42]

I think that "home server" for them mainly means "more stuff"--better ROM drive (with perhaps recording functionality--depends), a big honkin' Hard Drive, other geegaws, and a larger software package to go along with it. (Or at least a different UI with associated features.)

They may try out an "uber-version" like you described as well, as more of a professional model, but... <shrugs> It kinda depends on the target audience. Will games being made be able to take advantage of the extra power when playing, or will it only be able to be tapped for other tasks? If the games can't (or at least "won't" for quite some time) be affected by it, there won't be a helluva market for it except for software designers and rich enthusiasts and the like, so... <shrugs again>

Then again, they may find out that supporting too many models just ends up confusing the heck out of people and consolidate their machines. I do rather expect something "PSX-like" at least, but just what differences it will have with the main model, and when it will come into play...?

 

[Deadmeat]

...

Yea, all is good until you get that sticker shock....

 

[wco81]

If they had a Blue-Ray recorder along with a big enough hard drive to store tens of hours of HDTV recordings, a price of $600-700 is dirt cheap, assuming that the regular PS3 is $300.

Consider that Sony's current DVD +RW/-RW recorder retails for $700, without a hard drive.

Also consider that the HD Tivo is $999 with a 250 GB drive.

A Blue-Ray recorder for $600-700 would be a steal in 2006. PS3 and HDD built in would be a bonus.

File it under too good to be true.

 

[cthellis42]

Hell, you get sticker-shock with an Alienware too, eh? That's the type of user Mega's desired machine would appeal to. Something in the vein of the PSX won't touch the specs, so something that does AND adds all the rest...? There's not a big market for it, so if they do go along and make one... BOY could you expect to pay through the nose!

I rather expect them to do something along the lines of the GSCube again to show off, but don't see them doing something in-between. At least not commercially.

 

[Ty]

Re: ...

Yea, all is good until you get that sticker shock....

Hey, if you can't afford it, don't cast aspersions on those that can.

 

[PC-Engine]

Consider that Sony's current DVD +RW/-RW recorder retails for $700, without a hard drive.

Why would someone want to spend that much on a HDDriveless SONY DVD recorder when there are others on the market selling for less than $300?

 

[Vince]

Why would someone want to spend that much on a HDDriveless SONY DVD recorder when there are others on the market selling for less than $300?

Why do people buy luxery cars when you can go to the junkyard and buy a piece of shit on wheels for $75 and a promise not to turn the guy in for incest?

 

[cthellis42]

Same reason people will pay $400 for a TV when there are $200 ones of the same size; the only DVD-burners (HD-less) selling for less than $300 are pretty much from unknown parties, so in that case it stems from the usual desire for more dependable brand names. (And perhaps the expectation of more seamless functionality between their devices, should they have A/V equipment also from said company.)

Even Phillips' and Panasonic's HD-less burners can sit at around $600 list (model-depending, of course)--Sony probably $100 above--so in most cases it just depends on what deals you can get from who. In all, it's the same as usual; companies whose merchandise and name are more preferable (deservedly or not) command the higher price points. No-name brands are avoided like the plague by anyone with money. Everything else goes through WalMart.

 

[PC-Engine]

Why do people buy luxery cars when you can go to the junkyard and buy a piece of shit on wheels for $75 and a promise not to turn the guy in for incest?

I see you've been reading that SONY published book on how to lie with analogies.

I guess if I buy a $700 SONY DVD recorder, it comes with magical pixie dust that's not available on the $350 Panasonic??? Or is it the SONY experience that I'm missing out on??? I would gladly pay double for a SONY laptop just for the shock (electrical) factor. Please elaborate...

Even Phillips' and Panasonic's HD-less burners can sit at around $600 list (model-depending, of course)--Sony probably $100 above--so in most cases it just depends on what deals you can get from who. In all, it's the same as usual; companies whose merchandise and name are more preferable (deservedly or not) command the higher price points. No-name brands are avoided like the plague by anyone with money. Everything else goes through WalMart.

Umm...no...sorry. I can get a Panasonic or Philips HDDriveless DVD recorder for $350.

 

[Vince]

I see you've been reading that SONY published book on how to lie with analogies. I guess if I buy a $700 SONY DVD recorder, it comes with magical pixie dust that's not available on the $350 Panasonic??? Or is it the SONY experience that I'm missing out on??? I would gladly pay double for a SONY laptop just for the shock (electrical) factor. Please elaborate...

I see you've lost all semblance of a grip on reality outside of your closed, anti-Sony perspective. Tell Deadmeat I said 'what's up player'.

Why do I not drive a used car? Why don't all people live in 2 room houses? Why does a collegue live in a house in which he's admitted that there are rooms he hasn't been in for months? Why do girls want diamonds, fiances want the house and car, wives the fur, vacations and maids? Why the fuck aren't we all Communists?

And the answer is because I can. I can buy it. I can enjoy it. I can delight in knowing you don't.

The word according to me.

PS. They actually make really good products IMHO.

 

[PC-Engine]

Maybe I should start a business selling diamond coated toilet paper at $1000 per roll? The R&D costs are irrelevent since I already know I already have at least one willing lifetime customer...

P.S. Yes they do make some good products, but they're not worth double the price of say an equivalent Panasonic...IMO of course. Unless there's a consensus that the SONY product offers more than the Panasonic product. The SONY name does not carry the same prestige as Ferrari relative to their respective markets. Quite the contrary. SONY is more like Honda while Panasonic is more like Toyota, neither one are Ferraris.

 

[JasonLD]

I think Sony's and Panasonic's DVD recoders with comparable features cost almost same...it is just no-name brands that carries half-price of premium brands..

 

[cybamerc]

Re: I doubt this will happen but I'd like the 'Home Server'

Megadrive1988:

> ....to have much more CPU & GPU performance than the basic PS3.

Your fascination with specs is simply ridiculous. I can understand being excited about new hardware because you have understand of the inner workings, are looking forward to the games making use of it or simply like the company releasing it but none of that applies to you. You just like hardware for hardware's sake. The more hardware the better because it gives you more material to base your inane posts on.

 

[Megadrive1988]

cybamerc wrote:

Your fascination with specs is simply ridiculous. I can understand being excited about new hardware because you have understand of the inner workings, are looking forward to the games making use of it or simply like the company releasing it but none of that applies to you. You just like hardware for hardware's sake. The more hardware the better because it gives you more material to base your inane posts on.

uhh no, I hardware is interesting because it gives the developers the potential to make more incredible games with it. you are completely wrong to suggest I'm interested hardware just for hardware's sake. hardware would be boring if it was not used for anything. if you don't want to read about hardware, why read the threads here?


do you not think that the Genesis or NeoGeo are able to make better games than the NES because of their superior hardware?

or the current Gamecube and future N5 over the Nintendo 64?

why do you think Panajev is so interested in various upcoming chips, just because they're going to pack in more transistors, or because they'll allow for far more interesting games that what we can have now ?

I think your post there, is what's ridiculous.

 

[cybamerc]

Megadrive1988:

> you are completely wrong to say I hardware just for hardware's sake.

Please! In what way would having two differently configured PS3s make games better? All it would do is make things more complicated for developers.

And you made it pretty clear at GA that you are really opposed to the idea of Nintendo and M$ sharing the same platform (less hardware to write about). Don't get me wrong, so am I - but for completely different reasons.

 

[cthellis42]

Umm...no...sorry. I can get a Panasonic or Philips HDDriveless DVD recorder for $350.

You're right. And I "can get" the $800 MSRP Sony recorder for $500. (Though actually it seems to be only one model at $700 on their site, so certain online merchants have to update their information. Heh...) And a $600 retail Toshiba for $300 and change. It doesn't stop them from being higher-priced to begin with (Philips certainly is, but Panasonic not as much--though their recorders are shorter on format support and don't get a full brace of inputs until the $550 model.)

You can indeed get much for less. How come you only ever seem to consumer shop for only one side of the equation? Not to mention rarely looking at model specifics--just price.

Consumers will pursue things the way they always have. They seek out what they want, look for the features they think they'll need, and adjust it by "brand worth" to them, as well as keeping in mind individual merchandise information (usually skimmed through sources like Consumer Reports, friends, or store recommendations).

A $100-150 sway seems to be bearable by most people. (Even less in some cases. The high-featured Panasonic doesn't seem to dip below $430 in most cases [it goes as far as $400, but with online merchants I don't trust--let alone can get their pages to load! Heh...] )

People who only want simple DVD recording capabilities will tend to go one way, just as they've gone for DVD playing, tape recording, and everything else through the years. Cheap, simple, and decent. Sony's model doesn't offer that. Equivalent-featured models from manufacturers end up in the same general ballpark.

...and the market rolls along as it always does.

 

[wco81]

The Panasonic recorders are nice. But most of the features like the Time Slip feature work with DVD-RAM, which can't be used in set-top DVD players.

The + formats, particularly the RW format, is definitely more VCR-like. You can take the disk, timeshift on it a lot, and then watch it on other players with the best chances for compatibility.

That said, yes, the Sony is very expensive. The PSX will be a very good value proposition compared to the DVD recorders out in the US market.

It's a different story in Japan where combo formats (+ and -) with big hard drives are more common and hence, there appears to be more price competition.

 

[PC-Engine]

In the US SONY has only one DVD recorder the RDR-GX7 and it retails for $700 without HDD.

In the US Panasonic has the DMR-E80H in addition to 4 other DVD recording models and it also retails for $700 with 80GB HDD.

Both can be purchased online at a streetprice of ~ $500.

The Panasonic offers advanced timeslip (simultaneous rec/playback of two different programs) the SONY does not even offer basic timeslip (chase). The timeslip function works with either DVD-RAM or the built-in HDD. The Panasonic also offers MP3 playback and (2ch) Dolby Digital 2.0 audio recording/encoding.

To be fair the SONY does offer a DV input which is a very nice feature.

Edit: Then there's the Philips DVDR80 which retails for $800 and a street price of $520. It doesn't have a HDD like the Panasonic but it has more features than the SONY ie component video input in addition to DV. It also can record/encode (2ch) Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.

The + formats, particularly the RW format, is definitely more VCR-like. You can take the disk, timeshift on it a lot, and then watch it on other players with the best chances for compatibility.

Actually timeshifting works with "-RW" formats too.

 

[jvd]

well i have a dvd recorder that i got for 60 4x both formats .

My uncle has a panasonic dvd recorder that he got for 400$ .

The prices are going down.


A drop from 500$ -100$ will happen much faster than a drop from 3 grand to 100$.

Which is why i can see a dvd r being in the xbox next while i can't see a blueray recorder being in the ps3.