Having used a PS2 to watch DVDs for almost three years now, I've become quite familiar with it as a playback device.
I have always used either composte or S-video with the PS2 (since there is no component cable available for it in europe), so one can of course notice an immediate picture advantage for the x360 when using component. A small question mark regarding the exact output resolution used, because PAL DVD video is - I believe - 720*576 pixels, and some have speculated x360 outputs a 480P signal in DVD mode. This might only apply to NTSC, and/or VGA cable equipped systems, I'm not sure. Anyway, from a simple eyeball test, the image looks very clean and sharp. Some claimed banding and such in dark areas, and suffice to say, I have not noticed any such problems myself.
Picture seems easily on-par with PS2, and in reality even better. At least when comparing S-video versus component as previously stated.
x360 is also noticeably quieter than the PS2 in DVD mode. Other circumstances is a different matter entirely, but at least when watching movies, fan noise is not only lower in volume, it is lower in pitch as well, making my PC with its six (!) fans the biggest source of noise.
One very pleasant aspect of x360 DVD playback is the swiftness which it reacts to rewind/playback commands. This isn't the case with PS2, which is noticeably laggy both when starting and stopping rewind. The various "gears" are also much smoother stepped than PS2, which has sort of playback in reverse, so-so fast and un-fucking-believably quick rewind modes to choose from, none of which are really suitable in most cases. x360 however reacts swiftly and precisely to button presses, has 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32x speeds both forwards and reverse, and and may even display the text I believe, at least while fast forwarding.
Having said that, I'm a little disappointed there's a rather large framerate hiccup on x360 each time the movie is unpaused, but at least there doesn't seem to be any pause during layer changes.
I only have the freebie remote for x360, and compared to PS2's, it's rather weak in its LED strength. Not only is the range only a few meters, it has to be aimed very precisely from a distance as well. PS2 remote I can point at the ceiling and still manage to operate DVD playback. If the full-price remote doesn't offer significantly stronger IR signalling I'd be terribly disappointing, because the freebie remote really is unforgivably weak. Then again, I'd think it would simply be best to not buy the full remote at all and instead go for a Logitech Harmony programmable unit instead.
One curious thing is that the x360 (wireless) pad cannot double as a remote, while PS2 pad quite happily will do just that. Not that it's particulary ergonomic or anything, but at least it's doable. On x360 all you get is this little on-screen display where a highlight can be moved around with the D-pad to operate a few of the more important functions, but this is rather cumbersome. Especially when fast-forwarding/rewinding. I can only assume this is so the user will get tired and decide to splurge for the remote instead. Friggin' microsoft!
Sound-wise, I'm rather annoyed that the unit - just like PS2 - refuses to decode DTS into analog. While I have the optical output connected to my surround system, it requires me to change the sound input manually whenever I want to switch between DVD playback and TV for instance. It'd been much more convenient if it decoded DTS as standard so I could keep input set on analog at all times. At least MS doesn't brag with a DTS logo embossed into the casing like Sony does. Always something I guess.
On the whole tho, I feel the DVD experience is better on MS's new wonder machine. Picture is better, background noise is less. Reaction time is smoother. Most stuff is just plain nicer. Good to see technology has progressed in the 5-ish years since the launch of PS2.
I have always used either composte or S-video with the PS2 (since there is no component cable available for it in europe), so one can of course notice an immediate picture advantage for the x360 when using component. A small question mark regarding the exact output resolution used, because PAL DVD video is - I believe - 720*576 pixels, and some have speculated x360 outputs a 480P signal in DVD mode. This might only apply to NTSC, and/or VGA cable equipped systems, I'm not sure. Anyway, from a simple eyeball test, the image looks very clean and sharp. Some claimed banding and such in dark areas, and suffice to say, I have not noticed any such problems myself.
Picture seems easily on-par with PS2, and in reality even better. At least when comparing S-video versus component as previously stated.
x360 is also noticeably quieter than the PS2 in DVD mode. Other circumstances is a different matter entirely, but at least when watching movies, fan noise is not only lower in volume, it is lower in pitch as well, making my PC with its six (!) fans the biggest source of noise.
One very pleasant aspect of x360 DVD playback is the swiftness which it reacts to rewind/playback commands. This isn't the case with PS2, which is noticeably laggy both when starting and stopping rewind. The various "gears" are also much smoother stepped than PS2, which has sort of playback in reverse, so-so fast and un-fucking-believably quick rewind modes to choose from, none of which are really suitable in most cases. x360 however reacts swiftly and precisely to button presses, has 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32x speeds both forwards and reverse, and and may even display the text I believe, at least while fast forwarding.
Having said that, I'm a little disappointed there's a rather large framerate hiccup on x360 each time the movie is unpaused, but at least there doesn't seem to be any pause during layer changes.
I only have the freebie remote for x360, and compared to PS2's, it's rather weak in its LED strength. Not only is the range only a few meters, it has to be aimed very precisely from a distance as well. PS2 remote I can point at the ceiling and still manage to operate DVD playback. If the full-price remote doesn't offer significantly stronger IR signalling I'd be terribly disappointing, because the freebie remote really is unforgivably weak. Then again, I'd think it would simply be best to not buy the full remote at all and instead go for a Logitech Harmony programmable unit instead.
One curious thing is that the x360 (wireless) pad cannot double as a remote, while PS2 pad quite happily will do just that. Not that it's particulary ergonomic or anything, but at least it's doable. On x360 all you get is this little on-screen display where a highlight can be moved around with the D-pad to operate a few of the more important functions, but this is rather cumbersome. Especially when fast-forwarding/rewinding. I can only assume this is so the user will get tired and decide to splurge for the remote instead. Friggin' microsoft!
Sound-wise, I'm rather annoyed that the unit - just like PS2 - refuses to decode DTS into analog. While I have the optical output connected to my surround system, it requires me to change the sound input manually whenever I want to switch between DVD playback and TV for instance. It'd been much more convenient if it decoded DTS as standard so I could keep input set on analog at all times. At least MS doesn't brag with a DTS logo embossed into the casing like Sony does. Always something I guess.
On the whole tho, I feel the DVD experience is better on MS's new wonder machine. Picture is better, background noise is less. Reaction time is smoother. Most stuff is just plain nicer. Good to see technology has progressed in the 5-ish years since the launch of PS2.