PS3 slim available in Sept. $299

[Kazaam]

Originally Posted by Jomari

i am SO tempted to get one. but i still have my 60g functioning and also playing as a heater in my room.

LMAO! It's funny because it's true. Between my plasma and my 60gb PS3 it gets toasty, that's for sure!

[Haywood]

My living room houses my main PC, my laptop, an Onkyo TX-SR805, a Marantz MM-9000 amp, a PS3and a Dish ViP 722 DVR. Strangely, it is the warmest room in the house.

[Kazaam]

Indeed, that is strange! Dare I say... a mystery? Better call Scooby and the gang!!!!

[mcad64]

Late to the party as usual. It is becoming a PITA telling my wife and kids, "No, you can't watch that upstairs on the plasma you have to go downstairs and watch it on the PJ because it is a BLURAY!! So I need another Bluray player. Don't really need another Oppo as the serious movie nights are on the PJ downstairs.
I wouldn't mind getting a gaming console, however I believe the Wii is probably more child friendly than the PS3 and my wife and I have been batting about the idea of getting one anyway. Only problem with the PS3 as a second Bluray player is that as far as I can tell I will not get the newer lossless audio (receiver is Marantz 4300) because PS3 only has SPDIF and HDMI. Also, what is the deal with the remote. Could I not control this with my MX500??
So do I get a cheap Bluray player that has analog outs, or get the PS3(299Cad) and suffer with lossy until I get a cheap receiver to replace the Marantz?? I think the Samsung 3600 has analogs and is $279cad.
I would be going from no gaming consoles in the house to 2...I think PaulyT did this, if I am not mistaken??? Any recommendations???
Mike
PS: Kids are 4 year old boy and girl. Dad wouldn't mind playing NHL 10, Golf or some racing games!!
PSS: Not really concerned about streaming capabilities of PS3 or a BLuray player as I have a Squeezebox that I am very happy with!!

[PaulyT]

Yeah, we got both a wii and ps3, because I was too lazy to make a real decision. You're right, though, the wii is definitely better for young kids. Only I play the ps3. (Mine mine mine mine.) But my kids are both girls, not interested in driving/fighting stuff. I tried to get my ~6yo into mario kart, no luck.

PS3 will give you lossless even up to truehd/dtsma, it's just that it comes out as multi-channel PCM (over hdmi) rather than the native, encoded dolby/dts bitstream. For most moden receivers, it probably makes no practical difference. There have apparently been rumors that some future software update will make native bitstreaming available. (Maybe it even is already on the slim?)

[mcad64]

Originally Posted by PaulyT

Yeah, we got both a wii and ps3, because I was too lazy to make a real decision. You're right, though, the wii is definitely better for young kids. Only I play the ps3. (Mine mine mine mine.) But my kids are both girls, not interested in driving/fighting stuff. I tried to get my ~6yo into mario kart, no luck.

PS3 will give you lossless even up to truehd/dtsma, it's just that it comes out as multi-channel PCM (over hdmi) rather than the native, encoded dolby/dts bitstream. For most moden receivers, it probably makes no practical difference. There have apparently been rumors that some future software update will make native bitstreaming available. (Maybe it even is already on the slim?)

Pauly,
Problem is that my receiver doesn't have HDMI so I can't get lossless(unless the player has discrete analog outs. So rather than hobbling along with my old Marantz, I would have to get a new receiver with HDMI. At least that is my thinking!!??
Mike

[mcad64]

Originally Posted by Haywood

The remote for the PS3 is BluTooth. You can buy after-market USB ad-ons that will allow control with an IR remote, but only the most expensive ones ($100) provide complete control including power. You are pretty much SOL on the new lossless soundtracks unless you have a receiver with HDMI that can handle LPCM (decoding happens on the PS3 side). The PS3 is a decent upconverting DVD player and BD player and Sony does an excellent job with the firmware updates, so it is always current.

If you are not going to use it much for gaming and you have no plans to use it for streaming, I would probably just go with a dedicated BD player. The disadvantages of the PS3 are mainly overcome by its versatility as a gaming platform and streaming appliance. If all I wanted to do was play discs, I would not buy a PS3.

I think the problem is that I am afraid I could play on this far too much. I was addicted to (online ) computer golf and played far too much. I suspect with the PS3 and my kids at school every second day, daddy would be gaming instead of doing crap around the house that NEEDS to be done!!
So what would be your recommendation for a cheap standalone? As mentioned above the Samsung 3600 and Sony 560 are roughly the same price, and both have analog outs!!
Mike

[Haywood]

The remote for the PS3 is BluTooth. You can buy after-market USB ad-ons that will allow control with an IR remote, but only the most expensive ones ($100) provide complete control including power. You are pretty much SOL on the new lossless soundtracks unless you have a receiver with HDMI that can handle LPCM (decoding happens on the PS3 side). The PS3 is a decent upconverting DVD player and BD player and Sony does an excellent job with the firmware updates, so it is always current.

If you are not going to use it much for gaming and you have no plans to use it for streaming, I would probably just go with a dedicated BD player. The disadvantages of the PS3 are mainly overcome by its versatility as a gaming platform and streaming appliance. If all I wanted to do was play discs, I would not buy a PS3.

[MatthewB]

Just a heads up, the new firmware 3.01 is bricking many peoples PS3's there currently is a class action lawsuit because Sony is saying the firmware isnt a problem, yet far too many people are bricking their systems with this update.

[IrritateGuy]

Originally Posted by MatthewB

Just a heads up, the new firmware 3.01 is bricking many peoples PS3's there currently is a class action lawsuit because Sony is saying the firmware isnt a problem, yet far too many people are bricking their systems with this update.

What proof do you have?

I always hear these sorts of rumors about products, and 99% of the time it is pure hokem.