PS3 Blu-ray vs. 360 HD DVD Add-On
Published by Admin on 4.12.06 at 12/04/2006 06:44:00 PM.
As I sit down to write this, it has been only a few days since Sony's highly-anticipated PlayStation 3 next-gen game console was launched here in the U.S. on November 17, 2006. It is a day that will go down in infamy in the history of consumer electronics. Amid a media frenzy and near-riots at stores nationwide, Sony's limited supply of units (some say it was as low as 120,000) sold out in a matter of seconds. Demand was so high that violence broke out at several retail outlets, with one altercation at a Connecticut Wal-mart resulting in a near-fatality. All for a videogame console -- we've come a long way since Atari.
While I can't say I'd kill for a PlayStation 3, I can't help but feel a little bit like I am (as my roommate has dubbed me) "The Luckiest MoFo in the Whole World." For I'm one of the few to have received a brand-new PS3 for review (the ultra-swanky black 60Gb version, no less), courtesy of Sony. Indeed, more than just an updated game console, the PS3 represents a significant milestone in the history of the home video industry -- with a suped-up Blu-ray player inside, the PS3 promises to not only invigorate gaming, but to also bring high-definition disc playback to the masses. Though past game consoles have supported home video formats (both the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's original Xbox offered DVD playback) the Blu-ray-driven PS3 represents a truly landmark synergy between the gaming industry, major consumer electronics manufacturers and the Hollywood studios.
It is hardly a coincidence that Blu-ray's rival HD DVD also chose to fire its own salvo in the next-gen format war this month via Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive. With the Xbox 360 already enjoying a one-year market lead on Sony's console with a hefty installed base, the new HD DVD add-on offers a huge opportunity for gamers to jump into high-definition at a low cost. The hardware was co-developed by primary HD DVD backer Toshiba, and with a wallet-friendly $199 price tag, it is by far the cheapest way to get a high-definition disc player into your home. Of course, you still have to own an Xbox 360 to enjoy the add-on drive, but with the console's list price at about $300, that's still a relatively affordable $500 -- the same price as the entry-level version of the PS3. Link
While I can't say I'd kill for a PlayStation 3, I can't help but feel a little bit like I am (as my roommate has dubbed me) "The Luckiest MoFo in the Whole World." For I'm one of the few to have received a brand-new PS3 for review (the ultra-swanky black 60Gb version, no less), courtesy of Sony. Indeed, more than just an updated game console, the PS3 represents a significant milestone in the history of the home video industry -- with a suped-up Blu-ray player inside, the PS3 promises to not only invigorate gaming, but to also bring high-definition disc playback to the masses. Though past game consoles have supported home video formats (both the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's original Xbox offered DVD playback) the Blu-ray-driven PS3 represents a truly landmark synergy between the gaming industry, major consumer electronics manufacturers and the Hollywood studios.
It is hardly a coincidence that Blu-ray's rival HD DVD also chose to fire its own salvo in the next-gen format war this month via Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive. With the Xbox 360 already enjoying a one-year market lead on Sony's console with a hefty installed base, the new HD DVD add-on offers a huge opportunity for gamers to jump into high-definition at a low cost. The hardware was co-developed by primary HD DVD backer Toshiba, and with a wallet-friendly $199 price tag, it is by far the cheapest way to get a high-definition disc player into your home. Of course, you still have to own an Xbox 360 to enjoy the add-on drive, but with the console's list price at about $300, that's still a relatively affordable $500 -- the same price as the entry-level version of the PS3. Link