Considering move to console

The PS3 doesn't have a DVI output.

It supports Composite video, S-video, Component, and HDMI. At least that's what the NA region PS3s have. The Asian region units might be different.

Gorath said:

- Console games are more expensive. The cheap hardware gets subsidized by the "console tax" (ca. 10$ +/-) on each game. Each of the 3 console manufacturers is a monopolist in his own market. This also helps to keep the prices up.

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But to be fair, console game prices haven't really gone up by much since the NES days in the 80s. Not only that but most titles drop in price fairly quickly and thanks to Gamestop you can always find older games really cheap used.

Gorath said:

- The current console generation is outdated. A carefully configured 500$ PC completely blows a console away. It's normal that the graphics on a good PC are better. The PC will never have the plug&play experience though.

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True and that is always the case. But the good thing is that consoles have a relatively long lifespan and the developers keep learning with each release so that near the end of a system's lifespan the games are usually technologically far more advanced than earlier games on the same console. Major graphic card updates on the other hand seem to occur every 18 months or so if not sooner.

Gorath said:

-- The software choices are better and will always be better on PC. Each console monopolist carefully manages its games portfolio. Every game has to be approved before production starts (-> content censorship to avoid trouble in countries like Germany and Australia; -> limited competition within the genres). Generally speaking they are only interested in mass market stuff selling upward of several 100k units. This loosens up as the audience grows, though.

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I don't know if I agree with this. The software choices are just different, not necessarily better. JRPGs for instance very rarely get ported to PCs. And of course each system has exclusives that you will only find on that system.

Gorath said:

- Not only look at the console, also look at the additional hardware you may need. For example the XBox is cheaper, but you have to buy overpriced MS hard disks, while Sony allows you to plug in standard USB PC HDDs. Or certain cables or controllers may or may not be included in the standard bundle. You cannot assume anything - a HD-enabled console doesn't necessarirly mean the correct cable to use HD is included.

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This is VERY true - you will usually end up having to buy an additional controller which are usually pricy, cables and other accessories. As for hard drives though, if you buy the top model it should come with more than enough HD space (120 - 250 GB) for your needs.

Gorath said:

- Also examine the bonus features. The PS3 is a rather good Blu-Ray player, for example, and it is compatible to many data formats by certain DVB-S2 satellite receivers (which use the same sort of USB HDDs ). This makes it the clear first choice for film fans. The XBox is stronger in anything involving downloads. There are probably other differences.

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Yep. The PS3 also comes with some extras right out of the box like rechargeable wireless controllers and wi-fi. You will have to use batteries for the 360 controller OR buy the rechargeable battery pack which is expensive. And no built in wireless internet means you have to buy a wireless adapter for the 360.

Gorath said:

- The pure hardware quality is totally clear: The PS3 is far more reliable, slightly more powerful and clearly less noisy than the XBox 360. Plus it has Blu-Ray.

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The 360 is one noisy beast but the newer models aren't as noisy and you can have a completely quiet system now since they allow you to install your games and play off the HD (which speeds up loading and improves game performance in most but not all games). The DVD drive is louder than a jet so this is a good thing. I'm also thinking that playing off the HD will probably lengthen the lifespan of the 360 since it keeps much cooler. Of course the newer models are also cooler by design.

The way I have it set up is, my PS3 goes HDMI to the HDTV and the HDTV has a sound out cable to the home theater.