Another Games Console Thread

[eskimo]

Looking to upgrade some stuff and i've almost settled on what i want. But anyway; what would be best for hooking up to one of them big tvs?

The PS3 seems to only get sold in the 40gb model? Which happens to say this:

The PlayStation 3 40GB model does NOT feature:

* Backwards Compatibility with PS2 Games

* Memory Stick Card Readers

* SACD Playback

* Ethernet Cable

* 4 USB Ports, (The PS3 40GB model features 2)

Which sounds pretty crap for £300 from where i'm standing. Blu Ray or no Blue Ray i'm not spending £20 a disk for movies anyway. So what can it actually do then?

And the 360? Doesn't look like anything special anymore to me. Very noisy aren't they plus i don't many who play online now anyway..

Laptop? Varying in price allot, but does everything? Downsides? Requires upgrades for new games, but i won't be buying new games every 5 mins anyway. Plus i can do stuff with it other than where it usually sits. Although i think i've answered my own question there?

Laptop for the winner? Battery life, they all suck don't they? Can i get one that lasts...?

Also while were at it, what is a Blackberry Phone? Does it actually do anything impressive?

+ high end MP4s are also wank by my understanding?

Someone fill me in, it's clear i'm not sure on these things. Well apart from the TV as i've done my research.

Thanks.

[Haz]

Can't really compare the 360 or PS3 to a laptop.

To get a laptop which is decent enough to play most modern games, you'll have to spend at least 700, if not much more.

Just need to know what you want to do. If you want a pure games machine, the 360 is fine, loads of games, hardware problems are less frequent, and it's not to dear anymore. XBL is great, you easily uild a friend list and most multiplayer games have communities who play together.

The PS3 is also good, but less games, more expensive and the online community isnt so great. I don't own one, so I can't say much more than that.

[Sam Nichols]

Im a little unclear about what it is you actually want? Have you just got some cash burning a hole in your pocket?

You cant put a laptop into an equation with two consoles really..

My first choice at a console would be the PS3 though, Having played on both I really dont like the xbox, big clumsy controllers and you have to pay for xbox live i think.

The PS3 is ideal if you want something to sit under your TV and play dvds and games on, music too if you wish.

A laptop.. well if your looking into consoles then a laptop isnt going to be much use, equally if your looking for a computer type thing then a console is no good!

Explain what you want man!

I have a blackberry and its great for work/ebay/boredom busting because all my emails come straight to it so i can keep up to date with everything even when im on my regular PC bans. Good while your at work too because you can browse the net easily and everythiung works better than a normal mobile.

Other than that.. Not a lot else really!

[eskimo]

Thanks. Yeah didn't make it too clear did i.

Well i was after something can do stuff you know. The PS3 and Xbox can play any game for that platform without upgrading.

The 360 has the Mic which is awesome as i had the Xbox OG on live before. But finding cool people to play with was hard, probably as it was outdated and the cool gamers are now on 360? But this is the main pro about the Xbox is live as a friend was telling me Mic support on the PS3 is very poor.

But i was reading the PS3 had a web browser, was quite and could store a hell of allot of media on it to play straight onto the tv? (without the bother of discs or streaming?) But that's on the higher end model which isn't available here? I'm really put off by the 40gb model as it seems it's still just a console.

But! The laptop can store whatever i want, act as a media centre plus play games with wireless controller etc still. Then it can be taken somewhere and still be used. It probably wouldn't be used for the internet though and i wouldn't be wanting it to have a super high spec graphics card. The 128mb on here seems good enough which is the same allot of £400 laptops are offering with more RAM?

So the Blackberry thing. It's like a MP4 but a phone, but has a internet browser. Doesn't that cost money and/or require a WIFI connection?

[chrishayton]

If you want to play PS3 style games on a laptop you will need a high spec graphics card, my pcs orite, 2.4 dual core, 2gb ram, 256 geforce gfx card and its only above average at games. your going to have to spend around 1000 to have a laptop that plays games well. Buy a cheapish laptop and PS3 and get best of both

[Sam Nichols]

Ah yeah thats the other cool thing about the blackberry, if you sign up to the blackberry package (forget how much) but all internet browsing is free.. Not sure if thats just over here in Guernsey though.

But you also have the wifi on some of the models (like mine) so even if you dont have the blackberry on any special contract you can use wifi in all sorts of hotspots.. Infact i was really suprised how many different places my phone picks up wifi.. Airport, bars, bowling alley, our highstreet/shopping area, my friends houses etc etc

[eskimo]

If you want to play PS3 style games on a laptop you will need a high spec graphics card, my pcs orite, 2.4 dual core, 2gb ram, 256 geforce gfx card and its only above average at games. your going to have to spend around 1000 to have a laptop that plays games well. Buy a cheapish laptop and PS3 and get best of both

That's the thing i'm not too bothered about games really it's just a bonus. Plus i'm okay with the older games, eg. Quake 2 is the best in the series oh and FF7 do i need to say more

Ah yeah thats the other cool thing about the blackberry, if you sign up to the blackberry package (forget how much) but all internet browsing is free.. Not sure if thats just over here in Guernsey though.

But you also have the wifi on some of the models (like mine) so even if you dont have the blackberry on any special contract you can use wifi in all sorts of hotspots.. Infact i was really suprised how many different places my phone picks up wifi.. Airport, bars, bowling alley, our highstreet/shopping area, my friends houses etc etc

I think that's the thing, it's cool and handy sometimes. But a minimum of £200 for a phone is still allot and the whole checking the email/ tf on a phone isn't really needed (in my case).

I'm in no real rush to wax loads of money just yet.

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

And the 360? Doesn't look like anything special anymore to me. Very noisy aren't they plus i don't many who play online now anyway..

Quite noisy, nothing abnormal though, noticable first few times you play it but you do get used to it.

As for the online thing, considering that Halo 3 usually has about 200,000 people on it at 2pm and Call of Duty 4 is by far more popular, i dont think you will have any issue finding gamers.

[Sam Nichols]

Yeah, mine was free anyway, I wouldnt have paid that kind of money just for the gimmicks.

[kyle-livesey]

i own a ps3 and its alot better than my laptop. i am writing this messsage on it, got it hooked up to 47inch hd tv and its mint got lots of saved trials and music and music videos on it and works a treat and when i get bored i can just play a game straight away you can also down load free demos straight from the ps3 shop.

i would highly recommend a ps3.

[Hendrix]

I've got a 360 with online game play. And a £900 macbook.

I couldn't use the macbook for gaming because it's graphics is poor. - My friends Mac Pro doesn't even compare to a 360 - and he's spent a fortune customizing it.

Someone souly made to do one thing is going to be far better than something made for multi purpose.

[eskimo]

Quite noisy, nothing abnormal though, noticable first few times you play it but you do get used to it.

As for the online thing, considering that Halo 3 usually has about 200,000 people on it at 2pm and Call of Duty 4 is by far more popular, i dont think you will have any issue finding gamers.

I still find my regular Xbox is pretty noisy when the TV isn't turned up that's why i found it to be an issue.

Yeah, mine was free anyway, I wouldnt have paid that kind of money just for the gimmicks.

Cool but not cool enough then. Kinda like a Koxx

i own a ps3 and its alot better than my laptop. i am writing this messsage on it, got it hooked up to 47inch hd tv and its mint got lots of saved trials and music and music videos on it and works a treat and when i get bored i can just play a game straight away you can also down load free demos straight from the ps3 shop.

i would highly recommend a ps3.

You have the 40gb model right? A mate was filling me in on that stuff and it definitely sounds worth it. As the 360 and Laptop would both require upgrades which cost so it kinda works out the same amount.

I've got a 360 with online game play. And a £900 macbook.

I couldn't use the macbook for gaming because it's graphics is poor. - My friends Mac Pro doesn't even compare to a 360 - and he's spent a fortune customizing it.

Someone souly made to do one thing is going to be far better than something made for multi purpose.

I wouldn't dream of getting a Mac though. But that's 'cause i wouldn't know what do to with it.

But you are right, that's why i decided MP4s suck and any device with a built in camera is turd.

[Krisboats]

You have the 40gb model right? A mate was filling me in on that stuff and it definitely sounds worth it. As the 360 and Laptop would both require upgrades which cost so it kinda works out the same amount.

]

I'd love to know where your getting this idea that your going to be able to upgrade your xbox and laptop. Xbox upgrade = new hard drive... thats it. Upgrades for a laptop realistically consist of changing the ram (cheap as hell now anyway) and changing the hard drive. You can't upgrade the graphics card on a laptop as they're usually tucked away and specific to that laptop model.

360 and ps3, both look and play the same, only differences are the controller shapes and some console specific titles. ps3 has the blu ray capabilities but the xbox should do soon too (you've already said you won't be buying blu ray movies so its kind of a moot point anyway).

A laptop also won't even compare gaming wise to a xbox or ps3, if you want a windows based gaming platform you'll need to buy a tower unit. and for around £300-400 you can get one thats far superior to both consoles. A laptop more capable than either console though will set you back somewhere in the region of £900-£1500.

[eskimo]

]

I'd love to know where your getting this idea that your going to be able to upgrade your xbox and laptop. Xbox upgrade = new hard drive... thats it. Upgrades for a laptop realistically consist of changing the ram (cheap as hell now anyway) and changing the hard drive. You can't upgrade the graphics card on a laptop as they're usually tucked away and specific to that laptop model.

360 and ps3, both look and play the same, only differences are the controller shapes and some console specific titles. ps3 has the blu ray capabilities but the xbox should do soon too (you've already said you won't be buying blu ray movies so its kind of a moot point anyway).

A laptop also won't even compare gaming wise to a xbox or ps3, if you want a windows based gaming platform you'll need to buy a tower unit. and for around £300-400 you can get one thats far superior to both consoles. A laptop more capable than either console though will set you back somewhere in the region of £900-£1500.

I'm not doing to well in this thread, just presuming people know what i'm on about. Plus the word upgrade was probably the wrong one to use.

Anyway, i mean when you buy a PS3 you get allot of stuff in the box minus a blue tooth headset. Whereas a 360 doesn't have the rechargeable battery pack, HD cable?, ethernet cable plus a few more things i forget. The laptop being mouse/ controller/ keyboard.

I think the main point that everyone is putting forward about the laptop is the fact it can't play high end games. I'd only be playing what's on offer. The reason i compared the consoles to the laptop is because the laptop has the ability to go places.

I'm just after something that does 'stuff' if you like, but has the bonus feature of playing games. That's why i'm not so big on the 360 right now. The reason i'm not so concerned about the games side of things is solely to do with what's on offer. I haven't seen anything recently that will still be played and looked upon as being 'classic'.

Feel free to argue my poor look on the current games.

Edited July 20, 2008 by eskimo

[Krisboats]

I'm not doing to well in this thread, just presuming people know what i'm on about. Plus the word upgrade was probably the wrong one to use.

Anyway, i mean when you buy a PS3 you get allot of stuff in the box minus a blue tooth headset. Whereas a 360 doesn't have the rechargeable battery pack, HD cable?, ethernet cable plus a few more things i forget. The laptop being mouse/ controller/ keyboard.

I think the main point that everyone is putting forward about the laptop is the fact it can't play high end games. I'd only be playing what's on offer. The reason i compared the consoles to the laptop is because the laptop has the ability to go places.

I'm just after something that does 'stuff' if you like, but has the bonus feature of playing games. That's why i'm not so big on the 360 right now. The reason i'm not so concerned about the games side of things is solely to do with what's on offer. I haven't seen anything recently that will still be played and looked upon as being 'classic'.

Feel free to argue my poor look on the current games.

The whole lot would come to about £10 to £15. Hardly a big deal "upgrading".

I think it would be much better if you actually worked out what you wanted. You come across as just having money to spend for the sake of it. If your not too fussed about games then don't get a console... its as simple as that. Whilst they might have other features like streaming media and stuff, games is really all they do. Going on the internet using a console is horrible, just get yourself a laptop if that's what your wanting to do. Though the games you'll be playing will be on low resolution with no graphics options allowed (so they'll look like doom effectively).

[eskimo]

I like Doom

Anyways, i'm still undecided. I wouldn't say i have money to burn but i'm just trying to figure out if either is worth my cash. Not the cash, my cash. I'm still looking into the PS3 as i think that's the way i'm gonna go.

But as with laptops, can you actually get long lasting battery's for them?