tech heads

[Johnimus Prime]

ok you geeks. Time to prove your worth.

I'm getting some new toys for the house soon. One of the things I need to think about is some sort of dvd recorder and hdd.

There are plenty out there to like, but the problem is that the ones with a blu-ray player are upwards of £700.

I've done a bit of investigating and found that, for £50, you can get a box for the ps3 called playtv that acts as a freeview tuner and allows you to record content directly onto the ps3 hard drive.

So in essence, buying a playtv and a ps3 gets you you get a blu-ray player with hdd recorder for about £350. Now a smart purchase of a 320 or 500gb 2.5" hdd at around £50 will allow you to record and save shitloads of tv to your ps3, and as the ps3 has a web browser you can also download stuff directly as well.

So basically you pay £400 for something that you would otherwise have to pay £700 for.

My question is - is the blu-ray on the ps3 any good, and does it upscale dvd well; and has anyone got the playtv and is it any good?

[BBloke]

I'm sure more have better info but I have read that as home entertainment systems go with Blu-Ray capaibilities the PS3 is a good choice. Considering that you get a console/BluRay and xVid movie player in one.

You can also consider that, with a wireless Router and the right software (windows media player 11 can do this) you can allow your PC (in another room) to be a media server PC which allows the PS3 media browser to connect in so you can select a film to watch on TV from your PC. There is a file compatibility thing to get over (i believe PS3's can play XviD/DiVx movies) but for normal xvid movies you should be fine and dandy.

I've considered a BluRay player myself but I'm gonna opt for a burner when they get down to more reasonable prices but sounds like what you are looking at offers some very nice benefits, especially if you couple it with a PC being a media server.

Caution on HDD replacement. Drive must be 2.5" and no more than 9.5mm high. some drives are 12.5mm and won't fit.

This website may help with some little extras you can do with it and a PC wireless (or wired).. I used the site to gather some research on the amp and to answer some questions. It's a pretty useful resource. I wouldn't be too concerned regarding the DVD upscaling capaibilities. I've read you can set the PS3 to suit your TV provided you use a HDMI capable. Bear in mind your TV will also upscale what it is given to fit the TV so you have two ways of skinning the cat.

Hope it helps. I'm sure someone here has more experience with them.

[Knails]

my best suggestion is get a pc and wire it in by HDMI to your tv. download what you want.

works in my house

wait a year and get a blu ray drive

if you need component suggestions hit me upwith a PM

[YamNivek]

The PS3 is a good choice for a Blu-ray player as it is easily updatable as well. When the firmware for the PS3 is updated Sony often update the blu-ray side as well.

It outputs in all manor of sound options as well from basic stereo all the way up to the lossless stuff very expensive amplifiers like.

Plus it plays games as well!!

[LazyEagle]

You can also consider that, with a wireless Router and the right software (windows media player 11 can do this) you can allow your PC (in another room) to be a media server PC which allows the PS3 media browser to connect in so you can select a film to watch on TV from your PC. There is a file compatibility thing to get over (i believe PS3's can play XviD/DiVx movies) but for normal xvid movies you should be fine and dandy.

not the case anymore as there's this wonderful little program called Tversity, which is the Media Centre program you set up on your PC, but it autoconverts whatever your watching to a format that can be played on the PS3. It's class, and since I started using it, I haven't come across a file type it doesn't play.

I've no idea about the freeviuew tuner though, but I rarely ever want to record anythign off the tv anyway these days!

As for DVD upscaling, the PS3 does do this, but it really depends on the filmn to dvd transfer itself.
If it was a shitty dvd, chances are the PS3 won't make a whoile lot of difference.

[Jonnywhy]

wait a year and get a blu ray drive

Come back in a years time and get the same advice! As prices are always dropping, just gotta wait till they're a price you wanna pay for them.

[LazyEagle]

Well if you're just looking for a Bluray drive to play discs on, they're not really expensive anymore.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... 2&source=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And if you have an old PC, it's very easy to hook it directly into your HD tv (which I assume you have, as otherwise there isn't really any point) and turn it into a media centre and throw in your new Bluray drive.

I think you should get a PS3 though,if only so I can add you to my Friends.
I currently only have one, and he's a real life friend, who I play Tekken with online.

It would be great to add you to the list Johnimus, and I'm sure there'll be some decent co-op game that would be worth playing coming out pretty soon.

[Johnimus Prime]

Thanks guys. I'm not looking to hook it to my pc as I have the mrs to consider. So just a cheap easy to use option, so I think the PS3 will be the way to go. I will probbably get (or build) a seperate pc to use as a media centre in due course.

Lazy - Tekken is a favourite game so no worries. But when it comes to the Playstation there is only one game that really matters.

WIPEOUT

[Fester]

TEKKEN TEKKEN TEKKEN!!!

I would avoid the media center with the missus.. i spent about a year trying to get Media Portal to work nice for the missus on some old shit cans.. and never got it to work well enough for her to use.. but once she had left my humble home i got it completed with some help in less than a few days.. works a treat for me but confuses the shit out of people who aint used to it... i would wait out on the media center it will confuse her 2 much

[BBloke]

Tekken, Wipeout and Gran Tourismo.. all time classics.. but not worth me getting a PS3 to play with you guys though.. sorry