Video play back - XBox or ps3

Well... just to nitpick... but the Xbox 360 doesn't play Blu-Ray movies.

You can purchase a seperate standalone HD-DVD player (not Blu-Ray) for it, but it is an extra, add-on feature, not included.

The PS3 comes with a built in Blu-Ray player.

Both will work, both will be about the same price... but there are some questions you should ask yourself. Can you accept an add-on aesthetic? Would you prefer HD-DVD or Blu-Ray? (Sony movies will only be on Blu-Ray, for example) So stuff like Casino Royale, Kung Fu Hustle, Pirates Of The Carribbean, Pan's Labyrinth, Robocop! etc. are only going to be available on Blu-Ray. Same goes for HD-DVD. Just some stuff to think about.

If given the choice, I'd go with the PS3. I have a Wii/PS3 and will be purchasing a Xbox 360 soon (BioShock + Mass Effect, woo). From a video playback standpoint, you're betting on format. As Slim already stated, you have to pay for the add-on for the 360. I was hoping the Elite would come with it, but I digress. In regards to games, the PS3's library will, given history, be superior to the 360's simply due to volume. The exclusives for each system are looking good, and PS3 hasn't even been out a year.

In terms of the gaming systems, X360 is vastly superior in library choice and looks to be that way for at least another year (possibly longer, if the PS3 continues to tank at its current rate). Even games that are cross-platform have been looking better and running smoother on X360. In any case, if you're looking for an HD Player with games as a side, I'd pick BluRay (PS3) over HD-DVD (X360). It's a superior medium in terms of capacity as well as bandwith.

+1 on blu ray

Also the new XBOX360 Elietes are going to have the option of built in HDDVD.

I agree with Brian, if you're looking at playing games bet on the Xbox, or if you're interested in multimedia playback through Windows Vista or Media Center, the Xbox would make a better choice. However, if you're looking at using it solely as a high definition movie player, the PS3 would be the one to choose.

Just remember, if you spring for the XBox, get one with an HDMI output. The new model premiums supposedly have them, otherwise the Elite will.

More detailed discussion of one vs. the other - http://forums.gametrailers.com/showt...t=26521&page=1 from a games standpoint.

That discussion occurred before the PS3 was released. No one expected PS3 to be such a piece of shit, and many of their exclusives are already cross-platform because the developers don't want to lose money making games only for the PS3.

The newer X360 Premiums do have HDMI output, you have to sort through them at the store to try and find one that does. The only difference right now between the new Premiums and the Elites is the Elite has a 65nm chip (something people swear makes a huge difference but in reality does nothing), a bigger hard drive (120gb), and of course it's black.

The PS3 MAY have a bright future ahead of it, if it really ramps up the games, but it's sales are really, really lagging, and that's bad not because it means Sony is losing money, but because developers aren't going to take the huge risk needed to make games for the console.

It's 23 pages long, with posts as recent as a couple months ago.

As I stated, I'm getting a 360 - I've no vested interest in one or another since I'm a Nintendo fanboy. To say, however, that the game library of 360s is so much more better than PS3's is a testament to the amount of time it's been out, not its superiority. Xbox 360 had like 2 games worth playing prior to GoW. It's just the nature of things.

The PS3 is not a piece of shit. If anything, the Xbox 360 is probably the biggest POS in terms of quality and reliability out of any console in history. Brian... when are you going to read the actual data available before you make dumb statements like this. I can (and HAVE) pointed you to sales charts that at least hint at, if not clearly disprove everything you are saying here. Its just your determined fanboyism speaking. Which differs from mine because I can back mine up with actual data. Whether its "official" or not, it is accurate. Sales on the PS3 are not "lagging". As a matter of fact, they are STILL pacing the 360 dead on in terms of sales from date of release. And on a week to week basis, they have been outselling the Xbox360 globally for a month and a half. They should get a significant sales jump when MGS4 is released that mirrors the jump the 360 got from Halo2 around week 55. 360 sales are the ones that are really, really lagging. A: they are the worst selling console in the world on a week to week basis, and have been since the PS3 price drop over a month ago that your faulty information claimed wasn't happening. B: On a week to week basis, they are selling less in any specific week in 2007 than they did in 2006, which was the same last year, when they failed to meet their sales figures from year one. (With about five total exceptions). Basically, this means that with the exception of the Halo2 sales spike, and the recent price cut, Xbox 360 sales have been in decline SINCE THE CONSOLE CAME OUT. C: None of the important developers are jumping ship on the PS3 because of sales. There have been a couple that Microsoft has PAID a bazillion dollars to to write exclusive content, but "sluggish PS3 sales" has very little to do with it. Anyone who says otherwise isn't looking at the data. (since the numbers are so obviously NOT sluggish)

I'm not sure if its better with the new HDMI XBOX 360s or on the 360's "VGA" connection but for regular component video the 360's DVD playback is very disappointing. HD-DVD playback on the 360 does look very good though.

TS, do you really want to start another of your stupid flamewars... over GAME consoles? I never said the PS3 was a piece of shit reliability wise. The X360 is the most unreliable console in history.. some like 30% of them go dead, which is why M$ extended everyone's warranty (and retroactively as well). The PS3 is a piece of shit because it's cross-platform games are running/looking worse, it's exclusive line-up is nowhere near as good as X360, it's too difficult and expensive for smaller developers to make games for, and it's full of over-designed, bloated hardware. Not to mention the fact that it's basically just a trojan horse for getting BluRay into the mainstream as the dominant medium. What a laugh, dude. You have no idea what you're talking about. It makes sense that they're outselling the X360 on a week-to-week basis, because they had much more hype going in - hell the PS2 is the best selling console, period. But quite frankly I don't give a shit about those numbers, what matters is that X360 is the system with the good games on it. And I can bring up specific mentions from video game developers saying, "We're delaying/cancelling our PS3 games because sales are not enough to give a good ROI," but it's just pointless getting into an argument with you because no matter what, you're always going to think you're right, and you're convinced you're right and I'll just let you feel that way if it helps you sleep at night. Halo 2 is a XBOX game, not X360. It came out a year before X360 did. Anyway, their sales are lagging, overall. If the PS3 was worth all the hype it got, it wouldn't be sitting on shelves, unsold, all over the country. Week by week sales show trends, okay, and I think the X360 deserves more sales than it's gotten, as they are low when comparing to recent past systems (and the Wii). http://www.nexgenwars.com/ has the current numbers. What differs between your fanboyism and mine is that I'm not actually a fanboy, I'm just stating my opinion on the consoles, but I should have expected you to flip out over it . I'm simply saying that PS3, as it is right now, and probably for another year, sucks shit and isn't worth the money, except if you want the BluRay player as it's still a relatively cheap option in that regard. I might get one later on when it has good games on it. For what it's worth, I've been a Nintendo fan my whole life (pre-ordered Metroid Prime 3, can't fucking wait for it), Kronik, and I don't have either a X360 or a PS3, just a Wii. It doesn't matter to me which one does better between the other systems, though I'd rather see PS3 take it up the ass because of Sony's arrogant attitude prior (and during) the release. If they had a ton of good games coming out, I'd get into it, but they just don't. They've got a long way to go before their system becomes worth the investment, IMO. I was really excited for PS3 long before its launch and I was down on the X360, but nowadays that's totally different, given the game libraries. Yes, the X360 has the advantage of coming out a year early, but so what? It's got the better games, and that's what matters. When FF13 comes out, and MGS4, and whatever other games will be out for PS3, buy one then. But right now, and probably for the next year, X360 is going to get you way more fun for your $.