PS3 or Windows Media centre for basic home theatre?

[tommytinkle]

Hi,

I currently own a PS3 and use it very little apart from playing films and recording tv. I'm looking to expand with 5.1 surround and possibly a bigger tv in the future (currently have 40" samsung LED). Which would you choose over a ps3 or a HTPC and why?

I'm leaning towards the htpc for the extra capabilities and ease of use it has but I'm wondering at the same time if I'm missing something with the ps3?

TIA for any help!

 

[Fr0dders]

best use of the PS3 is to stream downloaded content

I use PS3Media server and use it to stream mkv files etc..

what would you actually play on the media centre PC you couldnt do on the PS3 ?

 

[tommytinkle]

Hi,

I figured streaming media from the internet would be much easier, the odd youtube bits and pieces, I like the windows 7 video stuff I have on my pc (streaming of old things through internet tv etc) and I just prefer a pc for media sharing.

The ps3 isn't used at all for games, impulse purchase two months ago which currently I wish I'd never bothered with. Plus I figure if I fitted it with a decent enough graphics card I could have the odd game of 40" left for dead!

 

[Moeks]

PORN ...HTPC's work much better for unbridled porn consumption ...so I'm told.


Personally I would choose the HTPC (well I do use one, I do have a PS3 though), they offer a lot more flexibility ...however it really depends whether this is important to you, if all you want to do is watch tv episodes and films and such on it, then the PS3 works fine ...as MrLOL said, PS3Media Server works very well, you can transcode MKV's with it so no worries there either. If you would like the machine to offer more of the functions of a full computer ...then the HTPC starts to make more sense, say you want it to store data, browse the internet, watch IPlayer HD, Youtube and also be able to rip and encode stuff it's self ...then it's what you're after.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Depends upon your needs. Personally I use my PS3 for DVD, BD, playing games and watching TV (via PlayTV). It does all of those very well, meaning that for the dosh, it's great value for money. Relating to a HTPC, no the PS3 won't handle certain file formats as easily, but it does avoid a shed load of issues that I've read about say trying to playback BDs.

My personal suggestion would be to keep the dosh that you were planning to spend on the HTPC and blow it on a decent audio setup.

 

[FrankJH]

Depends upon your needs. Personally I use my PS3 for DVD, BD, playing games and watching TV (via PlayTV). It does all of those very well, meaning that for the dosh, it's great value for money. Relating to a HTPC, no the PS3 won't handle certain file formats as easily, but it does avoid a shed load of issues that I've read about say trying to playback BDs.

My personal suggestion would be to keep the dosh that you were planning to spend on the HTPC and blow it on a decent audio setup.

+1

If OP is interested in HD (and especially audio) I would stick with the PS3 if I were you, not only is the hardware for HD audio expensive (even though it is getting cheaper), there is additional BR/HD audio software which needs to be bought (last time I checked it was approaching £100) and even then it was nowhere near perfect with every br - plus power consumption on a htpc will more than likely be a lot higher (if this bothers you at all)

While Windows update has got a lot better for Win7 - there will always be more housekeeping on a Windows box than on a console , and with your gaming being of a lesser concern, you wont have to update the PS3 every time anyway (depending on your net connection, this is pretty fast usually anyway)

 

[tommytinkle]

+1

If OP is interested in HD (and especially audio) I would stick with the PS3 if I were you, not only is the hardware for HD audio expensive (even though it is getting cheaper), there is additional BR/HD audio software which needs to be bought (last time I checked it was approaching £100) and even then it was nowhere near perfect with every br - plus power consumption on a htpc will more than likely be a lot higher (if this bothers you at all)

While Windows update has got a lot better for Win7 - there will always be more housekeeping on a Windows box than on a console , and with your gaming being of a lesser concern, you wont have to update the PS3 every time anyway (depending on your net connection, this is pretty fast usually anyway)

Hi,

Power consumption will be higher? The ps3 sits idling at about 80 watts, I don't think an i3 or core 2 would use that much at idle surely?

 

[Moeks]

You'r right tommy, it wont, not unelss under load. A modern HTPC using modern components will use less power than a PS3 in most situations you are likely to find yourself in with an HTPC.

The big power draw from computers comes from powerful graphics cards or fully loading quad core cpus etc ...none of this is likely to be the case with an HTPC. Actually I do some encoding on mine so I do load mine but most people don't.

 

[Hank_Marvin]

w7 media centre + mediabrowser + metabrowser + skytv plugin + all your other favoruite iplayer type sites, internet on tv etc etc, pc for the win.