PS3 as media hub

fatherdougal

fatherdougal

fatherdougal

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Joined
24 Jun 2007
Posts
320
Hi all,

How effective are people finding the PS3 as a media hub? Anyone finding the limited range of video formats a problem? I'm thinking of buying one(or a 360) and would like to stream video from my PC to it. How well does it do the job?
Also would people recommend XP(pro) or Vista for the job? Or does it not really matter if you have WMP11? Sorry for all the questions.
 
kinda of off subject
i wouldnt buy a ps3 as a media hub since it does support divx

you might aswell get one of these for £32
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=AV-000-SV&groupid=703&catid=880&subcat=
AV-000-SV_200.jpg


ps3 too noisey
bluray too expensive
 
Presumably I can just convert divx files into a compatible format though?
'Logic' behind buying a PS3 would be to have minimal number of boxes under-neath the TV.
I sold my wii this weekend, as I wasn't playing it at the moment and I could get a good price for it, I will be buying another wii again, I have kept all of my games and accesories, and I will have a full years warranty again. In the meantime I want a replacement. I keep on changing my mind as to what to buy though. Currently I'm looking for something that will swing the argument.
 
fatherdougal said:
Presumably I can just convert divx files into a compatible format though?
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yes, but it will take ages

you can stream it from your pc without converting (realtime conversion and stream)

but buying a ps3 to play divx files is not a good idea

if you want a ps3 for other reasons, like yourre going to starting a bluray collections or play some of the exclusive ps3 titles, then get one

Sumvision Pheonix DVD Player is dirt cheap option- has hdmi and you can plug usb drives into it for dvix
 
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I find tversity fine, never could get it working with the 360 though. For that I use transcode360.

The only disadvantage I find is that with transcode you can fast-forward somewhat, although it's a bit hit and miss. With tversity I've not been able to do it at all.

Good though. And noisy? (neocon). I've pretty much switched to the PS3 for media streaming because it's so quiet!
 
Put together a mini PC for your living room or whatever, it'll probably be around the same price but far more viable for playback of many different file types, the PS3 requires another machine to even be remotely useful as a hub. Not trolling but that's the truth, same goes for the 360 without a PC on feeding them they are practically useless.
 
Jihad said:
Put together a mini PC for your living room or whatever, it'll probably be around the same price but far more viable for playback of many different file types, the PS3 requires another machine to even be remotely useful as a hub. Not trolling but that's the truth, same goes for the 360 without a PC on feeding them they are practically useless.
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Spot on.
 
Kreeeee said:
Just install Linux on the PS3.
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no.
Jihad said:
Put together a mini PC for your living room or whatever, it'll probably be around the same price but far more viable for playback of many different file types, the PS3 requires another machine to even be remotely useful as a hub. Not trolling but that's the truth, same goes for the 360 without a PC on feeding them they are practically useless.
Click to expand...
yes.
 
fatherdougal said:
Well I guess I could just use my laptop for that instead. Was looking for some kind of 'elegant' solution. Also wondered whether it was better than a 360 for this.
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It doesn't get more elegant than a nice little Shuttle/HTPC to be honest. :D

But nah 360 won't be much better, it has Media Center integration though if that interests you, same issue still applies though needs a PC on to be useful.
 
Consider a XBOX 1 and XBMC, very cheap plays everything you throw at it (accept HD video). Other than that a HTPC is really the way to go.
 
OK, but if you have a PS3 connected to your TV and a PC in the next room, and say you have a wireless router in your home. you can stream any video in any format from the PC -> PS3 -> TV without having to 'hack' the PS3 at all?
 
yes but YMMV. programs like tversity and other streaming proggies are notoriously buggy, to the point where most of us said sod that. it even persuaded me to build a htpc. really, it isnt worth the stress trying to stream divx or whatever. just enjoy the ps3 for what it does best, and thats bluray :cool:
 
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