OK, at the moment I need to decide between getting a PS2 or an X-Box. I can get the PS2 for $250 new (20% off where I work, but we offer no extended warranrties), or the X-Box for normal price. Anyway, this isn't a question of games (I know what is available, and both systems have games I want), but more of hardware reliability.

As I said, at work (Blockbuster) we don't have any kind of extended plan, and we just started selling new PS2s last week. Anyway, between Blockbuster and my time in the trenches at EB, I have come to truly distrust the PS2 as I have dealt with way too many defective ones out of the box, or ones that go defective in less than a year. I don't want to spend $250 on a system and then 6 months later have top spend $120 plus shipping to have sony fix it.

With the X-Box, I know there have been some overheat problems, but I would buy this from a place that has extended warranties (I also have to wait about a month longer to get it where as I could get the PS2 now).

Can anyone who owns these systems fill me in with their input on them? Problems they've had, how long they've owned their systems without problems, that kind of thing?

Had my PS2 since launch (Oct '00). I use it pretty regularly and used it as my DVD player for a while as well. I've had no problems at all with it, but didn't reallly like it as a DVD player, so I bought a new one of those as well.

Right off the start, I'll tell you that I don't own either system. I'm holding out to buy a Gamecube. But from what I've read here in the past few months it seems that PS2 is the system of choice because of the selection. A wider selection is a good thing. I've heard a lot from different sites about returns on PS2's for various reasons, but that hasn't been mentioned in this forum (to the best of my knowledge).

As for the Xbox, it has, in the opnion of some people, is off to a slow start. But I think that's normal for a new system. It has a lot of accessories which are in stock at a lot of the stores that I've been to.

Graphics on both look almost the same to me. Check the upcoming releases and see who is going to have the games you would be interested in playing. Just because Sony has a wider selection doesn't mean it will have the games you want to play. I think Microsoft is really trying to please people on their Xbox. It seems that everywhere I go they are giving one away in some kind of contest.

Just my 2-cents.

Powerbomb,

I do have a gamecube, and just a bit of advice: WAIT. At the moment there really isn't too much of interest on the system. SSBM is extremely overrated, THPS3 is almost unplayable with the button layout on the GC controller, and almost every other game on the system is also available on the Xbox and PS2. The only 3 games I have left for my GC are ROGUE LEADER (an awesome game), NHL HITZ 2002 (another awesome game, but it is available on every system), and Extreme G 3 (a pretty cool racing game which is much improved over the PS2 version, and includes a 4-player mode). Until June, just about everything coming out is a port of a PS2 game (and since several of these are Midway ports, expect sloppy rush jobs, as Midway seems to be the company out there least dedicated to quality ports on any system). The only game I am excited about in the next 3 months is Sega's SOCCER SLAM, which sounds better and better with each article I read about it.

I have owned both these systems since their launch dates. They both run perfectly! I wouldn't judge the systems on number of defects, they are all very well built machines. The research I have done, I have found that each of the systems have about a 1 to 2 percent return rate. It really comes down to the games which you already know. My opinion, between the two systems, I perfer the XBOX. I know I'm going to get shot at for saying this, but the limitations of the XBOX is the T.V.(unless you have HDTV) and game software companies not developing to its full potential. The graphics card in the XBOX is capable of producing more than any non HDTV can handle. You're almost better off hooking the XBOX to a computer monitor, but if you're going to do that, then you defeat the purpose of a console.

Like any piece of electronic equipment, It only overheats if you don't keep it ventilated. I keep my out in the open on the carpet. Also, I have had mine since Nov. 15th and I have yet to have a problem. Every game, rentals included, work perfectly fine. And I have used my XBox extensively.

If you want to get a warranty, MS offers 2 years of full coverage for $50. Also, you can renew it after it runs out. From the Wired article I read, Flextronics has a pretty low failure rate on everything they build. That's why I skipped the warranty.

I use my XBox for 3 things.

1. Play games. There are plenty of games to play right now and many others coming in the future.

2. As a secondary DVD player. The quality is better than the PS2. I used to own a PS2, so I know.

3. This is the cool one. I looked into getting a Digital Audio Recorder for my stereo system. The cheapest I could find was a Sima I-Mix brand for about $499.99 for a 20 gig hd.

Well, I don't need 20 gig. I don't have that many cd's or songs to fill it up with. The Xbox performs the same feature for $200 less and a smaller HD. It has the capapcity to hold 73 hours of music on 5.8 gig before you even touch the base 50,000 blocks (1.2 gig) used for game saves.

You can arrange your songs in any order of ways for playback. There is also a full screen Geiss-like visual mode that will move to the music. And, of course, you can incorperate your ripped songs into certain games that support that feature.


If you want to go online with your console games, then this is the console to do it with for 3 reasons.

1. Broadband ONLY connection on every XBox. No slow 56K connections for anyone. This means games will be developed to cater to broadband only play.

2. Screw the keyboard. Who wants to type out a message in the middle of a heated battle? The XBox will have voice support with voice modulation, which will change the sound of your voice on the fly.

3. It's not an add-on. This means developers are using it right from the start. It doesn't need to be accepted or proven for developers to use it. MS's network has been up for over 18 months for the developers to use. We are going to see some incredible online games in the future.

I used own a PS2 (Wish I still had it for GTA3 ) and now own a xbox and GC. If you have already narrowed it down between the PS2 and Xbox, I personally would get an xbox. It just seems like there will be more things you can do with it. IMO. (I won my xbox by the way, I didn't buy it)

The PS2 is no slumper either. It's gots tons of greats games. If you like racing, GT3 is the best way to go. Jax and Dexter is a great game, and I love GTA3.

Are you looking for a huge library of games? Then go PS2. The xbox variety of titles is no where near the PS2's, and probally won't be for a long while if ever. If you want more for you money hardware wise go xbox. Hopefully MS will actually get their online network up soon. They both have bright futures. The PS2 is guranteed, and the xbox seems to be doing quite well.

Final advice is, go play them. See what you like best. Right now the software edge is def. in Sony's court, but MS has a lot of potential with their box.

Like Flay said, the X-box is definitely more bang for the book hardware wise, as it has the harddrive, ethernet card, etc. built in, where as you'll have to pay extra to get them for the PS2.

If those things interest you, then go with the X-box. If not, and you're basing your decision on games, then you simply need to look at the current librarys, and the realease dates for upcoming games and decide which has more games that interest you. For me it's the PS2 in a land slide (though I only have a Gamecube at the moment) as Halo is the only game I really want out of the X-box's current and announced future line-up. For you it might be totally opposite.

Both systems have their share of defects, but I still think its a small percentage of systems overall. An extended warranty is a good idea with either a X-box or PS2 though. The only system I wouldn't get one with is the Gamecube.

From a games standpoint the PS2 has a huge advantage and from a hardware standpoint the Xbox has a big advantage. I would go with the system with the most games you like now and in the near future.

Are there instructions anywhere on the net for the audio recording option on the XBOX...??? The Tony Hawk 2 music/soundtrack hsa been driving me CRAZY!

thanx
jordan

Since you are basing your question purely on hardware reliability, and you can't get a warranty with the PS2, probably the Xbox and its warranty is what's best for you. Go to Best Buy, get their cheapest warranty and sleep easy at night.

If there are games on the PS2 that you really want to play, then go for a PS2. If you already own a PS2, keep it and see how the market pans out.

But, if you're starting fresh, I'd recommend the Xbox. The games so far are pretty good and will only get better.. and, more importantly, the console is future-proof because it has broadband, ethernet, local storage, 4 controller ports, and the backing of m$ft. It doesn't make much sense to buy a PS2 new at this point, unless you can get it cheap (e.g. $199) or there are games you like only available on PS2.