No, you don't need a remote to do that - the controllers will work just fine.

Yes, it upconverts well.

They both upconvert well.

thanks guys for keeping this thread alive, i'm undecided as well on what to get and this thread really provides valuable information!

yet i have one more question: i plan on using my console as my main media device, so i plan on streaming stuff off the internet on it (hula, nba leaguepass...). my question: is the 360 still loud when doing stuff that's not related to its disc drive? or is the fan noise only audible when the 360 reads a disc?

many thanks,

mesi

Thats one thing I'm wondering about the ps3 controller. What happens when the ps3 battery goes dead? Do you have to send it in to sony to replace the battery or can you unscrew it and install a new battery?

The 360 is definitely louder than the PS3, at least my 1 year old unit is. But, I don't really notice it that much during movies and not at all during gaming.

My 360 is almost two years old. I know they've made improvements, but I'd be very cautious using a 360 as my main media player. I used to have an HD DVD drive and we simply couldn't watch any HD DVD movies because the roar of the 360 was so loud it was distracting. It doesn't bother me much during games, but it's too loud to use as a DVD or CD player for sure.
I enjoy both systems, but for media functions, it's my PS3 by a country mile.

I agree. For streaming media, playing music or watching movies the PS3 is the way to go. For games -- the 360 is tops. The 360 isn't louder when playing a game it's loud all the time.

Maybe i'm lucky or deaf but i have never noticed my 360 being loud. I can hear it turn on (fans kick in gear) but any movie, music, or game completely drowns out the console itself.

I'm not arguing it isn't louder than the PS3 - when i have been near one of them i haven't even been able to even hear they are on but my 360 at least isn't like a jet engine drowning out everything in the room.

The noise level produced varies from 360 to 360.

My original one was very quiet.

The replacement one I have now, was extremely noisy when accessing a disc in the drive...(was meaning it doesn't seem so loud anymore.. I can still hear it, but maybe I just got used to it) and maybe the fan is also a little bit nosier as well... nothing abnormally loud compared to any of the other electronic devices in my living room that have a fan (laptop, TV, DirectTiVo, PS3... not including an actual fan or A/C).

the 360 up-converts? I thought it just did 480p not up-converting to HD.

Not over component, but it up-converts.

You order a new one, unscrew the case and replace it. Very easy. There are instructions online. It is Lithium Ion so probably will last a few years before needing to be replaced, but Sony made it pretty painless. I do like the fact they made it possible and made the HDD easy to replace without having to get raped on a proprierty harddrive. Another reason I will never own a 360.

Pretty painless would be popping off the battery of the 360 controller. I'm not saying breaking out a screwdriver to take apart your DS3 is hard, but it's not in the same ballpark. Just like you give MS flack for having proprietary hard drives, there's no excuse for Sony not having a removable battery in the controllers.

As for fan noise, my last replacement was extremely loud. I just sold it yesterday though and picked up an Arcade unit which is now quieter than my PS3.

I recently got a 360 (for gaming) and the fan noise is fairly loud, but once I start playing a game, I barely notice.

Not sure if anyone said this yet but the holiday bundles are out now. They might have the new jasper chipset and maybe updated hardware.

It only needs to be replaced every few years and is as easy as changing the battery in a cordless phone. That is the height of convenience. The reason the 360 has a cover is so you can change AAs frequently or buy their $10 battery pack. I credit the hell out of Sony for giving you the battery pack built in and I'm sorry, but unscrewing a case every three or four years is not on the same level as charging 3-4 times the cost for a harddrive.

Maybe for others, but not for me. When I was new to the PS3 I was still able to find stuff fairly fast. Not so with the 360.

If you buy a system with a hard drive then you aren't paying extra for anything. The larger drives are optional. I also still have to disagree with the controller. Again, height of convenience is the 360 battery. Pop it off, recharge or drop in a couple AAs. Cordless phones have easily removable battery covers. Not quite the same as a the Sony pads. The average consumer isn't going to crack open a controller. So a $10 rechargeable battery vs. another $50 controller down the line is pretty comparable to the hard drive analogy.

I just picked up a new Arcade unit last week. Part of me wishes I waited for the new bundle, but on the other hand I would assume it will be a while before they run out of old stock (Falcons or whatever the last build was).

This is why MS is making millions - all 360 fans buy multiple consoles! :)

:lol: Looks like you are skirting some choice wording there.

Well my warranty was expiring on the other one (which was my 4th refurb, and loud as hell) so I sold it on Craigslist the other day for $150. Bought the Arcade with a coupon for $169 after tax. New [quiet] unit with a new warranty: $19 out of pocket. I'd say it was worth it.

Oh and yes, it's official, I'm on my 5th 360. :eek:

You seriously expect me to believe that the average consumer would throw away a controller instead of ordering a cheap lithium ion replacement? This isn't an iPod situation where it is a bitch to open the case. You literally unscrew a few screws, unplug the old battery, plug in the new one and screw the back on. 5 minutes of work tops and only needed every 3-4 years. They should be applauded for this. Not to mention they have said they will replace any Sixaxis that stops charging for free. I'm sick of dealing with batteries on my Wiimotes and am constantly juggling rechargeables that don't last nearly as long as I need. I need to look into a lithium ion solution for those.

As far as the harddrive I can see being okay with 60GB or 120GB for most people, but if you are one of the millions that have a 20GB and want to upgrade which many do it sucks you have to pay so much for so little harddrive. I'm definitely one that would use the multimedia of the 360 and that was a big turnoff for me. Especially when a 320GB drive for the PS3 is $80. Unlike everyone that I know on their third or fourth Xbox 360 I'm still on my first PS3 and I have had no regrets skipping the 360. To be fair though my gaming PC helped get rid of much of that regret. It was really my 360 substitute.

Why would an average consumer think they could replace the batteries in a sealed unit?

Why wouldn't they? The "average consumer" in this case is someone who plays the PS3.

Uhmm... because it is sealed and there is no apparent easy way to open the controller.

Unlike most wireless devices with replaceable batteries (including cordless phones as mentioned earlier) there is no easily accessible compartment to replace said batteries.

One would have to disassemble the controller to even look at the batteries.

Are you serious? It's just screws.

I have several devices with replaceable batteries with screws. Most children's toys do. Granted, they are there for a different reason, but most people would at least question it.

Hell, people were tearing apart their controllers back in the Atari 2600 days for more than this.

I amazed this was brought up, honestly.

It's pretty simple. If it doesn't have a defined battery compartment, the "average" consumer is not going to dismantle the controller thinking there are replacement batteries available for it.

The "average" consumer at best would only think about replacing the batteries if it stopped charging properly if it had a defined battery compartment.