PS3 vs. Xbox 360 The Ultimate Decision
 The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are the two most competitive gaming
systems out there. Turn for turn they are trying to best the other with
their graphics, online play, shopping available and more. So which
system is the best for you? How do they compare?
The most common question is how much will this cost me? The Xbox 360
will run you about $299-$399 depending on which version you decide on.
The PS3 will run you about $399-$499.
Each console comes in a variety of sizes. The PS3 gives you a choice
from 20 GB to 160 GB. The more memory you want the more you will pay
for the system. The Xbox 360 is similar and starts at 20 GB and goes up
to 120 GB. The most commonly sold ones are the 80GB and generally the
larger ones are for serious hard-core gamers.
The PS3 offers you many options that are included with the system. It
comes with a blu-ray player integrated into it. Which is a very nice
feature so you don’t have to spend the extra money on a separate
player. The PS3 also offers great backwards capability and allows you
to play the PS2 games on the console, though the graphics may come
through a bit differently. The PS3 has a HDMI hook up for your high def
TV. It also has Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi built into it. You can browse the
Internet from your TV and chat with your friends via chat or a video
cam. Some of the PS3’s also have a slot for your memory cards for
pictures and videos, though the new ones coming out may not have this
feature.
The PS3 will let you install an alternate operating system on it such
as Linux, there are even some being built and sold specifically as a
Linux PS3. You can use the DVR to record your favorite shows and watch
them whenever you want.
Playstation also has a broad network that doesn’t cost you a
thing to join to allow you to play online with other people, and to
download games and demos. You can also download your updates from here
as well.
The biggest plus of the PS3 is that it has a very, very low failure
rate, compared to the Xbox
360’s “Red Ring of Death” and 17% failure. This alone can be the deciding factor for people
who
are debating between the two. Fortunately if you decide on the Xbox 360
and it happens to crash on you, you have a 3-year extended warranty for
the “Red Ring of Death” problem. If this error happens
after your warranty expires then the fix for the problem is fairly
simple.
The Xbox 360 offers many similar things to the PS3, actually the Xbox
360 was released a year before the PS3. The Xbox 360 has a couple
different versions, the regular one and the elite version. If you want
the backwards capabilities for your old Xbox games you will need to
spend the extra money and get the Elite version.
For a membership with the Xbox 360 Live network you need to purchase
your membership yearly, though you get a lot out of it. The Xbox 360
network has a feature called the “marketplace”. This is a
very popular feature for people who are really into the online gaming
or enjoy using their console for more then just gaming. With the online
market place you can rent movies that remain on your console for 14
days, you can download your favorite high def TV shows as well. There
are many movie trailers and game demos you can try before you actually
spend the money and purchase them.
The Xbox 360 will play videos in high def, it plays MP-4’s,
slideshows of your photos and all of your music. The downside to Xbox
360 aside of it’s failure rate is that you will need to purchase
the HD drive to play the blu-ray movies, so that will make the price
significantly closer to the cost of the PS3.
If noise is a big factor in your decision then you’ll want to
know that the PS3 is very quiet and runs very smoothly, whereas the
Xbox 360 is very noisy and loud.
Each gaming system has games that are exclusive, and may be something
you want to consider before you purchase.
Popular Exclusive Xbox 360 Games:
- Halo 3
- Gears of War 2
- Dance Dance, Revolution
- Scene It
Popular Exclusive PS3 Games
- Grand Turismo 5
- Little Big Planet
- Metal Gear Solid 4
- Resistance 2
- SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Confrontation
- Sing Star
Other very popular games such as Tom Clancy’s Call of Duty 5,
Rainbow 6 Vegas, Ghost Recon 2 and Fallout 3 are available for both
consoles.
What it really comes down to in the end is your personal preference and
exactly what you want to be doing with the console. Die-hard gamers
will have a preference from previous play and are unlikely to switch no
matter the benefits from either side. If you are just getting into
gaming and trying to decide, take into account what games you will want
to be playing, how much you are interested in a blu-ray player and if
you are interested in online gaming have a look at both online sites
and decide which one appeals to you most.
When you combine all of these factors you will find the gaming system
that is right for you and be able to enjoy a long life out of it. Happy
gaming!
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