is the PS3 worth it as a non-gaming system

[rudeguy]

I bought a PS3 when the price dropped from $450 to $250 or whatever it was. This was what...2 years ago? Well the thing sat and never got used. My son is an Xbox/PC gamer and video games on the TV give me a headache. So I sold it after it sat for 3 months without being powered on.

Fast forwards to today. I wouldn't mind getting one to stream movies on. I know I could get a Roku (had one of those too but the interface was so herky jerky that I gave it to my Mom) but can't the PS3 do more than the Roku?

Would I be better off spending $50 on a Roku and dealing with it freezing a couple times an hour or spending $150 on a used PS3?

 

[American Gunner]

I would think you would be better off getting a regular blu-ray player for cheaper than the PS3 that has apps, that way you can still stream stuff.

 

[Continuity28]

For $150, I'd say it's worth it. A good quality Samsung or Sony Blu-Ray player that streams reliably will cost around that, and the PS3 is more capable than those.

 

[SearchMaster]

Streaming from your network or the internet? I use a PS3 to stream from Netflix and Amazon and am very pleased with the results, especially Amazon (whose HD is much better than Netflix's).

I tried to set up network streaming when I first got the PS3 but it never worked that well. I haven't given it another shot in the last couple of years though.

 

[rudeguy]

Streaming from your network or the internet? I use a PS3 to stream from Netflix and Amazon and am very pleased with the results, especially Amazon (whose HD is much better than Netflix's).

I tried to set up network streaming when I first got the PS3 but it never worked that well. I haven't given it another shot in the last couple of years though.

the network streaming takes some doing. IIRC, some DLNA server software I found made it simple.

I'm talking netflix, amazon and the like. I might pick up some old PS2 games if I can find Twisted Metal

 

[exar333]

Definitely. That's all I used mine for in the first year. It's a handy media box for the living room, and IS the most update able BD player around.

 

[JechtShot]

From my knowledge, PS3 is also the only one that can stream Netflix in full 1080p where as all the other set top boxes are limited to 720P (Correct me if I am wrong).

 

[Shawn]

For $150, I'd say it's worth it. A good quality Samsung or Sony Blu-Ray player that streams reliably will cost around that, and the PS3 is more capable than those.

I dunno. I got my Blu-ray player cheaper than that a year ago ($130) and it can stream mkv files from my desktop while my ps3 cannot.

 

[rudeguy]

I dunno. I got my Blu-ray player cheaper than that a year ago ($130) and it can stream mkv files from my desktop while my ps3 cannot.

I don't download movies, so the streaming from the network is more for messing around.

WTF is an MKV file? I've been out of the loop for a bit. Last big one I knew of was Xvid

 

[cmdrdredd]

MKV is a Matroska Multimedia Container. It's basically an open source container format that can hold an unlimited amount of video, sound, subtitle, or picture files in one file. Most used by Anime from my experience. Usually has higher quality than .avi etc in my experience with it.

 

[Continuity28]

I dunno. I got my Blu-ray player cheaper than that a year ago ($130) and it can stream mkv files from my desktop while my ps3 cannot.

The streams can be moved into the MP4 container.

Assuming it's using H.264 for video, the other blu-ray players support Level 4.1, and the PS3 supports Level 4.2. Any stream type the others can play, the PS3 can do better. It may just not be designed to work with the MKV container itself.

Plus, it may have to do with the particular streaming software being used.

Also, I don't think the PS3 is the only device that will do 1080p from Netflix, but I do know that the PS3 will do Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 whereas other Blu-Ray players will not.

 

[lakedude]

WTF is an MKV file? I've been out of the loop for a bit. Last big one I knew of was Xvid

Xvid is a codec that is used to encode video like DivX or x264.

MKV is a container, like AVI. The dot AVI at the end tells you nothing about which codec was used to encode the video. MKV is a newer container that is more versatile than AVI.

 

[clok1966]

use Tversity (free) it will stream pretty much any codec toa PS3 but YOU DO NEED A PC running it and hosting the files.. personally I have a NAS with all my Video and use a PS3 for all my streaming.. The 360 can do all this stuff too but I just find MS and the constanly changing dashboard to be annoying.

 

[Drako]

It might be if you already have an RF universal remote.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I use the older Sony RF remote + my receiver IR remote. 2 remotes, but $20 instead of $100+ for a universal.

The PS3 is great for streaming Netflix, Amazon, VUDU and for playing DVDs and blu-rays. Having the CPU, RAM and HD for storage makes it better for all of those than a $100 blu-ray player with limited RAM that might not get firmware updates.

The advantage of a blu-ray player is much lower power use since it isn't a computer.

 

[Tom]

A comparable, used, wifi capable, streaming, Blu-Ray player can be had for $40. Or less.

So why is a PS3 better, if gaming isn't a factor ?

 

[Baked]

Pretty damn good for streaming movie and music from a number of paid streaming services, or your computer. Great blu-ray/DVD player.

 

[evident]

so i got my PS3 for $200... or rather from a bunch of points on my sony credit card before i cancelled it. I never use the damn thing for streaming as I just hook my laptop up to my TV and receiver. It's been turned on less than a handful of times the last two years.

 

[Arkaign]

The PS3 is a fantastic BluRay player, and with the right setup, an outstanding streaming box as well.

However, with standalone BluRay players improving so dramatically over the years, it's hard to justify a PS3 for that duty if you're never going to game on it. There are some very solid PS3 exclusives that might make it worth it, but if you're just not going to ever game on it, then get a set top player.

HOWEVER. Be sure that you buy a really solid name-brand BD player. I recommend Samsung, LG, and Sony in that regard. The reason is support, it will need to be networked and updated so that it will continue to play new releases without problems. So a brand-X player may be not worth saving $30 or whatever on, just pony up a few extra bucks for a solid one.

Look for one that has Pandora, Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, etc. Some skimp on those features. Read reviews of the model on Amazon. Make sure you have what you want to hook up to your TV and if you have one, your receiver/home audio setup. If your receiver has a digital audio input, use that, and make sure your BluRay player of choice features a compatible output.

Good to go!

 

[Tom]

Good advice but I have a question..

after so many years, Blu-Ray is still a moving standard ? Is it part of the design that a consumer has to wonder if they'll be able to watch the new movies they just purchased ?

 

[Arkaign]

Good advice but I have a question..

after so many years, Blu-Ray is still a moving standard ? Is it part of the design that a consumer has to wonder if they'll be able to watch the new movies they just purchased ?

It's because the big media companies are terrified of piracy (for some correct reasons, and some incorrect reasons), and are willing to make the tech more difficult to use in order to pursue what they see as a safer medium for them to distribute movies on.

Of course the fact of the matter is that the damn pirates are the ones most likely to have no problems getting anything to play correctly without issues at all, while granddad or mom will be the ones suffering, wondering why their new fancy "bluray" player won't play their new movie they got for christmas, not understanding they need to connect the player to the internet to get updates so it will work.

It's almost as dumb as the fact that they intentionally nerfed component HD output to 480p from BD for fear of piracy. What kind of moron would even try to rip from analog output anyway, when the digital data makes it possible to do 1:1 rips in the first place.

Sigh.

Anyway, it's still the 2nd-best way to watch movies (behind 4K theatres and the like), and by far the highest quality you can get at home, so I still support BD even though I think a lot of the details are wrong-headed.

 

[DeathRows]

Back in the day yes. Now not so much since you can get a blu ray player for under $100 now. Only thing i can think of is the web browser.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Good advice but I have a question..

after so many years, Blu-Ray is still a moving standard ? Is it part of the design that a consumer has to wonder if they'll be able to watch the new movies they just purchased ?

It's standardized now at 2.1 I think. Anyway with the newer players and PS3 you don't need to worry as firmware updates will ensure the latest spec is supported. There are no new features proposed that I know of so I think it's pretty locked down at this point.

 

[Bill Brasky]

PS3 Media Server is the most flexible and easy to use media server I've found. That is all!

 

[mizzou]

Amazon prime app, hulu app, netflix app. Yeah its nice!