Sony cripples Blu-ray movies on Playstation 3

Posted by Some Guy at 3:01pm on Tue May 9th 2006
Last night, Sony released much needed details about the PlayStation 3 due later this year. There will be two versions, $499 w/20GB hard drive, and $599 with 60GB. The size of the hard drive is the only detail they mentioned as the difference, but there are many other important differences they chose not to share in their E3 presentation, one of them being huge: No HDMI output!

As has been mentioned, most first generation HD movies (both Blu-ray and HD-DVD) will not be incorporating the Image Constraint Token (ICT), which downsamples HD output to standard DVD quality unless video is being sent over a digital connection such as HDMI, and DVI in some cases. By excluding an HDMI port on the "cheap" version of the PS3, Sony is essentially making that version completely worthless for future generation HD movies since it will have to be connected via component (analog) cables. Now even if you aren't interested in Blu-ray HD movies, there's still another problem. Component is only capable of 1080i output, while HDMI can do full 1080p, the "gold standard" of HD video. So not only will you be royally screwed for movies, but your video games will also be crippled - not nearly as bad as HD movies of course, but still a slap in the face.

I think this is really just a way to set the price of the PS3 at $600, because only a fool would buy the "cheap" $499 version. Just like no one wants the Xbox 360 Core edition, no one will want this either. Besides all that, it makes the 360 sound incredibly cheap! Of course, the 360 doesn't have a next generation optical drive in it. Considering the cheapest Blu-ray drive will be $1000 when it launches later this month, $600 sounds like a good deal, not to mention the fact that your $600 will also be buying you a nice shiny video game console.

Regardless, Sony really dropped the ball on this one. Don't offer two versions of your console, because no one wants the shitty one. If you feel you must sell it at $600, then sell it at $600 instead of screwing your customers over.

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User Comments

Actually if you compare it to the other things they have been doing that is actually not the worst but decietful enough.:(
Posted by Tribster at 6:31pm on Wed May 10th 2006
I find it offensive to be honest.
Posted by Some Guy at 11:42pm on Thu May 18th 2006
Actually, you really exagerate....
Please dont let your own predjudices against Sony cloud your own common sense.
First of all, 1080i is the standard right now for most broadcast High Def TV, it looks pretty darn good.
The X-Box 360 only outputs 1080i and has no hdmi at this point. And their games look great also in High def. At 1080i...
So 1080i is not going to look bad at all, you make it sound like 1080i is not even high def. It is.
Secondly, the HDMI that will eventually become the standard connection is future based, meaning as more and more HDTV's are sold, they will all be including the connection. Almost every new LCD includes it now.
HDMI is a better connection, the fact that it was not included on early models of HDTVs being sold is not Sony's fault.
And by the way, BOTH formats, the HD and the Blu-Ray reserve the right to enact the downgrade, it was part of the agreement with the MPAA for producing High Def. Studios wanted a more secure option for allowing their content out. And considering that Blu-Ray high def in 1080p is almost indistinguishable from their studio master, why wouldn't they?
LCD's and plasma that were sold without hdmi connections will not last forever, in fact, their lamp life, (especially the earlier ones) means they will end their life in the next 4 to 10 years at most.
As that begins to happen, at a certain point, once the LCDs and plasmas etc.. are cheap enough for the masses, they may begin enacting the ICT. I doubt anyone who is producing Blu-Ray at this point plans on cutting the format's throat by excluding would-be customers. Right now there is a format war going on, and both formats want/need everyone to join the High Def party...
But if the customers end up using a component connector, and "only" output 1080i? Well, then, they are watching a movie based on the standard the HD format, and regular High Def broadcasts use.
Have you looked at the Discovery Channel in High def? That is being broadcast in 1080i and looks unbelievable...
Or an HD or even a Blu-Ray title? Right now, they are all 1080i...
The first 50 gig 1080p titles are starting to come out in December in Blu-Ray, so far all of them have "only" been 1080i....
The reason Sony has "Beyond HD on the Blu-Ray titles is it is just that, beyond what people have been seeing in High Def.
1080p
Let's not spread exaggerated rumors or tall tales...
Posted by Some OTHER Guy at 4:58pm on Sun Nov 12th 2006
Ok, to the idiot who wrote this...
You are a bloody liar. Anybody who can read on www.us.playstation.com/PS3/specs. html
can see that it clearly states that

YES HDMI
and
YES 1080P

How and where you got that information I have no idea, and why you decided to post it without double-checking it makes me even more confused.

To all those with less knowledge about electronics, your post is VERY misleading and COMPLETELY inaccurate in some parts.

Do you work for Microsoft?
Posted by Avalon at 6:24pm on Mon Nov 13th 2006
Oh and by the way, BOTH the 499 and 599 version have 1080P and HDMI, the only differences are online capability, 40GB HDD, and a memory card reader.

When you think about it, with the advent of the XBOX HD-DVD addon for $200, BOTH the PS3 and the XBOX 360 cost the same - $600 - for the ability to play games and to play HD-DVD / BLU-RAY
Posted by Avalon at 6:27pm on Mon Nov 13th 2006
Don't be a tool. The information posted was what was announced at E3 back in May, which is also when I posted it. Your comment comes 6 months later. I didn't post a source because it was all over the internet. I should have but I figured anyone worth their salt had already heard about it. Anyway, at the time I wrote that, Sony had just announced that the low end PS3 would not have HDMI. Now it does... probably because of articles like this one questioning just WTF Sony was thinking. So, you can personally thank me for changing Sony's mind. I will expect $5 million in my bank account by midnight. Thank you.
Posted by Some Guy at 12:04pm on Thu Nov 23rd 2006
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Posted by ahhh at 11:44pm on Fri Dec 22nd 2006
Hands up who has an HD TV capable of displaying 1080p?
And i mean one with a High Resolution Panel?
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Posted by celebsxxx at 3:57pm on Mon Dec 17th 2007
Well years after the first post and all the propaganda turned out to be a bunch of bullshit from the OP.

Sony PS3 'cheap' version has HDMI and plays games and BluRay movies at 1080p, and is the best and cheapest way to own a BluRay player.

I have mine set up on a Samsung Full HD Telli, and the quality of games and movies is fucking amazing.

East my shit OP.
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Posted by Arnie at 6:39am on Thu Dec 20th 2007
You are an idiot. It is amazing how any moron with a computer can publish misinformation, but then again this is a country where freedom of speech is key even for dumb asses like yourself!
Posted by Billy Bob at 1:11pm on Wed Jan 23rd 2008
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Posted by blu ray all the way at 11:44am on Wed Feb 20th 2008
HD-DVD is much better it is to bad that blu-ray won. The only reason blu-ray won is because of the name, SONY, WOW. I have both systems and I have blu-ray and HD-dvd, and honestly HD-DVD is much better sorry guys. The ps3 is worse than the ps2, however the xbox-360 is better than the original xbox, what does that tell all you sony lovers.
Posted by your all dumb at 10:14am on Fri Apr 4th 2008
HD-DVD is much better it is to bad that blu-ray won. The only reason blu-ray won is because of the name, SONY, WOW. I have both systems and I have blu-ray and HD-dvd, and honestly HD-DVD is much better sorry guys. The ps3 is worse than the ps2, however the xbox-360 is better than the original xbox, what does that tell all you sony lovers.
Posted by your all dumb at 10:14am on Fri Apr 4th 2008
HD-DVD is much better it is to bad that blu-ray won. The only reason blu-ray won is because of the name, SONY, WOW. I have both systems and I have blu-ray and HD-dvd, and honestly HD-DVD is much better sorry guys. The ps3 is worse than the ps2, however the xbox-360 is better than the original xbox, what does that tell all you sony lovers.
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