590°

Why PS3, Not Xbox Was My Netflix Machine Father's Day Gift

Forbes: This Father’s Day I had a dilemma on my hands. My dad had expressed an interest in seeing what this newfangled Netflix thing was all about, and I thought a good gift would be a box through which he could get the streaming service.

Naturally, as a gamer, my first thought turned to which console I could get him that would serve as a primary Netflix box. Yes, I could go with AppleTV, but if I’d never used it, teaching him would be a chore. Plugging in a laptop each time via HDMI would be too much of a hassle, and so I went with my original assertion, picking and choosing between which gaming console I’d get my dad. It was a present I never thought I’d give.

Emilio_Estevez4330d ago

Seems like an obvious choice if you were to pick a console to stream Netflix for a not techy person. But why not a Roku box?

Snookies124330d ago

Lol, I said the same thing right as your comment was posted.

Zuperman4330d ago

Another dumb This Vs That debate, If you have Netflix for one or the other platform, great. Enjoy it. lmfao..

darthv724330d ago (Edited 4330d ago )

I stream netflix on wii, ps3, 360 and 3ds.

When it comes to streaming netflix in general I use an LG bluray player. It is the main player for all things movies and is the easiest device for my wife to use.

As for this article, why he didnt just go with either a dedicated netflix box or a bluray player is odd. Especially if the intended party is someone who isnt to tech savvy.

There are wireless bluray players for under $100 that can do netflix, vudu, hulu and a slew of other streaming services these days.

OC_MurphysLaw4330d ago

or... he could have just bought dad a new smart TV with Netflix in it. Not sure what his dad's TV situation is but these kinds of TV's are brilliant options for those only looking to do Netflix. You can get a great 30-32 inch smart LCD TV for just about the same price as the different console bundles these days.

OC_MurphysLaw4330d ago

or even better yet...

He could have bought Dad the Sony Blu Ray Player w/ Wifi(Netflix, Pandora, Youtube, facebook & Twitter apps) for $120 via Best Buy (Model: BDPS390).

My point I think there are far better cost options for getting someone a machine for Netflix play than a 360 or a PS3.

BISHOP-BRASIL4330d ago

I agree with you guys that are better options for non tech savy people, but what if his father happens to look interested in gaming?

I know my father would randomly join me in a match of International Superstar Soccer when I was a kid and it was great fun, despite he being completelly out of his confort zone. If he was still alive I would totally give him a PS3, imagine rocking out BF3 with your old man!

Other thing to consider is if it's a trojan horse of a present... Give your father a PS3, so you can play when you are visiting! LOL

pixelsword4330d ago

...the heck is a Roku box?

Army_of_Darkness4329d ago

The HD quality does not compare. besides, I'm sure any father would want more than just a bluray player eventually.

moparful994329d ago

@Dlacy13g You cannot buy a smart tv for the same price as a console.. A 32 inch lcd hd tv costs 2-3 hundred right now.. a vizio 32 inch lcd smart tv is $369 right now..

Kurt Russell4329d ago

I bought my dad a card and a bottle of whisky.

Arnon4329d ago

If I were to do this, I'd get him a 4gb 360 with Kinect, and a membership to Netflix. Using Kinect with netflix is a godsend for browsing, and my dad is a computer radio engineer, so he'd get a kick out of using Kinect as well.

ChrisGTR14329d ago

ehh last time i checked u needed a xbox live membership to even use netflix on xbox so obviously ps3 is a better choice top that off with a bluray player.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4329d ago
nukeitall4330d ago

I was going to say the same thing, the Roku supports more apps than PS3 and cost a fraction of it, uses less power and is easier to use. You don't have to use a controller and instead use a remote like device.

Emilio_Estevez4330d ago

Yeah, but it doesn't have a Blu-Ray player, which could be another reason for it.

nukeitall4330d ago (Edited 4330d ago )

Blu-ray feature is hardly worth $150-200 extra?

If it was such an issue, here is a blu-ray player with netflix for $80 and it doesn't have that pesky controller:

http://www.amazon.com/LG-BD...

Also, Roku gets Angry Bird! XD

moparful994329d ago

@nuke Sony makes a really nice tv style remote for the ps3 that works brilliantly and also has the square, x, circle, and triangle buttons.. Buying a ps3 as a primary netflix device isn't as bad of a deal as you all are making it out to be.. The blu-ray and access to the playstation movie store makes it a great movie device...

Persistantthug4330d ago

So in his case, the PS3 makes sense.

showtimefolks4330d ago

GOOD FOR YOU PEOPLE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS SO AS LONG AS YOU HAPPY WHO CARES WHICH ONE YOU PICK

Godmars2904330d ago

You said it yourself: for some even a Roku is too technical. That or they don't advertise on TV.

Though anyone looking will just find a TV with streaming capability.

hazelamy4329d ago

because then you wouldn't be able to play games on it as well.

Hayabusa 1174329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

I was going to say exactly the same thing everyone else was going to say: why not just buy a Roku box? Everyone else said it even though the first comment already said it, yet everyone still felt the need to say what's already been said, so I said it as well :)

mewhy324329d ago

I agree with Emilio. If you were going to buy a streaming device then they should have just bought a Roku box.

r1sh124329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

This whole debate between and xbox or ps3 (for netflix) is mute I think.
He said it was money that made him decide for the ps3 which is a fair conclusion and I would agree with it.
But as a few people have pointed out, there are significantly cheaper devices that support netflix and do an equally good job for streaming when compared with the ps3/xbox.
A cheap blu ray player will be the first thing that comes to mind, and if he wanted all the extra features a samsung smart blu ray player would have satisfied all the needs which would have worked out cheaper. This sort of thing seems its a bit like flame bait, because there are at least another 99 devices that deliver the same content for less than a ps3/xbox...

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4329d ago
Snookies124330d ago

A Roku player would have worked as well. XD

Christopher4330d ago

Yeah, don't get why you'd get a console in the first place. I get his choice of one with a 'friendlier' user interface, but I'd rather show my dad how to navigate to the Netflix icon on the PS3 and give him a Blu-ray player as well as the other video streaming options out there without any annual costs.

nukeitall4330d ago (Edited 4330d ago )

They have that too, and it's not a PS3 and cost far less at $80 (one third):

http://www.amazon.com/LG-BD...

I don't see it either. Maybe dad will play some games once he figures out the interface?

TekoIie4330d ago

I just cant get over how this can be made into an article. Yeh for just Netflix then the PS3 is the one to go for but really?

How much further can gaming journalism fall?

Condemnedman4329d ago

This is the type of lame articles that make it to the front page of this site it's posted by some right sad losers trying to push the notion that every one should buy a PS3 over an Xbox :-#,

iceman28854330d ago

The other obvious advantage for PS3 over 360 as one's "Netflix Machine" (if your not gonna go for the cheaper Roku or AppleTV) is that it plays Blu-Ray.

darthv724330d ago

options on the market that play bluray as well as the various streaming services.

moparful994329d ago

But with a ps3 you also have access to the playstation movie store and you can rent or buy and save them to your hard drive..

Soldierone4330d ago

If he is a gamer I can see getting him a console. However I wanted to get my girlfriend's parents something to watch Netflix on, so I got them a Blu-ray player....only 80 dollars, watches Blu-rays, and an easy keyboard style peripheral to type on Netflix, all through wi-fi too.

The only reason I'd get my (or her) parents a PS3 was for free chat on it. However we live within a good radius and see them all the time, so no need for it.

Moncole4330d ago

The reason you would get your parents a PS3 is stupid, you have free chat on everything. You can use Facebook, email and texts.

Soldierone4330d ago

The point is keeping it away from the computer, and something on the TV.....

I don't see how MY viewpoint is stupid just because its different than yours though. I'm on my PS3 a lot, it would make for communication to be a lot easier, and can have video on the TV.

moparful994329d ago

Soldier he's just a sony hater and any reasonable opinion in favor of the ps3 obviously angers him so let him fume in his own little world... Just a troll..

Show all comments (108)
100°

Outriders Dev's Next Game Has Been Canceled After Publishing Agreement With Take-Two Fell Through

Outriders developer People Can Fly's next game has been canceled after its publishing agreement with Take-Two Interactive fell through.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
Tacoboto1d 3h ago

"the capital group of PCF Group S.A."

If you're getting funding from a group that needs two different ways of Acronyming itself, things will not go the way you want them to.

banger8821h ago

If it was more online-only crap then good riddance.

jjb19818h ago

Outriders was crap. They slapped that game together and threw in a loot system to get players' attention. This game was absolutely jank and the always online nonsense made it stutter like crazy. People Can't Optimize.

thorstein7h ago

I liked Outriders but I could see where the artistic vision was compromised. The way the industry is now, it wouldn't surprise me that upper management would scrap something that didn't pull in money via gaas, mts, or other means.

270°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv721d 1h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle12h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18819h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio9h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning774h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga11h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff218310h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga9h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan5h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

romulus234h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv724h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4h ago
purple10114h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos13h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-3h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac13h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10112h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic10h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead3h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3h ago
Show all comments (35)
90°

An Update on This Year’s BlizzCon and Blizzard’s 2024 Live Events

Blizzard writes: "After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024. This decision was not made lightly as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you look forward to it. While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years."

Read Full Story >>
blizzcon.com
PRIMORDUS22h ago

How about you not hold Blizzcon anymore period. You fucking POS company. I really hope Blizzard would just die.