vote up 2 vote down star

So I had a 360, but had to give it back to a friend I had borrowed it from - for a while - and now I want to replace it.

I used to stream videos from my Windows Home Server, mainly divx/xvid avi files, through my 360 to my 42" Samsung 1080p TV and also through my 5.1 DTS receiver.

However, there are some limitations with the 360, e.g. it doesn't like some formats (h.264 movs and basically all of Apple's file formats + .mkv, etc.). Plus it doesn't give me an 'easy' way to access content I want to online (e.g. browsing YouTube or easily watching Revision 3 shows or any other video podcasts I watch).

So the question is, with these things in mind, which console should I get? I mainly use it as a hub between my TV and my server. Will I be able to easily stream more file formats on a ps3, or will there be restrictions ?

Another thing I had to do with the 360 was get a converter cable, then run HDMI to my TV and SPDIF optical to my receiver. For whatever reason, my TV doesn't output an optical signal from the HDMI in. So I would need to have a separate SPDIF out on the console I buy.

Games aside, I don't game TOO much only occasionally, which console do you guys recommend?

flag
please read the FAQ, videogame and console related questions are not wanted here. – Molly Nov 8 at 20:10
Let's not close this as purely games related, guys, because... it isn't. You can game on a PC, too, but a question about PCs isn't games related ;) – Phoshi Nov 8 at 20:11
Thank you Phoshi. I didn't ask about the consoles from the vantage point of gaming. This is more 'media consumption' using the consoles as a media hub. That's all. It could easily have been a Roku, Apple TV, etc. I am just using a console. – marcamillion Nov 8 at 20:22
Putting the consoles to one side, have you thought about some other alternatives? It would certainly be cheaper to just buy the necessary cables and hook your PC up to your TV. I'm not sure what WinMediaPlayer offers in that area, but if your familiar with Linux you could try en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythTV . If you don't game that much it might be worthwhile to think about other options ;) – James.Elsey Nov 8 at 21:24
James, that's a great suggestion, the issue is that my main pc isn't close to the TV. I wouldn't want to use my main PC anyway, and the truth is I did start building an HTPC, but to get a good one that can run Boxee nicely, costs much more than buying a console. A mac mini is the cheapest/best solution - for HTPCs - but again the price consideration comes into play. – marcamillion Nov 9 at 1:55
show 4 more comments

closed as gaming by Molly, John T, alex, Diago♦ Nov 9 at 9:42
This question is about gaming consoles or otherwise purely videogame related

4 Answers

vote up 0 vote down

Well, if you're interested you can always install and run Linux (ubuntu I believe) on the PS3 platform, which would allow you to do all the things you want, and more.

Out of the box, the PS3 streamer may not work with all the formats you've suggested, as it has a reliance on the Microsoft Windows Media Player network communication format to provide the streaming.

However, if you can find an opensource player which provide the Media Player network sharing functionality I'm sure you could get away with it easily.

link|flag
1  
I do not believe the PS3 Slims allow you to run Linux on them - but I think the original ones are either cheaper or the same price, if you can find one. – Phoshi Nov 8 at 22:16
+1 to Phoshi. That is true PS3 Slims are more "locked down" regarding running Linux or other 3rd party OS's on them than the older versions. It states this on offical website too. – ianfuture Nov 9 at 8:40
vote up 0 vote down

Orb will be able to handle streaming to either the PS3 or 360, encode on the fly, and it'll even let the dog out and turn the oven off for you.

As far as which console to get, both can do HDMI video with S/PDIF audio. It comes down to willing pricepoint and personal style.

link|flag
vote up 0 vote down

I have the same setup, using Windows Home Server and the X-Box 360. However I disabled sharing on WHS in favor of TVersity. It is free and also does transcoding, so therefore all videos can be played on the X-Box in the correct format, as TVersity takes care of the conversion.

There is also an updated codec pack available for the X-Box which allows the playing of most of the latest HD and MP4 formats, and should prompt you to download it the first time you try and play a movie and your connected to the internet.

link|flag
vote up 0 vote down

Look at this page :Comparisons .It is a good starting point of comparsions of various Home Media Server software with links to them. I'm in a similar situation to yourself . I've recently got a PS3 Slim, and looking at streaming media to it via home network but not sure which app to use at moment, so investigating the various options (when I have time!) . This page has been really usefully as a starting point. Enjoy! :)

link|flag

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.