Considering trading in my HTPC for a PS3. Questions from me, thoughts from you?

[crashwg]

As the title suggests, I'm thinking about selling my HTPC, which is a pretty nice setup, and replacing it with a PS3.

The HTPC, what it is and why I think I should replace it:
SilverStone Lascala LC17 (front panel modified to allow 5-1/4 drives to sit flush.)
Athalon64 3500+ @ 2.31 GHz
1GB RAM
Blu-Ray drive Lite-On DH-4O1S
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT
Some fancy remote that can control all sorts of things including powering on

It's being under-used.  The ONLY thing this computer is ever used for is Blu-Ray movies (usually 2-3 a week) and the occasional DVD when the movie we want isn't available on BR or the kids watch one of their movies that we have on DVD.  The computer is obviously capable of so much more but it just doesn't get used...

The PS3 and why I think it would be a good replacement.  A few questions as well:
Stand-alone Blu-Ray players cost on average what? $200-$400?  I can get a PS3 for $400.  $500 if I want double the HDD space.
It plays games too.  On this topic, are there any backup capabilities?
I have Rock Band peripherals for the PS2.  Those should work on the PS3 right?  They wouldn't on the 360 right?
How does the PS3 fair when it comes to upscaleing DVDs?  To 720p? To 1080i/p?
Does the PS3 downscale 1080 content to 720?  I currently only have a 720p projector without plans to upgrade any time soon.

Then again.  I don't play as many games as I used to.  Maybe the PS3 is more than I need too...  Games will mostly be played on a 480i 36" screen.  I could hook it up to my computer monitor though right?


What do you all think?

*This is not a for sale posting.  If you're interested in buying my setup or want more information please PM me.  If I decide I definitely want to trade out my HTPC for a PS3 or something else for that matter I will post it in the BST.

[crashwg]

Maybe if I can get enough money for the HTPC I'll buy a standalone Blu-Ray player and a Wii... 

[HaRuMaN]

Get the PS3.

For one, as Blu-Ray gets updated, the PS3 will update to the latest standards for you.

Using Tversity, you can stream all kinds of media to your TV (you can use that with the 360 as well, though, but I find the interface better on the PS3 for streaming).

The PS3 will upscale normal DVD's to 1080p.  BluRay discs look amazing.

[bleargh]

I have Rock Band peripherals for the PS2.  Those should work on the PS3 right?  They wouldn't on the 360 right?

AFAIK they don't work... PS2 has those funky connectors for controllers, the wireless stuff on the PS3 is USB.  I know that PS2 GH controllers don't work on the PS3, but haven't seen the RB ones.  If they're the PS2 controller connector, they're not going to work.

How does the PS3 fair when it comes to upscaleing DVDs?  To 720p? To 1080i/p?

Works awesome.

Our PS3 is hooked up to a 52" Samsung @ 1080p, and the PS3 upscales everything on it.  It also smooths/scales PS2 games to fit as well, which makes them look less jaggy on the big LCD.

My wife still records shows so we kept our HTPC around, but the only thing its used for is whatever she's recording on cable.  Any time we want to play music, games, or DVDs, its over to the PS3 we go.

[shmokes]

Does the PC have a good video card?  You can always buy an Xbox 360 controller for it.  They are the official controller for the Games for Windows platform.  Mass Effect, Grand Theft Auto 4, Mirror's Edge, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Street Fighter IV, Burnout Paradise, Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia.  A ton, maybe most, of the top games for PS3 and Xbox 360 are released for the PC.  And of course all the FPS games  actually play better thanks to the keyboard/mouse combo.  Hell, you've even got your own exclusives with the likes of World of Warcraft and Crysis and Total War.

So, yeah, why go to all the hastle?  If you want to play games, pick up an Xbox 360 controller (make sure you get the one that comes with the wireless PC receiver) and get playing.  Unless you specifically MUST have Metal Gear Solid or Little Big Planet, the PS3 isn't really going to give you anything you don't already have.

[crashwg]

The video card is a Radeon HD 2600 XT.  Whether or not that's a good card for gaming is really moot since I gave up on PC gaming about 5 years ago.  Got sick of having to upgrade all the damn time.  Heck, even my console gaming has all but faded away.  The only game I've played on a console lately has been Rock Band on my PS2.  Oh, and Worms on my DS.

I guess the standalone blu-ray and the Wii might be the best choice for me and my current style of game playing which is in short bursts rather than sitting for hours at a time...  There really isn't anything on the PS3 that I want at this point other than DL Rock Band Content.  I just kinda figured that it's only a little more than a standalone and I could get the RBDLC as a bonus.  I would probably just collect more dust.

Thanks shmokes.  Your addition to the conversation made me realize I don't really want a PS3.

[Malenko]

the dust on my PS3 actually outweighs the behemoth of a system by about 2 lbs. I bought it for a BluRay player but its primary function is to keep dust from piling up on the Wii, which has a slightly less impressive dust layer on it. I play most movies on my PC (high def and regular) and my TV has VGA input so theres no streaming.

the 360 controller is a great idea but if you want full on gaming, it cant hurt to have a 360 as well.

[shmokes]

FWIW, just don't go thinking the Wii is the inexpensive alternative.  Now that the MotionPlus peripheral is out (in the next month or two, actually) that brings a full Wii Remote+Nunchuck+MotionPlus set to $80!!!  And the MotionPlus thing is hardly optional.  I have a hard time describing the Wii Remote as more than a flatly defective product.  I've written here at length about it in the past so I guess I don't really need to go into it, but the mere existence of this new peripheral lends credence to my past rantings.

So four full sets of controllers is $320.  Jesus.  A PS3 suddenly doesn't seem so expensive.   

[DaveMMR]

FWIW, just don't go thinking the Wii is the inexpensive alternative.  Now that the MotionPlus peripheral is out (in the next month or two, actually) that brings a full Wii Remote+Nunchuck+MotionPlus set to $80!!!  And the MotionPlus thing is hardly optional.  I have a hard time describing the Wii Remote as more than a flatly defective product.  I've written here at length about it in the past so I guess I don't really need to go into it, but the mere existence of this new peripheral lends credence to my past rantings.

So four full sets of controllers is $320.  Jesus.  A PS3 suddenly doesn't seem so expensive.   

Don't forget a couple of classic controllers, some Wii Points and an SDHC now that you can play virtual console (and run Rock Band II songs) off the card.   

I'm still astonished that after 2-1/2 years, most people are still referring to it as "an awesome Blu-Ray player".  I remember when Playstations were gaming machines.      Considering the OP's comment...

The ONLY thing this computer is ever used for is Blu-Ray movies (usually 2-3 a week) and the occasional DVD when the movie we want isn't available on BR or the kids watch one of their movies that we have on DVD.  The computer is obviously capable of so much more but it just doesn't get used...

...I feel that getting a PS3 is just more of the same with less the versatility.  I'd actually stick with the computer and have it run as a media center, if anything.