AOL: wait for a better deal on HD-DVD, PS3, Vista

[Xerxes]

AOL: wait for a better deal on HD-DVD, PS3, Vista
Posted Feb 19, 2007 at 02:46PM by Max F.

Listed in: Gadgets, PlayStation 3, Games for Windows
Tags: Microsoft, Sony, AOL, Windows Vista Blu-ray and HD-DVD. AOL advised readers to not invest in Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, because like the early days of Betamax-versus-VHS, it's not yet clear which format will win. (If you haven't heard of Betamax, that's because you're too young; VHS ultimately won that format war.) If you wait for one format to be a clear winner, then you won't end up investing your money on the losing format (what are you going to do with obsolete technology?). An added bonus to waiting: prices will be lower.

PS3. AOL gave the same advice about the PS3, citing the lack of games and a steep price tag. Relax! AOL did not say that the PS3 is never going to be worth buying: all the author said was that you might want to wait for more games to be released and for the price to go down. Still, that didn't please the PlayStation 3 fanboys, and PS3 fan sentiments were further inflamed by this:


"If you're simply looking for a fun game system, you can find a Nintendo Wii (try eBay) or Xbox for around $400. You could also simply wait for more PS3 games or for the system itself to come down in price."


Still, you know that the PS3 manufacturing cost will go down (so prices should drop), and this games "drought" won't last forever.

Windows Vista. Vista, the new Windows OS from Microsoft, got the same treatment from AOL. There are always bugs in any new operating system, and AOL cautioned that Vista's new features may not be worth the errors and bugs (we've reported on some of the game-related and game-crashing bugs before):


There's no huge benefit to upgrading now. Just keep using your current computer until you need to buy a new one and then you'll get a cleaned up version of Vista for free.


The article also covered "Draft N" wireless routers (just get the cheaper and more compatible "G" routers instead, said AOL) and 10-megapixel digital cameras (the improvement isn't noticeable to the average consumer, so just buy the cheaper 5-megapixel ones instead).

http://www.qj.net/AOL-wait-for-a-better-deal-on-HD-DVD-PS3-Vista/pg/49/aid/83452

WTF!? I just had to post it to see if anyone feels the same way as me. Who gives a **** what AOL says. Why the hell are they writing this? Last time I looked they were not the authority on technology or Operating Systems.

[SevenDesigns]

When AOL starts having better deals for their services, then they can talk. And they love to leave a million files on your PC, slow everything down to the max.

[OnBake Platinum]

They sure now how to fuck them up, though.

[Zer0-Sum]

AOL? Oh yah, I am looking to take advice from those half baked losers.:tardbang: When have they done ANYTHING worth wile? Oh yah, NEVER. AMERICA OFF-LINE! Fucktards.

[jaxmkii]

AOL?! who cares what they say?

[Xerxes]

When AOL starts having better deals for their services, then they can talk. And they love to leave a million files on your PC, slow everything down to the max.

Playing games on your PC with AOL is a drag as well. I had AOL once and thank God I never got it again. I use AT&T Yahoo now :). The PS3 has a lot of games coming out this year, there are so many that I am probraly going to go broke. I really don't know what AOL is saying. Yes you might want to wait for the 45nm but to consider not buying the PS3 at all and to get a Wii or Xbox 360 that cost 100 dollars less than the PS3 is uncalled for.

[Krad]

Shouldn't this belong in the Tech section? Just my thought.

Until AOL can fix it's own technology, it should stay out of others'.

[iceman2654]

For most consumers the above advice is pretty sound. But for us early adopters, we don't mind dealing with a few kinks. So don't be so hard on AOL, they're just trying to save people some headaches/money.

However....personally, I would go with blu-ray. Technically they've already won. All the other advice about waiting to upgrade to a new OS or not needing a digicam above 5 MP is something I would advise to not so tech-savy people.

[makeitlookreal]

With games like Lair the PS3 is going to dominate the industry for yet another generation. The truth is that along with having hard working developers POWER does matter this generation. The PS3 has more POWER than the 360, period. It might not be tremendously more, but significantly more. This will allow the PS3 to win.

[GreyKnoll]

In other news, AOL also released a guide to tune and speed up computer performance with new-

AOL: Patched Security Monolith 5.0 Secutiry Plus 10,000 free hours edition

By using patented AOL multi-scan technology, IO-Widowmaker TM, Scans and updates are run continiously in the background throughout the duration of Pc usage. By using a compact and lean definition file, Swiss Shield Engine TM, scanning can concentrate up to four times as much on a single definition entrey by linearly scanning the entire HardDisk for each file individually giving unparralled redundancy.

For ultimate stabilty, our new suite includes self preservation defence techonlogy dubbed "Boomerang TM". By using advanced rootkit patch intergration and deceptive uninstall tech, file preservation is gurenteed even from the harshest of viral infections, weither they be detramental to performance, removal resistent, or attemp to install at kernal level.

Try it today~!

[Xerxes]

In other news, AOL also released a guide to tune and speed up computer performance with new-

AOL: Patched Security Monolith 5.0 Secutiry Plus 10,000 free hours edition

By using patented AOL multi-scan technology, IO-Widowmaker TM, Scans and updates are run continiously in the background throughout the duration of Pc usage. By using a compact and lean definition file, Swiss Shield Engine TM, scanning can concentrate up to four times as much on a single definition entrey by linearly scanning the entire HardDisk for each file individually giving unparralled redundancy.

For ultimate stabilty, our new suite includes self preservation defence techonlogy dubbed "Boomerang TM". By using advanced rootkit patch intergration and deceptive uninstall tech, file preservation is gurenteed even from the harshest of viral infections, weither they be detramental to performance, removal resistent, or attemp to install at kernal level.

Try it today~!

^Yea it's pretty sad they do the same thing.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

"American Online, so much goddamn Mal-ware, no wonder it's number one!!"

[Zer0-Sum]

"American Online, so much goddamn Mal-ware, no wonder it's number one!!"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! +rep
(damn, it wont let me. Why do we have that stupid function? I hate it....I will plus rep you later....)

[IEatFriedPikmin]

whats wrong with the article? from what i can tell its all pretty much true.

-no clear format winner yet. it is better to wait
-wait for the ps3 due to lack of games
-there is no real need for vista right now.

thats what i got from it. Is there anything wrong there?

[Cofey]

Um, who cares what the source is? The information is all true.

Now the Sony fans know how the Nintendo fans have felt for like 10 years or so.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

whats wrong with the article? from what i can tell its all pretty much true.

-no clear format winner yet. it is better to wait
-wait for the ps3 due to lack of games
-there is no real need for vista right now.

thats what i got from it. Is there anything wrong there?

I don't think there's more to it than that, I personally just like dogging aol.

[Zer0-Sum]

Um no format winner yet? Give it time. HD is screwed. If content makes the consumer buy the product then BlyRay is whipping HD's ass up and down the street. Content people, content.

About Vista they are right. I am going to wait a year. But that is no necessary. It is all matter of personal choice. I just dont want to be Microsoft's real Beta test.

About PS3 I think they are full of crap, but that is just my opinion. The steep price tag is because of the tech inside. In all reality PS3 is such a great deal it is INSANE. Try and get any system that is comparable for $600. Good luck. Games? There are good games out for PS3, it is just what a person's taste tends towards. And tons of great games are coming soon. The Wii has some good games, but it also has a TON of crap. 360 is the same in most respects. Some great games, some good games, tons of crap games. But that happens on most systems.

And Gollum, how did Nintendo fans feel for the past ten years or so? Because I am a Nintendo fan and I don't know what you are talking about at all. N64 was great(Golden Eye and Mario Kart anyone?), GameCube was a big phat let down(Nintendo's fault and it deserved to be made fun of), and Wii is looking to be great. DS is kool, and Gameboy SP was a resident in my pocket for a couple of years. So they pulled a couple of mistakes, so what?

But I can tell you this, FUCK AOL. I would not accept food from them if I was starving.

[lynux3]

Wow.

Top 1ne ISPs not to subcribe to:

AOL

[VG Aficionado]

:whogives:

[Garfunkel]

yeah, i am going to trust a company that shows it's search engine keywords of consumers who expect their info to remain private...

[Elios]

This is what every normal person (not a hardcore fan) thinks about each of these three products.
Vista has bugs and invasive antipiracy features so it's better to stay with XP for the near future until Microsoft makes a better version listening to the critics.
Blu Ray vs HD-DVD war isn't finished,players price is really high and DVD is still good for most people.
PS3 is too expensive and it needs its time to grow a great lineup like every console.

So really this article cannot be blamed, as I said most of the people would agree with it.This doen't mean that things won't change by the end of the year for all these products.

[Applefiend]

Does the article say anything about why people should buy 2 PS3s? :)

OK, I'll stop that right now... :)

[jaxmkii]

AOL hates PS3 cause you can surf the net without them...its that simple

[Garfunkel]

if people followed aol's advice and didn't buy any of these products OUR INDUSTRY WOULD NOT ADVANCE! THERE WOULD BE NO GAMES ON PS3!

[ollin]

AOL is owned by Time Warner. They also owns Joystiq that's all I have to say.

[jaxmkii]

^ ohhh ok

[VG Aficionado]

AOL is owned by Time Warner. They also owns Joystiq that's all I have to say.There you have it.

[Sephiroth_VII]

AOL... As in America OnLine? As in the infamous company whose internet connections are slow, buggy, and requires special links to sign up to services like forums? I wouldn't call them a reliable source for anything...

[FantasyGhost]

Any e-mails sending to aol users from my internet provider e-mail account would get send back. Because they had put my internet provider on a blacklist, because one guy was spamming it's users... That just shows how stupid they are.

[Z]

relax guys. this is pretty normal and expected advice/thinking of casual people. if you are not an early adopter, into the tech or features, why would you get Vista or an HD player or an HDMI surround sound system or an EvoX Dub edition with 5 times the original price tag or such?

for those casuals who like to game, PS2 is a perfect choice for them.

[dendj55]

When AOL starts having better deals for their services, then they can talk. And they love to leave a million files on your PC, slow everything down to the max.

Honestly, this AOL advice does not bother me at all. The only people that I know who still actually use AOL are my mother and grandmother. IMO the installed based for AOL is older people who would not likely be interested in the products anyway. And I personally could care less if they are not going to buy one for their grandkids either.

[woundingchaney]

Really for us not technically minded or on the more hardcore spending line why would anyone run out to buy these products. There is little sense in having HD DVD or a PS3 or Vista at the moment.

Just what is the problem here guys??? Does the PS3 have a game anyone cant live without, is vista offering something outstanding above XP, does high definition really look that much better??? I have a hard time believing anyone would say yes to any of these things, even though I own them all.

[Coded-Dude]

does high definition really look that much better???
um..........:wtf:
yes.

[VG Aficionado]

The problem is that this thread is pretty much pointless here. We're not average gamers and we already understand that most people aren't early adopters.

[woundingchaney]

um..........:wtf:
yes.

Well I wouldnt be surprised if the majority of consumers disagree.

[Z]

The problem is that this thread is pretty much pointless here. We're not average gamers and we already understand that most people aren't early adopters.

but the article isn't addressing consumers like us at all. and that is why I don't know why it is posted here in the first place. this isn't your general gaming news or a casual gaming forum.
it could be that the originator wanted to talk casual about the topic or something to that effect.

[Z]

Really for us not technically minded or on the more hardcore spending line why would anyone run out to buy these products. There is little sense in having HD DVD or a PS3 or Vista at the moment.

Just what is the problem here guys??? Does the PS3 have a game anyone cant live without, is vista offering something outstanding above XP, does high definition really look that much better??? I have a hard time believing anyone would say yes to any of these things, even though I own them all.

that's what I want to know. I agree with everything you mentioned except for the HD TVs. shame on you!
you are grounded to 19" of SD TV for a month young man. see how'd you like that!

[Krad]

if people followed aol's advice and didn't buy any of these products OUR INDUSTRY WOULD NOT ADVANCE! THERE WOULD BE NO GAMES ON PS3!

I was just about to say that. If we always thought like AOL wishes us to do, we would never get anywhere. Sticks and stones would be good enough to catch our meals.

Let's wait and see if they create something better than electricity.

[FantasyGhost]

I agree with waiting for the Vista OS, even though i won't even use it. Because the third party hardware doesn't have the new drivers available for vista. There's so much MS didn't take into account that other companies relying on MS's OS's have to get all new drivers out for latest inovation.

[Coded-Dude]

Well I wouldnt be surprised if the majority of consumers disagree.
The majority of consumer probably would also agree that there is little to no difference between 800x600 and 1280x1024 resolutions, until they actually saw they difference. Ignorance is no excuse for making an uninformed decision.

I've ran into people that thought their TV was HD because it was LCD.....

ME: Is that HD ready?
THEM: Yeah.........its LCD
ME: That doesn't mean it's HD
THEM: Yes it does....it LCD!
*thats when I pull out my PSP and say: "does this look HD to you?"*


Is the cost worth the difference in price(SD vs HD)?
*Now that is a question ANY consumer could logically answer*

Does HD really look that much better?
*A question left for people who have actual knowledge/experience could answer this*

[aclar00]

I hate when this argument is used...How in the hell is a format winner supposed to be considered if no one is buying either product? Its consumer's who ultimately make the decision....stupid.

Also, why would developers make games for a system that no one buys(or very few)? PSP is a semi-example, considering it is second to DS in sales, many development for the DS would be preferred (not to mention ease of development i assume).

Either why, my point is, that a winner cannot be determine unless consumers dramatically buy one format over another and developers would slowly decrease development for a console if people arent buying their product over and extended period of time

[Coded-Dude]

BD sales are beating HD DVD 2 to 1.......the wider that gap becomes the more "dramatic" one format will get.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

It was 3 to one last time I heard (a couple weeks ago).

[kaphwan]

There isn't much I was going to say here besides "AOL sucks".

Even though they're 2/3 right, according to the thread title.

[woundingchaney]

The majority of consumer probably would also agree that there is little to no difference between 800x600 and 1280x1024 resolutions, until they actually saw they difference. Ignorance is no excuse for making an uninformed decision.

I've ran into people that thought their TV was HD because it was LCD.....

ME: Is that HD ready?
THEM: Yeah.........its LCD
ME: That doesn't mean it's HD
THEM: Yes it does....it LCD!
*thats when I pull out my PSP and say: "does this look HD to you?"*


Is the cost worth the difference in price(SD vs HD)?
*Now that is a question ANY consumer could logically answer*

Does HD really look that much better?
*A question left for people who have actual knowledge/experience could answer this*
And that question is being raised by people who arent experienced who are general consumers.

Pick what content your talking about and evaluate the difference in quality. TVs are primarily used for watching network television which looks noticeably worse on many/most HDTVS. Movies right now are a mixed bag, some look rather well (King. of Heav.looks damn great) and others look nothing above their SD counterparts (Tall. Nights infact I would say that Tall Nights looks better on my upscaling dvd player, I would like to take the time to say Xmen 3 was a very poor conversion as well). Gaming would be the hands down superior image when HD is concerned.

To say it looks noticeably better one would have to consider at what instance.

[Garfunkel]

This announcement by AOL is kinda like me saying don't buy a core 2 quad because most apps don't make use of it...

[VG Aficionado]

Don't buy anything. All you need to live is breathable air. You can probably obtain drinkable water for free. You can probably obtain free fruit from trees. Garbage dump places are a great alternative if you want more sophisticated food, but this is a luxury and an apology of commensalism. You can probably live under a bridge. You can probably obtain free clothes at any church. What else could you possibly want? :dur:

[NickSCFC]

samsung ftw

[Z]

1080p looks noticeably better than SD. nobody with some kind of eyesight would disagree. the question of the price being worth the jump or not is another topic.

[OmniCloud]

I agree with Wounding here. Just to play VF5 on Friday the way it's supposed to be played, I had to kick out some serious dough. My situation fortunately allows me to do that right now.

Hi-def movies, PS3, Vista are not mainstream enough to give 2 thumbs up. But I would definitely say to anyone who ask "Save up and go get it!". Definitely worth the price of admission. well, I dunno about Vista...I'm perfectly happy with My linux setup;)

[cliffbo]

f****** A,OLs

[Coded-Dude]

:lol: