Can I sum up?
We all agree that the Cell Processor is the most advanced CPU design to-date and even AMD and INTEL will copy that in future. The XBOX Xenon Processor with its 3 CORE design, is classic Multicore.
We agree also, that the PS3 Cell is not the best CPU for General Purpose Applications and Mainstream Windows, because it lacks OoOE, Branch prediction in Hardware etc. which support Programmers with few knowledge of the CPU architecture and Assembler.
But we keep in mind, that a PS3 is not running Windows with many different applications. It runs only the very small OS and 1 Game at a time. Requirements are therefore completely different.
We agree also, that the (ATI) XENOS Chip on the XBOX360 is somehow better than the (NVIDIA) RSX on the PS3.
I think we can also agree that programming of the XBOX360 is "easier", because developpers just have to deal with GP-CPU, one Assembly language.
BluRay disc are better than DVD. If anybody denies this, he must be a complete idiot. We can start then the discussion if CD is superior to DVD, because when DVD drives appeared they read at 2x Speed, where CD's were reading at 50x Speed. So load time still were somehow superior on CD 10 years ago compared to DVD.
XDR RAM (even if I do not like RAMBUS) has far superior streaming rates to DDR2.
If we compare the XBOX360 and PS3, it is clear that from a technical point of view the PS3 is more advanced, which is not deniable. Microsoft knows it, they made a lot of sacrifices because they rushed to the market to be out before SONY PS3.
The RRoD is a prove. The "old" DVD drive is a prove. The Xenon is a prove. Microsoft was taking a triple version of the Cell PPU. The SPU Designs were not finished at that point in time.
I heard of PS3 Compute Clusters at universities, and before of XBOX and PS2 Clusters, but never of XBOX360 compute clusters, so they must be not many.
If you take an XBOX360 and you would upgrade it to the same functions as the PS3:
meaning Bluetooth, Harddisk, 6-axis controller (now DualShock3), BluRay, HDMI, Dolby TrueHD etc. you will come close to the same price as a PS3.
Now: Games are easier to develop for the XBOX360, that is what all developers say. But if you put the effort in it, Games match the XBOX pendants even graphic wise (when Using SPE's for Preprocessing). There is still a lot of Headroom in the CELL's power.
So it depends all on the games and their developers.
It is up to the budget of the user.
Some people even say the Wii has better games, so they buy an overpriced piece of hardware shit with CPU and GPU technology from 10 years ago. Processing power not even matches the PS2. But they like the games on it.
The which console is better discussion is therefore somehow pointless.
The success is not only driven by a better hardware, what we see clearly with the Wii.
Sony took the time to finish properly their console and equip it with newest technology. For them the BluRay was absolutely necessary to establish it as a standard. Microsoft killed the HD-DVD with their rush to the market, even they were supporter of the HD-DVD standard. Much of their bigger installed base comes from the fact that they were more than 1 year earlier to the market, but if this pays in the longer term?
Metal Gear Solid 4 would not have been possible on the XBOX360, because on a DL BD they already needed to compress the data to fit everything on it.
Personally it is the best game I ever played.
I do not want to own a XBOX for one simple reason: it is from MICROSOFT. They own the PC market, if we let them own other markets, one day we will be force to clean our asshole with Microsoft Toiletpaper. They are a monopoly player in the PC market and they use it to win other market. They are making me affraid. If they are everywhere, what will be? The NSA or CIA watching through the Backdoors in MS Software every user through every webcam or device attached to Microsoft... I have more Trust in japanese companies and in competing players. Google starts to be annoying too.... too big... too much power... Power creates evil....
Software is like Sex, it is better when it is free!
