hdmi on ps3

[charlesr]

Is the hdmi port on the ps3 an industry standard port? i.e. will any old hdmi cable work?

On the US PS3 site, it says you will need extra equipment to use the hdmi port - is this referring to a bog standard hdmi lead or is it saying you'll need to buy a Sony PS3>hmdi lead?

[J0e Musashi]

It's gotta be a PS3>HDMI cable no?

[mackemansj1]

No looks standard hdmi on the ps3.

[Brats]

The original design (with two HDMI ports) had proper HDMI ports. I've only seen the rear of the 20gig version since then, but I suspect the 60gig version will have a single port.

[SubparMario]

I think that using the standard port is a requirement if someone wants HDMI on their device. A standard lead should be fine.

That may be why we'll never see an official XBOX360 HDMI lead?

[Brats]

My understanding of HDMI is that it isn't just a digital port tacked on, many of the components inside have to be HDMI compliant too. Which is probably why the difference in cost between the 20 gig and 60 gig PS3 is as much as it is.

So while no great loss, no I don't think we'll see HDMI on the 360.

[NekoFever]

When they're referring to extra equipment to use HDMI they probably just mean an HDTV with HDMI inputs. Plenty of people, especially in the US, have older HDTVs which only have component and VGA as high definition inputs. HDMI 1.1, the first ratified standard, has only been around since 2004, after all.

[lurch996]

So why is the 20gig PS3 without HDMI considered crippled? After all the 360 doesn't have HDMI and you can still play games in HD and I guess you can with the cheaper PS3?

[sj33]

So why is the 20gig PS3 without HDMI considered crippled? After all the 360 doesn't have HDMI and you can still play games in HD and I guess you can with the cheaper PS3?

Guess it depends how important people consider HDMI... some people see the direct digital video connection near essential. I'd pay the extra, given you also get a 60GB HDD, memory stick ports etc, though I can't see me paying the launch price.

[Brats]

So why is the 20gig PS3 without HDMI considered crippled? After all the 360 doesn't have HDMI and you can still play games in HD and I guess you can with the cheaper PS3?

So here's the thing. Although any 360 has less functionality than a the 20gig PS3, at least with the 360 you can upgrade to full functionality of the premium unit, all you need is a hard drive and wireless pad.

However with the PS3 you can't add HDMI to the 20gig model later on. Which at this point in time might not be an issue at all, but in the future it might. As even the 20gig model is a lot of money, it's a dilemna whether to spend more money now and feel safe in the knowledge that you have HDMi if you ever need it. Because the 360 doesn't have HDMI, wierdly it's not an issue.

I think the other point is that a large reason for the cost of the PS3 is the Blu-Ray player. if you're going to buy a PS3, won't you want the full functionality of the player that you're being 'forced' to buy?

[charlesr]

So why is the 20gig PS3 without HDMI considered crippled?

It's more to do with the Sony bashing perhaps. Although Sony have brought it upon themselves by banging on about TruHD (1080p) and then not even making it available on the cripple version ( at the moment you need hdmi to get the 1080p - otherwise, it's 720p or 1080i).

[briareos_kerensky]

So why is the 20gig PS3 without HDMI considered crippled? After all the 360 doesn't have HDMI and you can still play games in HD and I guess you can with the cheaper PS3?

The X360 doesn't have (at the moment) an hi-def disc player built in. When speaking about HD-DVD and Bluray, you have to keep in mind the HDCP that is broadcasted through the HDMI port. If a HDTV doesn't recieve the HDCP from the player, it will "cut" the video resolution to something slightly better than 720p. It has been told that in the beginning no HD-DVD or Bluray device will search for the HDCP signal, but it exists and it will used for sure.
So, a 20gig PS3 won't be able to play future, 1080p compliant movies at their fullest due to the lack of the HDMI port.

[Brats]

It's more to do with the Sony bashing perhaps. Although Sony have brought it upon themselves by banging on about TruHD (1080p) and then not even making it available on the cripple version ( at the moment you need hdmi to get the 1080p - otherwise, it's 720p or 1080i).

You can get 1080p through component or VGA. It's just that not many 1080p devices (not that there are many anyway) use component for 1080p.

[sj33]

If a HDTV doesn't recieve the HDCP from the player, it will "cut" the video resolution to something slightly better than 720p.

Worse than that, it cuts it down to 540p.

[briareos_kerensky]

Worse than that, it cuts it down to 540p.

Ah, yes, of course, I confused the 720 for the horizontal resolution. My bad.