The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has been going on all week, and the world is currently getting a sneak peak at the new devices that will be hitting store shelves this fall. The main buzz is set on the Xbox One by Microsoft, and the PlayStation 4 by Sony. Even if you aren’t that into video games, both companies want you to invest in their new devices anyway because they both aim to take over your living room entertainment. Both devices will offer Blu-Ray DVD viewing, streaming music and video services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.), web browsers, video chat, and in the case of the Xbox One, live television.
Where both devices differ will be in overall cost, features and some services and restrictions, but both are largely similar in terms of graphics power. The Xbox One is being touted as a big entertainment machine, but if you’re into buying used games or traveling with game systems, be wary as the system will not work properly without a broadband internet connection, and there’s even more restrictions if you want to borrow a friend’s game, rent one or buy used. Currently, it looks like the Playstation 4 will have slightly less capabilities in terms of media partners, but they’ve built on top of the successes of the Playstation 3 with new system hardware and an all new controller, and they have already started criticizing their competition’s new internet and Digital Rights Management policies. Plus, they’re taking a “games first” approach, but still providing various entertainment and application options as well.
It will be interesting to see which of these two will be the better system in terms of sales. There’s still alternatives, as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are still being sold and already have much of the capabilities of the yet to be released systems, and there’s also the Nintendo Wii U if you just want something totally different.
