News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

November 24, 2006

games

Xbox 360 works better with Mac than Sony PS3

Posted Nov. 24, ’06, 3:12 PM PT by Aaron Freedman
Category | Games

Xboxlovemac I never thought I’d say this, but it seems that Microsoft has a product that works better with the Mac than the Sony equivalent. Well, to be fair, I guess I always knew that product would be the Xbox 360.

I remember just one year ago, when I would talk to my friends about the Xbox 360. “Don’t get it,” I’d say “It’s a waste of money. Wait for the PS3 to come out. I mean, it has Blu-Ray!” Sure, the PS3 does have Blu-Ray, but it’s also more expensive than the 360, harder to get, and has a worse game line-up. But, another important issue about the Xbox 360 vs, the PS3 is Mac compatibility. Right now, the Xbox 360 looks like the better gaming system to complement your Mac. The first thing is, as Dan mentioned before, the PS3 can’t play music directly off of the iPod, while the 360 can, and does so very nicely. But, not only that, as Dan also mentioned in that post, the PS3 can’t stream music off of your Mac. Connect360 (which, you guessed it, Dan covered) allows you to stream not only unprotected music and photos from your Mac, but also Windows Media videos via Flip4Mac. Oh, and the Xbox 360 USB wired controller will work with the Mac via a special driver, while I don’t think that the PS3 even has a wired controller (but the PS3 does have Bluetooth controllers). And, of course, the white and chrome Xbox 360 goes much better with your Mac than the black and silver PS3 (unless you have a black Macbook).

So, contrary to what I may have thought a year ago, the Xbox 360 seems to be the best console to accompany your Mac. Still, to be fair, the Xbox 360 has had a year to mature, and it’s very well possible that by November 2007, Sony will have added better iPod support and streaming to the PS3. And, maybe even a white-colored model.

Update: Also, just to note, the Xbox 360’s HD-DVD drive will work with Mac, while it won’t on PCs (of course, the drive will only function for playing back DVDs, not HD-DVDs, on the Mac).

UPDATE: In the comments, many of you have pointed out some of the problems in my post. Yes, it is true that the PS3 controller can use USB using the play-and-charge cable, and it is true that there are drivers for the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive to work on XP (with HD-DVD functionality). But, I just want to point out that the Xbox 360 has been out for a year, so it obviously has had more time to get better Mac support, but Sony has also had all that time to make the PS3 better by looking at the 360.

18 Comments

Lex said:

Hmm..I can play music off my iPod on my PS3 just fine. You can have to browse for it using the triangle button, but it does work. It won't play iTunes content, but in that regard I don't think it differs from 360.

Re. music streaming, you can get server software that lets you access your content on an another computer via the PS3's web browser.

November 24, 2006 3:34 PM
Paul said:

Sorry for pointing this out, but the sentence "Right now, the Xbox 360 looks like the better gaming system to compliment your Mac." made me imagine an advert like the Mac/PC ads, where the XBox says how nice the Mac is looking today ...

... rather than complementing the Mac ...

November 24, 2006 8:28 PM
tyler said:

lets see..

Oh, and the Xbox 360 USB wired controller will work with the Mac via a special driver, while I don’t think that the PS3 even has a wired controller (but the PS3 does have Bluetooth controllers).

so the ps3 controller charges itself through the air via bluetooth? oh wait, the ps3 controller is usb too.. hmm..

November 24, 2006 10:48 PM
wes harden said:

i beg to differ on this one...

the wii, and the entire revamped nintendo in general, is way more complimentary to the mac by principal. their design and marketing styles are very simalar lately, and both are definately leading innovators.

plus i heard the wii will grab photos off any bluetooth device if you tell it to, such as your mac.

November 25, 2006 12:31 AM
exnihilo said:

MS? No. I do not own anything MS, and I never will. It'll either be a Wii or a PS3 for my next console, which I will not buy for at least another year or whenever the PS3 price comes down. I will neve give MS anoher cent of my money. If console gaming history is to be repeated, then PS3 games will get better and better.

Now, I'm not saying that MS has nothing good. I'm not going to mindlessly bash MS, but as a protest to thier unethical business practices, I will never buy anything MS.

As an aside though, I actually prefer Bill Gates as a private individual than Jobs. If I get a chance to meet either person "in the wild" I'm almost certain that Gates would actually give me the time of day.

November 25, 2006 3:43 AM
Erik said:

As you point out, the Xbox 360 has been around for a year.

The PS3 has been out for little more than a few weeks.

Give the hackers and developers a LITTLE time to catch up, eh?

November 25, 2006 4:25 AM
Chrispix said:

You forgot one major thing. Apparently the DVD-HD that is shipping for the 360 works with PCs & Macs. Doubt you will see that anytime w/ the Blue Ray disk, as it is a part of the PS3.

November 25, 2006 5:38 AM
Marcos D said:

Important to note that it won't stream music files purchased on iTunes, whether they are on your Mac or you iPod.

November 25, 2006 6:04 AM
Andy B said:

Also, the 360 will stream music off a mac formated ipod, which made me wonder why windows PC's can't read HFS natively

November 25, 2006 6:56 AM
majormauser said:

Aaron I have both systems. Right now the 360 feels like a much much more advanced system. Yes the 360 has been out a year but Sony had an extra year to work on things as well. What they gave us is a crippled joke. Sony has to start bringing out software and Update the heck out of its interface. Sony has no interface guidlines so right from start.... no working friends list, No music off your choice in games... Gosh Sony is going to have to re-vamp the whole thing in order to catch up because the current interface supports none of the vision that is available on Xbox 360. Right now I just thought ...jee what games system would I want to buy Call of Duty 3 for... a system that has a great online community or one that has none.

November 25, 2006 7:01 AM
Noosh said:

This is very interesting! You don't even know enough information about the PS3's controller and then make a comment about its compatibility with Mac?! As someone mentioned here, PS3 has been out for a week, in comparison to Xbox360 being here for over a year! How can that comparison be made right now? PS3 has its own issues I admit (such as being harder for developers to develop games for than the 360). But I think you're jumping way too early into conclusions here. Oh BTW, there is something that PS3, that the 360 cannot currently match: operation noise and heat dissipated. Last time I checked, that was one of the major things about Macs too! And with respect to style, let me ask you a question, does the 360 match your TV, receiver, and entertainment center? Didn't think so. And that's where a gaming console belongs, and not next to a Mac!

And PS3 is just as expensive as 360 when you add the HD-DVD! (PS3 60GB = $599 = Xbox 360 ($399) + HD-DVD ($199) ). And for that price, on the 60GB, you get a card reader, wireless G, and a bigger HD (not to mention it's very easy to upgrade too). And off course, you'll still have few more USB ports. Not to mention that eveything is in one box, and not three (Xbox hardware, HD-DVD, power supply).

Just give some time, there will be some exclusive titles that will again make you drool over. Sure Sony has definitely F^*)# up on the launch numbers and some titles are not really that different from the 360 edition. But next year by Xmas, the real judgement can be made as to which is better to go with. For now, if you want many games for your Xmas, get the 360 and deal with its noisy hardware and hot power supply! But I'd wait to see what happens in the spring and just get the Wii or PS2 for now!

November 25, 2006 8:22 AM
kian Morris said:

i hate to have to be the only one to point this out. it too ms several months to get the optional ipod support download on the 360. also the streaming music is written by a third party call nullriver, and it took several months after the release date for it to be ready.

November 25, 2006 11:26 AM
mike said:

It seems odd to me that so many reviews and/or articles keep adding the phrase "To be fair, the 360 didnt have that feature either when it was first released".
How is that being "fair"? One of (perhaps the biggest) benefits of being first to market is the head start you have in improving your product. If we are going to compare the 360 from a year ago to the PS3 of today, then sure they are pretty comparable. But wouldnt that be like comparing the PSP to the gameboy? An honest product review should be of what is available today, not what was or what might be.
Besides, it sure looks bad for the PS3 when nearly every review seems to make excuses about how this "state of the art, future-proof, $600" isnt any worse than the 360 was A YEAR AGO??!!

November 25, 2006 12:28 PM
AlphaPapa said:

My iTunes content on my iPod plays just fine on my 360.... Really....

November 25, 2006 12:30 PM
Husar said:

I have been using my iMac G5 to stream mp3s, video (WMV) and photos. It is prefect for what I need. Connect360 is a great product and at $20 it saved me from buying a computer with Windows Media Center on it just to do the streaming. My iPod also player perfect on the xbox.

November 25, 2006 1:41 PM
Spike K said:

Its also worthy to discuss how half {more?} of PS3 owners are smart enough to use another means to put thier precious data (mp4,3,etc) in the right places (PS3 HD/root?), at the right time (so they can go back to enjoying killing each other to MUSIC). Spike
> Yeah. I like"quotes". Got N E ?
D O A Extreme 2 ! ! !
PLAY it! Get ONE achievement!

November 25, 2006 7:38 PM
Bearcat said:

"Oh, and the Xbox 360 USB wired controller will work with the Mac via a special driver, while I don’t think that the PS3 even has a wired controller (but the PS3 does have Bluetooth controllers)."

How is it you suppose the PS3 controller recharges? It isn't powered by your hopes and dreams it connects via a USB cable. I suppose you also expect people to believe that the 360 controller works with Mac by Microsoft's design.

"And, of course, the white and chrome Xbox 360 goes much better with your Mac than the black and silver PS3 (unless you have a black Macbook)."

And, of course, function follows form.

November 26, 2006 12:37 AM
Furu said:

Not to be rude or anything, but the post is a bit one sided. You need to go back and check all the facts about your findings. I just happen to have an iPod, PS3 and a MacBook Pro here on my desk.
The iPod does work exactly as the first poster said.
It is also a matter of time that someone makes a driver for the PS3 controller that uses the USB for connecting people.
Streaming music from the PC or a Mac is not yet possible, but in that regard you have to take into account that PS3 has been out for two (2) weeks now. In coming months you can see a whole range of different softwares for the PS3.
The colours are a matter of opinion. I like that the black PS3 looks good with a black iPod or a contrasting color, white!

And lastly I also own an Xbox.

Just check the facts next time.

November 26, 2006 5:19 AM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: