Can the PS3 Upconvert regular DVDs to 1080p?

Question

I'm trying to decide whether to go with the 360 and its HD-DVD extra or just shell out the money for a PS3... and this will be one of the deciding factors.

Answer 1

Yes.

Here is a bit more info to decide:

This is my cut and paste answer. The reason for that is because a tech info is a tech info, you can't beat it (sources below). Also this question is so often!!!

PS3 will win the console war, no doubt. Xbox 360 and Wii are so weak from technological point of view, that in couple of years they won't be capable of dealing with serious graphics. GTA IV, for instance, isn't even announced for Wii - this toy won't be able to cope with the game's requirements. Xbox 360 is getting GTA IV, however, the game is going to be released on several DVDs - Xbox 360 owners will have to interrupt gaming process and switch discs (Rockstar complained about this issue). Only PS3 will have it on single BD-DVD.

Let's compare PS3 and XBOX 360:

1). A third of XBOX 360 (33%) are malfunctioning right from the start. PS3 return rate is only around 0.2%. Despite some people say, that new 360 has no breakdown issues - just visit Xbox section of Yahoo answers and see for yourself an amount of complaints.
2). PS3 has 8 (7+1) kernels in Cell processor, Xbox 360 -only 3.
3). PS3 uses advanced tech called Blu-Ray, one disc can store up to 54 gb (in the future - up to 200 gb), Xbox 360 - regular dual layer DVD-9 (8.5GB). It's possible to get HD-DVD (max. - 30GB) for 360, but it'll cost you around 180$, in this case Xbox is going to be MUCH more expensive, than PS3.
4). Calculations per sec - PS3 - 51-billion-dot-product-operati... per second
Xbox 360 - 33.6-billion-dot-product-opera... per second
5). PS3 has full media support - USBs, built-in 4 slots card reader (except 20GB and 40GB versions), ability to use printer and so on.
Xbox 360 has USBs and only 2 memory slots.
6). PS3 supports up to 7 Bluetooth Controllers
Xbox 360 - up to 4 Controllers
7). PS3 - wi-fi included (except 20 gb version)
Xbox 360 - wi-fi will cost you around 100 $
8). Graphics are stronger in PS3, due to RSX chip, that was developed by Nvidia exclusively for PS3. RSX runs on 550 Mhz. It's difficult to compare their graphics chips, because 360 has a video chip with totally different structure and operating memory is divided differently in both consoles. However, PS3 exclusives look better than 360's exclusives.
9). PS3 uses technology from AGEIA company. It does to physics of the game same thing GPU (videocard processor) does to graphics. This thing is on sale for PC(special card). The price is around 350$. There is no such thing in 360.
10). Xbox 360 is widely known for so-called "red ring of death" problem - it gets overheated easily. My PS3 was running for more than 15 hours non-stop with no problems. Sometimes Xbox 360 becomes so overheated, that thermopaste on CPU melts, drips on motherboard and successfully shortcircuits it. That's why in some countries people call Xbox 360 "Coffin 360".
11). Besides all of this, I've seen disassembled Xbox 360 - regular PC architecture - Billy Gates is an uninventive nerd (as usual).
When I saw disassembled PS3 - it was a surprise - smart architecture, good cooling (don't buy external PS3 coolers - they make everything worse - original system is good), etc.
12). In 2008 PS3 will get more than 300 games, including Metal Gear Solid 4, The Agent and other great exclusives. Here is the good link to the future PS3 releases. http://ps3.ign.com/index/release.html......
13). PS3 online is free, Xbox 360 - you have to pay.
14). There were reports, that 360 scratches discs. No reports on that in PS3.
15). The funniest thing, that right now there are no games for PS3, that show full potential of the console. Biggest games weigh only 25 GB (Xbox 360 will need more than 3 discs even for those).
16). On PS3 you can install other OS, such as Linux Yellow Dog, Ubuntu and others. Sony officially lets you do it. There is no such thing in 360.
17). PS3 HDD can be replaced easily with any 2.5" SATA 5400 RPM HDD (used in laptops). 250 GB will cost you around 170$. In 360 you have to buy exclusive HDD, where 20GB will cost you 100$.
18).Sony expects PS3 to stay on the market for, at least, 7-10 years. Also Sony reduces price now. There is a cheaper 40GB version of PS3.
19).Sony constantly upgrades PS3 software (free updates for OS) - you get new functions and improvements.
20). PS3 controller (sixaxis) has a motion control - you move controller - game responds. Wii has it, Xbox 360 - doesn't. PS3 is getting rumble controller (Dualshock 3) in 1st quarter 2008, Japan already has it. On www.ebay.com I saw those controllers on sale 50$ and up (unofficial import)
21).On PS3 you can help sick people by running Folding Home project. Wii and Xbox 360 didn't even think about it.
22).New 40GB is 399$ or 399 euro (depends on the region) - it has no backwards compatibility with PS2 games, has 2 USBs instead of 4, no built-in card reader, but it's the same PS3, strong, reliable, less noisy, different cooling system. The price is friendly.
23). But, to be just, I'm not a PS3 fanboy, so (despite I own one) hear this - PS3 games (exclusives) are very hard to develop due to complicated Cell's architecture. We have to wait till developers will figure out how to develop games properly. Sometimes multiplatform games run not so good on PS3 due to the same developing issues - it's hard for developers to get a grip on such advanced technologies.

I didn't mention Wii, because it's so weak, no point to talk about it. Leave it for kindergarten and casual games.

Sources:
www.teamxbox.com
www.kotaku.com
www.qj.net
www.ign.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.newegg.com
www.ps3fanboy.com
http://search.ebay.com/dualshock-3_W0QQ_...
and many other sources

Answer 2

Yes it upscales regular dvds to HD as well as upscales ps2 and ps1 games to HD.

360 is $349 for the for the pro (20gig harddrive) + $179 for the hddvd addon= $528 + tax before you even buy a game.

The ps3 80 gig model is only $499. And you don't have a bunch of addons cluttering the place It's an all in one console. The 360 has the separate power brick + the hddvd drive + the console itself. It makes it a pain to move it to another room.