If I had to choose one and only one, I'd choose a PS3 because of personal gaming preferences. Thankfully, I don't need to choose between the two because I have both. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Xbox 360 Strengths
1. Xbox Live- I don't like the fact that I have to pay $50/year for it, when PC, PS3, and Wii are all free. But that's not point. Xbox Live doesn't work better than the competition; it is so much more organized than the competition. I love how you can actually find your friends online. I love how most people have headsets so you can actually talk to them. You can find demos of most Xbox 360 games! Lots of movies and TV shows that can be purchased via Xbox Live (they are pretty expensive though)...Xbox Live Arcade is quite impressive.
2. Controller- I grew up on a Playstation controller so that's the de facto standard for me. With that said, I love the Xbox 360 controller. It just feels great in your hands. It is well designed. It has a really crappy D-pad, but then again it has triggers that work very well with the controller. It is the perfect alternative to a keyboard and mouse for FPS.
3. PC Environment- The Xbox 360 is basically a PC gaming console. PC's generally shine with first-person shooters and real-time strategy games. It's pretty obvious that those two genres are the two genres that the Xbox 360 really shines in. Those two genres are also the best genres for online play. Does anyone notice a trend here? I own a Mac so PC gaming isn't really possible for me. With an Xbox 360, games like Command and Conquer 3 become available to me. I like that.
4. Media Streaming- Again, I have a Mac so media streaming doesn't really do me much good. Either way, I have seen it being used my friends and I am pretty impressed with what I see. This add value to the console.
5. Exclusives- Mass Effect and Bioshock have me drooling...I just know these games are going to be really special. Halo 3...well...everyone's going to own that game so I might as well give in. Gears of War was REALLY fun to play co-op online. I personally think people give Microsoft's exclusives too much credit, but there is no denying that their AAA titles are REALLY GOOD. Sometimes even better than Sony's AAA titles.
Xbox 360 Weaknesses
1. Hardware- This shouldn't be news to anyone. The hardware quality of the Xbox 360 absolutely sucks. I've had 2 of them break down on me in the last year. Thankfully, since I have supported Microsoft from the beginning, they didn't charge me for repairs. Reliability is really important to me; especially after dropping $400+ on a console, games, and accessories. As an early adopter, I feel betrayed by Microsoft for releasing the Elite so soon. They should've released the Elite for $500 in the first place. It is disappointing to me that my Xbox 360 feels like a toy when compared to my PS3. It feels flimsy. The DVD drive sounds like a jet engine when I'm playing a game. It has even scratched one of my games to the point I can't play it anymore (Oblivion). I've got a real bad taste in my mouth from spending 2 months waiting for replacement systems. No matter how I try to spin it, I'm stuck with an inferior "Premium" system forever. Thanks Microsoft, I appreciate it.
2. Over Abundance of First Person Shooters- The problem I have with the library of games for the Xbox 360 is that there are way too many FPS. I mean, how many times is a person really going to spend $60 to shoot someone in the head? I feel like at least half of the games released for the Xbox 360 are FPS. Halo, F.E.A.R., Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Shadow Run, Bioshock, Huxley, Call of Juarez...you get the point right?
3. Upgrading- Upgrading is VERY EXPENSIVE. $179 for a new HDD? Bite me. $99 for Wi-Fi? I'll pass. $199 for HD-DVD that is probably going to lose to Blu-Ray either way? No thanks. $59 for a wireless headset? All of these things are external accessories too...they're expensive as all hell, they're all propriety, and they're an eyesore.
Overall- Xbox 360; good software, bad hardware. Great online. Frighteningly expensive to upgrade. The console of choice for First Person Shooters and Real Time Strategy games. Great way to be able to play PC games if you don't own a PC or have a powerful one.
PS3 Strengths
1. Hardware- Hold one of these in your hands and you'll understand immediately why it costs $600. It is heavy, it is dense, it is glossy, and just packed to the brim with goodness. In fact, it's probably packed with more than you'll never need, but at least you won't have to worry about upgrading it. If you have an HDTV, Blu-Ray is an excellent bonus because movies look much better in native HD resolution. Blu-Ray discs are also resistant to scratches. Constant firmware updates expand the capabilities of the console.
2. Exclusives- This is a matter of preference for me. I prefer action/adventure games, RPG's, and fighting games. PS3 has the kind of games I love. In particular, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, God of War, Tekken, and Grand Theft Auto. I know GTA is on 360, but I am so used to the PS controller for GTA...I won't ever go back.
3. Free Online- As much as I love Xbox Live, I hate paying for it. Playstation Network isn't as organized and doesn't have as much content, but it does work perfectly for games. Resistance: Fall of Man works perfectly online. With Home coming out later this year I expect Sony to come up with something that can really challenge Xbox Live.
PS3 Weaknesses
1. Games- Where are my games?!?!?! I know...patience...I went through this game draught with my Xbox 360 a year ago. At this moment, it simply doesn't pay to buy a PS3. Especially with all the crappy ports that are being released. This Fall though? That's a whole different story.
2. Price- I'm a gamer and will happily spend money to play the games I want to play. Unfortunately, there are people that do not fall into this demographic. $600 for a console is A LOT of money. Granted, I think that it is worth it overall, but $600 is still $600. And many, if not most of the games available will be available for the Xbox 360 as well.
3. Lack of Online Content- Enough said.
4. PS3 controller- The PS3 controller works fine with FPS, but when you compare it to the Xbox 360 controller, there is no competition. With all due respect though, action-adventure games generally work better with the PS controller.
Overall: I grew up on Playstation products so that's just what I favor. I don't care how you argue it, but the PS3 is the far superior system when it comes to hardware. Forget the specs...your PS3 will not die on you in a couple of months. The thing I like about Playstation the most is that they have most diversity with respect to their library of games. Xbox is getting better, but Sony has proven for the last 10 years that it knows what it is doing.
Conclusion: Two consoles with different strengths and weaknesses. It's a matter of preference. I would advise a PS3 if you do not already own a next generation system and have an HDTV. In the end, it will be cheaper and give you access to more games. Unless of course, you're one of the millions that are addicted to Halo...I was for two years...And there's no shame in that.
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