I now own all 3 of the major seventh generation consoles, Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. So comparing the systems makes some sense.
TIP: Pick up an HDMI cable with your PS3. There are some inexpensive ones on Amazon that qualify for free shipping with purchases [...]. The video quality sucks if you stick to the output that the PS3 comes with.
PROS AND CONS
PROS: WIFI capabilities built-in. Controller design we're familiar with from the PS2 and sufficiently similar to the 360 controller. Excellent game selection. Free online play. Bluray player. Good price.
CONS: Controller requires a USB connection for charging. Controller does not have removable batteries. Not PS2 backwards compatible. Arguably better exclusives found on the 360.
COMPARING TO THE WII
We picked up our Wii at launch (second in line, tent in front of Best Buy). Like a lot of gamers, our Wii has sat collecting dust after the newness wore off. The Wii has had too few attractive titles. Games that are present on all three systems tend to be the worst on the Wii. As an example, we grabbed Madden for the Wii around launch. Unfortunately much of the gameplay had been stripped out on the Wii version (career modes gone, etc). Junk games rule the Wii market meaning good games get lost in the mix.
I know, this is a lot about the Wii. I bring it up because the PS3 does not have these problems.
If you're my mom or wanting a console for parties, pick up a Wii - otherwise the PS3 wins out here.
COMPARING TO THE XBOX 360
I bought our Xbox 360 about two years ago. Hardware problems have hit already, [...].
The divide between the PS3 and 360 is really pretty small now. After all, at the time of this review the systems will both cost you the same amount of money.
On content, games that are multi-platform are sufficiently identical between the PS3 and 360. But when it comes to exlusive games, the 360 has a slight edge here.
If you're the movie watching type, the PS3 has a Bluray player while the 360 has Netflix. That makes it a tough choice. One thing to keep in mind is you currently cannot use Netflix on the 360 with just a silver account. That means you're going to have to pay a monthly fee for a gold account. More on Xbox Live next.
Online gaming is free on the PS3. On the 360 you're going to have to pony up anywhere between $3.50 to $5 a month to Microsoft for Xbox Live. Yuck. Consider this one of the hidden costs of Xbox 360 gaming. Note: You can still get updates, buy games, addons, themes, etc. with a free Silver account on the 360. You just can't play online or watch movies/tv shows on Netflix instantly.
Yet another 360 hidden cost is WIFI. If you're using WIFI at home, expect to throw another [...] for wireless. PS3 comes out of the box with wireless built-in (although I hear there might be some quality problems, but I haven't experienced any). We still have a cable running across the living room for the 360. The PS3 is mostly cable free. Yet another hidden cost for owning a 360.
Xbox 360 achievement points or the PS3 trophies? Personally I like the 360's point system over trophies. With gamer points, you get a certain amount of points with more difficult achievement arguably worth more points. The sound effect when you earn an achievement on the 360 is more obvious and less easy to ignore. There's a rewarding feeling when you get achievements. With trophies, I've actually received some and didn't notice until later. Of course, the 360 pops you out of the game's immersion easier than the PS3. To each his own, I suppose.
I would expect the PS3 to be around longer than the 360, so overall the PS3 should be a better buy.Get more detail about PlayStation 3 120 GB.
