On the X-Box, the 4G and 250G consoles are the hard drive sizes? 4G seems kinda small if that is the case. If that is indeed the case, how much impact does HD size have on the system performance?

Thanks for the table as well. You can tell I've done my research...

I love my PS3, it's a great multi-media PC and occasional gaming system and excellent BR player.

I have the Wii, PS2, PS3 and just bought the xbox for the family for Xmas. The main reason I have all of these systems is due to functionality and choice of games. PSN is free vs xbox live which charges.

On the X-Box, the 4G and 250G consoles are the hard drive sizes? 4G seems kinda small if that is the case. If that is indeed the case, how much impact does HD size have on the system performance?

Thanks for the table as well. You can tell I've done my research...

The hard drive size is for storage and does not have an effect on performance. It's used to store game saves, downloaded games from xbox live, downloadable content, and for storing the game data to play from if you want to play the games from hard drive. In the case of installing the games to hard drive, that is where you'll hit the drive limit quickly with the 4GB option. You can always upgrade later if need be.

The hard drive size is for storage and does not have an effect on performance. It's used to store game saves, downloaded games from xbox live, downloadable content, and for storing the game data to play from if you want to play the games from hard drive. In the case of installing the games to hard drive, that is where you'll hit the drive limit quickly with the 4GB option. You can always upgrade later if need be.

I thought the new Xbox doesn't have a removable HDD? And I'm not even sure you'll be able to fit 1 game install on the HDD... I faintly recall that game installs on my system took in the 6gb+ range.

I thought the new Xbox doesn't have a removable HDD? And I'm not even sure you'll be able to fit 1 game install on the HDD... I faintly recall that game installs on my system took in the 6gb+ range.

Oops! I forgot what size the game installs took. Nonetheless, a 6gb game install would fill the 4gb drive quickly, would it not?

New xbox does have a removable hdd, it's just hidden by the grill. You pop off a portion of the bottom grill by pressing a button and then pull the hard drive tab to remove it. Additionally you can now use usb memory sticks for storage, but only up to 16GB.

To complicate things a bit, it seems most middle school students and online gamers use xbox. I'm not a fan of subscription based gaming, but if its going to matter to the kids more to be able to play with their friends or trade games, I think the first thing you should do is ask your children what your children's friends are using.

Tapatalk

Halo and Gears are sick ass series, and they're reason enough for me to prefer 360, but PS3 obviously has better overall functionality beyond gaming. Some of them can even be SACD players!

The motion sensor junk doesn't appeal to me at all, though, no matter the system.

Good article here on Kinect: Microsoft Kinect: The AnandTech Review - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

I really think that this will trump both the Wii and PS3's jump-like-an-idiot-in-front-of-the-TV aspect in the long term.

Having owned (and given away) Wii in the past, I'm in favor of not needing to actively flail around when I'm playing a video game. If I want to flail around, I'll go outside.

PS3 for multimedia dashboard. Xbox 360 for online. Wii for homebrew.

Decided to do other things. They really don't need any more ways to waste time that they should be using other things

Thanks for the suggestions though... maybe I'll use them for myself

I think I would prefer the PS3. It seems to have better exclusive games, such as uncharted, little big planet, etc.

Personally though, I wouldn't get either, seeing that their successors will probably be released sometime in the next year or so.