Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3: Which Is The Best?
For those who take their games serious, one of the biggest questions of all time is what to buy: a Sony PlayStation or an Xbox 360? Although both these models have now been released for years, the debate still continues with no clear winners. But in this article we will discuss a few of the advantages and disadvantages with both models.
Here are some of the factors to consider if you are looking to buy either one (or both) of these gaming consoles.
Cost: The price of such units has long been a crucial factor for many, and you will find that the choice is not quite straightforward. This is because both gaming systems come with choices in hard drives and the versions available. In general, however, the Xbox 360 models tend to be a bit cheaper than Sony PlayStation models. You can, however, save quite a bit of money by doing price comparison online, or even by purchased nearly new (but still used) gaming systems.
Graphics: Another key determining features will be the quality of the graphics for the games themselves. In all honesty, both gaming systems offer superb graphics, and although some may argue that Sony has a bit of an edge in the graphics department, this is certainly not a consensus. Also, some may argue that while Sony might have superior graphics by an edge, the Xbox has superior graphics computing power. All in all, neither gaming system really trumps the other in the graphics department, however.
Supporting Media: this includes add on accessories and the ability to integrate with various services and other hardware both online and offline. For example, the PS3 has long supported Blu-Ray technology and the ability to play DVDs and listen to your CDs. The Xbox 360 has not been quite so strong historically with supporting different forms of media, although it is starting to change things in this regards. Still, the ability for the PS3 to do a lot more than play games is part of the reason it has (in general) a higher price point than the Xbox.
Troubleshooting and Repairs: The Xbox 360 may be slightly more prone to problems, including the infamous Xbox 360 red ring of death. Fortunately, there are many Xbox 360 repair guide manuals available for fixing key problems at home, including the Xbox 360 ring of death fix. Similarly, there are PS3 repair guides available as well that makes home repairs easy and straightforward, including dealing with PS3 overheating problems. By learning to fix most common problems on your PlayStation or Xbox 360 yourself, you can often save yourself hundreds of dollars in repair bills!
Online Play: You will want to consider how good your console plays with others online. Online gaming has really taken off in recent years, and both of these gaming consoles are well suited for playing online with friends. PlayStation has recently dealt with some privacy breaches which shut their network down, although it looks like those issues have now been resolved. Also, some players report that the PlaySation 3 is a bit more buggy when it comes to online play, and in general experienced users say the Xbox 360 has a slight edge in this field.
Game Selections: Finally, you will want to make sure that the gaming system you choose has the games you really want to play! Both gaming consoles have a wide variety of games to select from, and each has some “exclusive” games only available to play on the particular console. But by and large, many gamers would argue that PlayStation 3 has more games available to play overall.
How about the Nintendo Wii? Of course, there are more players in the gaming console field than just the Xbox and PS3. Recently the Ninetendo Wii has really emerged as a strong contender for the “best gaming console” title. Sony and Microsoft are starting to integrate new features (such as the Xbox “Kinect”) to combat Nintendo’s rising market share, however. Similarly, the PlayStation 3′s “Move” technology may actually eventually prove to be a better choice than both.
Summary: As we move into 2012, the PlayStation 3 seems to have a bit of an edge of the Xbox 360 when it comes to many key features. Still, both gaming consoles are certain to provide hours of fun for anyone who wants either of them!