There are some wars fought in the tech arena where the winner is virtually impossible to determine – Windows and Mac immediately spring to mind. In the gaming console ring, a similar fight has been ensuing ever since the Sony PlayStation 3 arrived on the scene to challenge the Microsoft Xbox 360. A lot of time has passed since then and new slimmer and sleek editions of the consoles have come to the fore but still the decision to choose one hasn’t become any easier. Today, we take a look at some of the console aspects in greater detail to see if we can acknowledge a winner.

Design Comparison:

It is fair to say that the earlier versions of both the consoles attracted a fair bit of criticism for their size and heavy built but that has been addressed to a great extent. The Xbox 360 has made a remarkable improvement; the size is significantly reduced with stylish edges, touch sensitive controls and a glossy finish. More importantly, it does not matter anymore whether you place it horizontally or vertically. As far as the PS3 is concerned, the size may have reduced but the looks are definitely less appealing. The shape is far too wide and flat, resembling a square, with the matte finish giving it a cheap look.

Which Gadget has the Better Features?

In terms of features, Sony’s Blu-ray technology acts as the difference maker. The PS3 is an almost perfect machine with the user removable HDDs and Bluetooth functionality. Xbox has tried to bridge the gap by incorporating wifi but the branded hard drive and the lack of a Blu-ray player simple cannot match the PS3 home media centre.

Comparison of Online Services:

The roles are reversed in this department as the Xbox stands out as the clear winner. There are many things to admire such as the user profiles and online match-ups. The Netflix app also enables you to watch your favorite movies in the whole package. The only downside is that you have to pay up 50$ per year for everything. Although PS3’s online gaming is free, the unreliable network and the absence of in-game chatting spoils the fun. The PlayStation Home gives the feel of a social networking site.

Games:

As of now, it is difficult to pick out one console for the quality of the games. Xbox may have lost out on Mass Effect 3 but Gears of War, Halo and Fable have it running strong. Xbox Live continues to attract users to the console. The PS3 has caught up with Xbox now with the first party exclusives such as God of War, Ratchet & Clank and many more. Improvement has also been made when it comes to third party games leaving the PlayStation Network Games as the only area to develop upon.

Graphics:

There isn’t any doubt that the PS3 has the locker room to boot the Xbox out of the ground but the cross-platform games till date have been unable to make use of the technology. The only way to figure out the difference is to play the Sony exclusive titles – Metal Gear Solid, GOW, Killzone, Unchartered and etc.

Value for Money:

Both consoles are of approximately the same price with the Xbox offering much greater disk space – 250GB to PS3’s 120GB. The issue concerning the Xbox is that with the HDDs being changeable, the Blu-Ray player (capable of supporting 3D movies) knocks PS3 into a comfortable lead. Going into the market to purchase a Blu-Ray player will cost you an additional 200$ – 400$.

Think What You Want to Play before Spending your Money!

A close analysis of the results shows that the PS3 is a slightly better option adding to the fact that after all, Xbox 360 is actually 2005 technology. The best option would be to own both but we all know it isn’t the most feasible one. Ideally, if you are to choose, have a look at the type of games you wish to play and for what features you want to use the machine for. It will make your decision considerable easier.