Despite being a big Xbox fanboy, I gotta give props to Sony and its PS3 at the moment.
The reason is this.
I bought my 'box back in March of 2004. While knowing it had far few titles available, it was the much-improved graphics versus what the PS2 could push which sold me on Bill's machine.
Now, however, it appears Sony has leveled the playing field with the PS3 versus the Xbox 360 in terms of graphics, if now exceeded it based on screenshots.
Despite how Microsoft has tried to leverage more game designers commiting to its new baby, you just know that the PS3 is going to have at least double the # of games out for it after both have been to market for more than a year.
Therefore, I'm holding off till the PS3 debuts.
Plus, the fact that Microsoft is not implementing 100% backwards compatability really pisses my off for some reason, since Sony has been able to do it. I understand Xbox and the 360 use a different graphics card, but the architecture isn't that drastically different (I use to be a big PC gamer, so I know the ins-and-outs of both Nvidia and ATI graphics cards) that they couldn't have done it. Just plain lazy, my guess, but from other people I know its a decision that could cost Microsoft in the long run by putting off former 'box owners.
Plus, Microsoft's E3 presentation and displays were so lackluster. Sony, on the other hand, really went all out. Let's just hope the PS3 truly delivers the kind of graphical power shown in those E3 tech demos of forthcoming next-gen games. We all know they like to blow hot air and often times don't deliver the goods.
I still love my Xbox, however, and always will. But Sony will likely win my hard earned $$$ this time around.