Great console, but the best experience costs extra.

The Xbox 360 is the first of the next gen consoles I purchased (though I currently have all three). The console is excellent, but it does have it's pros and cons just like the PS3 and the Wii.

Additional Cost Considerations:
Initially, the 360 is the middle of the road as far as price is concerned. The Wii is cheaper and the PS3 is more costly. However, this quickly changes when you take into consideration additional costs. While its competitors come standard with wireless controls, a wireless network adaptor, online play, and some form of on-board storage, these features are not standard with the 360. The core model comes with none of these features, though the wireless controllers and a 20GB HDD are included with the premium and elite models. If you play online, you will also want to invest in a headset and possibly a keyboard. You cannot use just any headset or keyboard, however, and will need to invest in one specifically created for the system. Luckily, the video camera for the 360 is compatible with Windows enabled PCs though, so there is some cross-platform options with it.

Online Play:
If you choose to upgrade to a wireless network adaptor, this will add an additional $80 to the cost you will have to pay. Additionally, if you would like to play games online, you have to pay a subscription fee of roughly $50 per year. Luckily, the online service offered through Xbox Live is the most robust of the three consoles. In fact, the Wii's system requires the use of complicated friends codes and even then few games even support online play at all. Those that do offer online play on the Wii, most do not offer voice or text chat, and none allow for video chat. The PS3, is similar to the Live experience though the service is free. Unfortunately, many of it's features haven't been fully realized, but the v 2.4 update for the system will bring some features closer to the 360. Even so, the Xbox Live service has had a substantial headstart and is now over 5 years old, so it's likely to take a while for the PS3 to catch up.

Software Library:
The 360 offers a larger library than it's competition, largely due to its year headstart. Unlike the Wii, very few third-party titles are dramatically lacking in quality. That being said, the system is geared more towards mature gaming than the Wii, and has a stronger emphasis on shooters and sports titles than the PS3. The PS3 tends to lean more towards action/adventure and RPG titles. The one area that the 360's library is lacking is in its backwards compatible titles. Unfortunately, the majority of original Xbox titles are not compatible with the system. Each game must be added to the list throug a software update. The Wii is fully compatible with all Gamecube titles. The PS3, which took a more complicated approach to the issue of backwards compatibility, offers excellent compatibility with PS1 and PS2 titles in all its models except the 40GB model.

Online Store:
The online store built into the system is much more user friendly, faster, and full of a larger number of options than either of its competitors. It currently offers downloadable games, game add-ons, movies rentals, tv shows, gamerpics, background images for the dashboard, and even themes. For the most part, these downloads will all cost money, though they do have some that are offered free or free after some period of time. The biggest drawback to this system is that downloaded content is tied to your console. As such, if you replace your system for any reason (this does not include if it was replaced by Microsoft while under warranty), your content will not work on your new system. In the past, the account it was tied to could still access it, but only while logged in online. This has since been resolved. There is now a transfer process that can be completed to transfer your downloads to a new system. The problem is, this process is very limited. The PS3, on the other hand, allows content to be downloaded on up to 5 different PS3 or PSP systems. The Wii's DRM rights have not been clearly explained as far as transferring to a new system is concerned.

Cross-Hardware Feature:
Each of the current consoles offer some for of linking features with other hardware. The Wii links with every Gamecube accessories and the Nintendo DS. The PS3 can be linked to a computer and the PSP for interesting additionally features. The PS3 can also be linked to any bluetooth enabled device. The 360 can be linked to a Media Center or Vista enabled PC. Additionally, it can also be linked to the Zune player. These are currently the only systems it will link to, though future options are possible.

Hardware Reliability:
There is one other area that must be pointed out when considering the system. There has been a widely published issue with hardware failures. These have been come to know as the Red Ring of Death. Unfortunately, when this happens, your system will need to be repaired or replaced which will leave you without a console for as much as several weeks. If you have a paid Live subscription, you will be unable to use the service while your system is out of commission. This problem has been considerably more common than hardware failures for either the PS3 or the Wii. As a result, the manufacture warranty has been extended twice and is now 3 years. As such, most extra warranties purchased from stores will not cover the system for a longer period, but may offer a faster repair or replacement.