After doing a lot of online reading about the two systems, tonight I went to GameStop to grill the employees. Sadly, neither of them owned a PS3. But they confirmed a lot of things I was thinking about my upcoming purchase.

The online is much better on the 360. But most of the online play is best utilized for First Person Shooters, which I have never really gotten into. Additionally, my wife doesn't want me up all hours, playing games online, not getting any sleep, not paying attention to her, etc. Of course, she makes a very good point.

Right now, the 360 has a greater number of games. But regardless of system, I won't have all that many games. I'm not that big into having a huge collection of games, because I find a few I really like, and just keep playing those, like NCAA Football, where I can utilize Dynasty Mode and keep playing one game for season after season.

According to the GameStop guys, the graphics are slightly better on the PS3, which does matter to me.

So, after talking to them for an hour, I called my brother-in-law, who owns a 360, to get his input, and to see if he knew anything about the PS3. He didn't know a lot about the PS3, but said that he doesn't spend a lot of time playing online, for the same reasons my wife listed. Then he said something that reaffirmed something I'd been thinking -- that now that the Blu-Ray/HDDVD format war is over, getting a Blu-Ray player was a great bonus from getting a PS3, and that if he were buying a new system now, that would probably sway his decision away from the 360.

So, since the games I'd be interested in are available on either system, and because the PS3 has better graphics and a Blu-Ray player, I've decided on the PS3. I'll probably get it Friday, since I have to do yardwork after work tomorrow, and the NBC comedies and LOST are on tomorrow night, so I wouldn't have a chance to enjoy it until Friday, anyway.