360 VS PS3 Slim?
360 - Build quality? First of all it was more of a design flaw than build quality.
Buy a new machine and it's a non-issue.
PS3 - BluRay. Yep... but BluRay players are already going for $100 for the holiday season so it's $ and personal preference issue.
Don't need Blu... XBOX is cheaper. Want it, PS3 is cheaper. Separate units let you watch a movie in one room and play a game in another. Don't need that? One unit vs two.
Games. Does the game you want exist on a specific machine? Are you a fan of a specific game series?
Each has cool exclusives and there are many games in common. Personal preference.
Upgrades, upgrading the 360 HD is easier but more expensive... or harder and the same price.
You can get a docking station for the 360 HD to muck with games and back up your stuff.
XBOX Live, a lot of content requires a GOLD account but there is more content. Expect to be nickled and dimed to death.
But there is also some free content you won't find elsewhere.
1 vs 100 is kinda cool but it's AWOL at the moment. If they get a lot of game content like it then a GOLD account is worth it. (I want You Don't Know Jack!)
Twitter, Facebook, etc... interfaces in beta for the 360. PS3... you might see a "me too" but I think SONY was caught off guard so it would be late this year at best if they add it.
Netflix, I love it but don't count on a given deadline for the PS3 version. They might meet the deadline or miss it. Sooner or later it will be on the PS3 if you can wait. I'm sure SONY and Netflix want it out ASAP. Netflix profits skyrocketed since the 360 release. Netflix might even make it to the Wii if the Wii is fast enough, some CPU horsepower is required. If they have trouble they will probably just do reduced quality and you won't be able to tell because the Wii ain't HD anyway... but I digress.
XBOX Live also adds individual movie rentals which download to the hard drive so you can have better quality if you have a decent HDTV. Rentals aren't cost competitive with RedBox but you don't have to go out. Definitely better quality video and sound than Netflix streaming.
From the look of the latest generation of games I really don't see an issue in quality between the systems. This is dependent on the studio and game engine. There have been titles with superior frame rates on both machines. You will see quality and complexity increase throughout the life of both machines.
A lot of discussion has been made about processing power so if you want to hear about that, search away. I've already commented on that.
360 - proprietary memory cards, WiFi adapter extra. PS3 Slim, no IR receiver so you can't use normal universal remotes.
Software updates... I'm trying to figure out how SONY wins that one. Microsoft added the avatar stuff and a total revamp to the interface, they were (are) first with Netflix, going to be first with social networking software, I've seen many updates to games...
Lets face it, for feature creep... Microsoft is king. For bug fixes... I think you'll find both timely.
Controllers. 360 fits my hand better, PS3 will feel more at home if you are used to PS2 controllers. But then we all know regular controllers will soon disappear. After all, Microsoft promises that new super duper control system that may never see the light of day and if it does will probably feel like a gimmick.
The 360 has changeable faceplates. We all know that's why you buy a game system.
There is an adapter to attach the wireless 360 controllers to a PC.
You can hack the 360 to run stuff you are not supposed to. You can hack the PS3 to run stuff you are not supposed to. Deja Vu... unless this has changed. Expect to be banned from online content if you do that.
Either are better than what you currently have and you will love them but they will be made obsolete by the next gen systems.
I think the 360 will always have an advantage in number of titles since it's easier to develop for and the strong sales of titles will attract more developers.
PS3 - browser. But PC browsers will always be better.
What do your friends or relatives have? You might want to play head to head. Most of mine are 360 owners so it's a no brainer for me.
Except for a couple Wii owners but we won't talk about them.