The older models do break a lot, though as many have pointed out, MS has a pretty convenient warranty (ironically thanks entirely to the RROD or it would probably be as crappy as the warranty on the other two). I hear the warranty on all systems are better in the EU.

Quite right , and I were mainly supporting the "However, all of that is useless in the end. In the end it's your own personal decision" statement part....

I don't know what the "RROD" is but with respect to the European countries then though you are most likely right then warrenties and such will probably still differ from country to country.
Even in Denmark then even though we may have 2 years of some kind of "warranty" on stuff then in reality it may both depend of the point of purchase and what kind of product we are talking about. A lot of things are sold with 2 years warrenty , but some places or some things (?) the "warranty" is only 6 month and there is 18 months of "reklamations ret" which is a kind of warrenty but not as good as if you have two years of "warrenty".
Some products maybe sold with a longer "limited" warrenty (length depending on producer and type of product).....

So your definition of atrocity is choosing the wrong console?

There are thousands of historical tyrants who would like to discuss somethings with you :P

I comprehended the headline as if the OP meant that buying any console at all would be an "atrocity" (after all this is the GOG computer game sellers forum )
My comprehension were also "generated"/"supported" because the first sentence in the "lead post" were :
"That's right. I'm going to buy a console for my little brother for his birthday."

;-)

PS3 is a good companion to PC gaming due to the many exclusives. Xbox 360 is probably better as someone's sole gaming machine.

Red Ring of Death, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_problems

just buy a PS3. the selection of exclusives is astonishing, both in quality and in quantity. many of this generations best games are PS3 exclusive. also, it has completely free multiplayer, the digital store doesn't require you to pay in monopoly money, and you can upgrade the HDD with any compatible model you like.

Now come on don't spread FUD. For every game with a 90%+ rating on metacritic thats PS3 exclusive theres an Xbox exclusive to wave it hello. And don't forget people can always point out that PSN was down for what 6 weeks? During which 3 big multiplayer titles launched and you couldn't play them online... Then you can point out WHY it was down and ask how they could be breaking so many data protection laws and not get sued...

Thank you !

P.S.
I found this most "telling" :

"In June 2010 Microsoft released a new "slimmer" Xbox 360. These models indicate hardware failure differently from the original; The outer ring segments cannot turn red anymore. Microsoft has said that henceforth errors will be displayed by the center of the power button changing from green to red.[32] Additionally Microsoft will no longer give a 3 year warranty for "general failure" errors, because the Xbox 360 slim "constitutes a whole new design". Microsoft now only offers the obligatory one year warranty."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_problems

5 years in the EU as per the EU warrenty laws ;)

I would somehow guess wodmarach owns a xbox360? Just a wild guess..

My opinion, is get the PS3. It's the best there is, really. Or Wii. Wii is good too, much better than xbox.

I agree... but i really can't get into a console that's almost 100% motion controlled..

that's what is bumming me out Wii-wise

As long as you don't get a Wii, it'll be okay. I haven't turned mine on for years, what a waste of money that thing was.

I've already stated I own all 3 :P
Wii is in the spare room set up with wii fit the only thing it's used for
PS3 is connected up in the main room but used mostly for B-rays and the occasional exclusive (I mostly use it for linux though so nothing beyond 3.55 for me atm)
Xbox is my main console for gaming I prefer the controller and it has the better running multiplatform games which are most games nowadays