PS3 is a more reliable machine overall given the horrendous failure rates on Xbox's, but I'd be willing to recommend an Xbox if you won't use a PS3 as a second computer or at least an internet link to a hi-def tv and you don't care about the price of Xbox Live. If you are more partial to the multiplatform games then you might as well just flip a coin really.
yeah, i heard about the 'red ring of death' and such... and im not really an internet type of person (well for consoles i mean)
Not just the red ring, there are numerous other failures. I have a friend who burned his hand on his while it was running, it didn't die but that seems sketchy if not hazardous. But like I said if you aren't going to exploit the numerous features the PS3 has you might as well not even consider them and go for the Xbox which at this point I think still has a slightly lower pricepoint.
