The Xbox 360 cost cuts have brought the basic console down to the same impulse purchase-friendly price as the Wii, but the presence of more expensive version may act against Microsoft as buyers fear that buying a cheaper version means they're somehow losing out.

Nintendo's Wii: ready to play straight away

That's not an issue with the Wii, which, with Wii Sports bundled, makes it easy to buy, take home and play straight away.

Sony's PS3: winner in HD media centre market?

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So what other features do the three consoles offer that are likely to affect consumers' buying habits in the Christmas run-up? Well, the PS3 has a Blu-ray Disc drive built-in, which, if recent reports are anything to go by, could be a safe option and an alternative to buying an external player and the decision over which HD format to root for. The Xbox 360 has an HD DVD drive, but it's an optional extra.

On the other hand, the Wii could help you starve off those Christmas pounds through Wii Sports and keep you mentally stimulated with brain-training games.

It's an agonising decision that many will have to make in the run-up to Christmas, but Register Hardware would love to hear from you on why you opted for which console. Was it gaming performance? Was it available titles? Or was it retail cost?

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