Microsoft Xbox 360

The Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console is a reviewer favorite, primarily because of its excellent graphics quality. If you're into online gaming and want to preserve backwards compatibility with older Xbox games, you'll want to spring for either the base version (*est. $300), which comes with a removable 60 GB hard drive, or the 120 GB Elite (*est. $400). Reviewers say both are better options then the Xbox Arcade (*est. $200), which has just 256 MB of storage and no hard drive at all. Older models of the Xbox 360 were plagued by general system failures -- the dreaded Red Ring of Death (RRoD), but design changes may have made those more of a bad memory. Either way, a retroactive three-year warranty against the RRoD (other problems are still only covered for one year) can add some peace of mind. If not, the Sony PlayStation 3 (starting at *est. $400 to $500) also offers excellent graphics, has a built-in Blu-ray disc player and hasn't been troubled by the same technical problems. However, game availability -- while better -- still lags, as does online gaming. If you're not a power user, the Nintendo Wii (*est. $250) with its motion-sensing remote draws rave reviews as a high-energy, family-friendly system that gets players up and moving.

Dozens of reviewers covered the Xbox 360 when it debuted, and several have covered subsequent refreshes. However, we found user ratings to be invaluable because these report on the kinds of reliability issues -- which are particularly critical when it comes to the Xbox 360 -- that professionals often miss. Among professional reviews, CNet stands out for its timeliness, though some older reviews are worthwhile as well.