This may not be what you were going for Megaman79, but wouldn't it make MORE sales sense to sell them a 360 today, a charger and Live tomorrow, Wifi the next...  IF it was simply sales you were looking after that is.  I agree though, not everybody needs these things, regardless of how much you may think they do.  Hell, 23 billion or whatever PS2 owners did just fine without the HD add-on or wi-fi.

Also funny how personal opinions like "PS3 is guaranteed for the next 7-8 years" makes it into a sales pitch as FACT.  Because the 360's first three years of quality entertainment will STOP NOW...No future fun to be had here, move along, thank you.  HAHA.

On topic, sadly, all my console buying friends have their consoles of choice, so it's unlikely I'll influence anyone else.  I did influence two to get 360's though and one to get a PS3.  The reward for 360 was having friends to play on-line with and the reward for the PS3 was setting a bro up with the best Blu-Ray player available.  He isn't much of a gamer but A) the PS3 is the best blu-ray player and B) if he decided to play games on it, he could!

'Do you influence others to purchase Xbox 360's?'
Of course I don't, that would be fanboyish.
I present them with pros and cons of the three current gen consoles and let them make up their own mind. I stick on a recommendation for the PS3 because it is the only one of those I have personal experience with.
Even so, I have never actually been asked for advice with what to buy IRL, only on the internet. A friend of mine bought a PS3 and a HDTV after seeing my setup at home.
Another friend of mine had already decided on a PS3, when he asked me for advice about controllers, harddrive etc.

During the format war I would go to walmart and pick up a few HD-DVD movies, and just put them at various locations around the store, in the refrigerated food section behind some food, in the automotive section, in a demo microwave, etc.

With the 360 I've mentioned the RROD a few times, acting like a consumer advocate kind of person, "Whoah those 360s will overheat on you and its $300 down the drain, you might want to check out a PS3"

Yes, because influencing people is retarded, oh wait you started a thread on this so you must be the biggest tard on the block

Since whole books have been written on how people influence those around them in their own purchases its actually not retarded. Since this site deals with sales/marketing its actually relevant.

Putting HD-DVDs in Microwaves to help some other format win "the war" and spreading false information to people is a form of retardation. I would call it socially retarded.

Since whole books have been written on how people influence those around them in their own purchases its actually not retarded. Since this site deals with sales/marketing its actually relevant.

Putting HD-DVDs in Microwaves to help some other format win "the war" and spreading false information to people is a form of retardation. I would call it socially retarded.