No problem, though if the OP was to post some additional info it would help one way or the other. Since I didn't have that information its easier to suggest the Xbox 360 as I didn't have to make as many assumptions.

One other piece of info about the 360 is that you can plug it into a computer monitor and share the connection as most monitors nowadays come with both a DVI and VGA connection, which is how I have my 2nd Xbox 360 attached.

You should get the 360 is you prefer the ultimate gaming experience, especially its online focused experience. It's also more affordable at first. The game library is currently larger than the competition. 95% equal or better third party versions.

You should get a PS3 if you have more money to spend and want blu-ray. PS3's current and future library is basically a carbon copy of what 360 has, except little big planet, which is only available for PS3.

Two things you have to remember: 1) don't listen to Sony fanboys about reliable hardware and stuffs, RROD is SO last gen. We are entering the 3rd 360 revision. Even the falcon was relatively acceptable. 2) Don't ever focus on any companies' potential and promises. It's all marketing to make people buy their products. Focus on what's available and what you want.

get the 360 if you like crapy hardware
get the ps3 if you like burning holes into your pockets

Buy the PS360 and get it over with.

Both have great games. Search through this site and see which ones you like best. Asking another person to make that kind of decision for you is kind of... Well, it'd be like your name is George and you're President of a country. Instead of thinking for yourself, you are constantly asking some guy named Dick what you should do next.

Don't listen to Dick.

PS3 it has much more diverse game library than only shooters and shooter like RPGs.

It won't be spending half it's life in Microsoft service being repaired if you get unlucky :)
It won't scratch your cds when a mosquito lands on your console :D
You won't have to pay to play your online games.

And it will play amazing quality movies with lossless audio if you want.

Price premium is only 100$ compared to pro model (unless you go with arcade which can't hold any serious amount of downloadable games, won't have space for downloading demos, hell it might even have problems with keeping patches for everything you play at the moment).

Oh so listening to incoming features and promises is wrong but telling people new units where 3rd revision is being sold for grand total of 3 months is perfectly reliable is ok ? :)

Or do you have some hidden time machine to tell us that 3 years from now in the future Jasper x360 truly never breaks :D

Or you could just assume that since the last revision of 360s didn't break (and to an extent, the revision before that), that a new one won't break either.

Or maybe you're a Sony fan, the most unreliable console manufacturer to date. History is a bitch.

Buy a PS3; it is the best deal:

*FREE ONLINE and FREE DEMOS: You dont require to pay in order to access the store or to play online.
*BLURAY:To watch HD movies
*The HDD is bigger: More stuff to store
*You can download saves from the internet to help you progress in the game you want: You cant do it on the 360
*MGS4: Best game of the year in a LOT of places
*KILLZONE2: Most likely will be the best FPS yet
*GOD OF WAR 3: Sequel to the best action game of the last gen
*A LOT of PS3 exclusives
*Multiplatform titles.

@ rocketpig: you might want to tackle reptile's post too, since the only game the 360 doesn't have that the ps3 does have, is LBP according to him.

In any case, it's basically what squilliam said: A 360 is probably the best place to start, unless you want the specific features of a ps3 and if you are really interested in the PS3's exclusives. That's what actually tied me over to the ps3 (in my case).

As has been said several times:

-Look at the games. This is more important than anything else.
-Do you want Blu-ray?
-Can you afford to spend $400 on a console?
-Do you want free online or slightly better online for $50 a year?

Now, if the PS3 wins the first category and loses every other category (except maybe the third, but if that was the case you wouldn't be asking), you should go PS3, and vice versa.

If, however, you like both exclusive libraries equally, look at the second and fourth options and make your decision.

That was the unbiased part.

Now, the biased part: Get a PS3.