...just be happy with the generous gift you got.
I think what separates this thread from the other "360 vs. PS3" posts is that it's not really a question of 360 vs. PS3. It's a question of returning a PS3 _gift_ to get a 360.
... the only thing the xbox has that the ps3 doesn't is the gamerscore.
I'd just like to throw out there that I know my parents, when it comes to video games, buy me a game and then tell me to go out and get what I want. They are well aware that they don't know what video games I want, and more or less assume that I'll be exchanging it. I don't know where you're all getting that his mom is going to be offended or will feel better if he keeps the system. First off, you don't know his mother. Let him worry about that. Maybe she would prefer him to get the system that he actually wants.
As far as gaming goes, I honestly can't see how anyone can recommend a PS3 for you. You don't care about Blu-Ray (although I will say, an HD TV does make both systems look awesome), you want the best online service (Xbox Live is far better than PSN, if you don't mind paying $50 a year), and Xbox has the far better game lineup at the moment. I will say though, if you're planning on utilizing wireless, the PS3 has that built in while it costs $100 with the 360, so be prepared for that expense.
Who are you to say the 360 has a better lineup? Sure that would have been a mostly accurate statement some months ago but right now they mostly have the same games and some have some great exclusives, it really comes down to taste as far as games goes, the 360 has exclusives like Mass Effect, Halo 3 and Bioshock (and Bioshock can be played on any non-GMA950 Intel Mac just fine) but the PS3 has games like Ratchet, Uncharted, Unreal Tournament III and other games like Call of Duty 4 (which is definitely one of the best games of the year) are multi-platform anyways.
However the best online experience can be found on the 360, LIVE is a pretty darn good system and $50 a year is EXTREMELY low, if you have the luxury of buying a console and games, not being able to afford $4.16 a month would be ridiculous.
Well, most evidence would say that the Xbox has better games. Take metacritics' rankings of 89 for Uncharted, 87 for Unreal, and 89 for Ratchet, and compare it to 91 for Mass Effect, 94 for Halo 3, and 96 for Bioshock, that would allude to the fact that the Xbox's exclusives are better than PS3.
Ah right so it's not $100. Anything else you'd like to correct in your "advice" post?
So I got a PS3 for Christmas but I really would rather have a 360, as of right now is a 360 still a better system or should I stick with the PS3. I really want xbox live, don't have an HDTV and don't expect to get one anytime soon so the DVD aspect is useless to me. Based on game play and the number of games out what am I better off doing, keeping the PS3 or returning it for the 360.
The price difference between the 40Gig PS3 and the XBox 360 Premium is only $50. Unless you are going to return the PS3 games too and get a few budget XB360 games.
Because I can save my mother a few hundred bucks.
What is still considered the better system or are they both even now, game wise.
Just as I said before - companies like Microsoft are EXTREMELY well aware that people pay close attention to Metacritic, and game review sites as well, and can lean on these sites (monetarily) to make sure that a game gets a perfect 10/100, instead of, say, a 9.2/92 (etc), as would be indicated by actually reading the review thoroughly.
So yeah - numbers don't mean squat. Or okay - numbers are good for a ballpark, but at a certain point, you have to have a mind of your own.