[Question] PS3 or XBOX 360 or Elite on the BBC Micro

Controller: 360 takes the cake. Do they even sell the Dualshock3 with the consoles in the US now? I know they don't do that in Europe (yet). The pad layout of the 360 pad is better than the old Dualshock one. The anlouge sticks themselves are better and more responsive. The triggers are better. Overall, the 360 pad feels more solid, heavier, just... nicer to touch and to hold.

Games: 360 takes the cake. At least for now. It has the advantage of being out a year longer. Thus there are more games for it. Plus, most multiplats are better working on 360. At least for now.
The PS3 though has SCE and their teams, which are very good companies all of them (Naughty Dog, Team ICO, etc.). They just haven't gotten around making that killer app yet, sadly.

Console itself: PS3 takes the cake. It's much quieter. It produces a lot less heat (in summer that's kinda important...). And due to the RROD issue, which is mostly a psychological thing - with me at least - you won't have to fear the console kicking the bucket every time you have a longer play session. Plus, it doesn't have an external PSU, and can be plugged in with a standardized cable.

I guess it really depends. The 360 already has a very solid library. The PS3 is just spinning up in that department, and will probably have a good library with the coming christmas season. They're both pretty good machines (one with a faulty hardware architecture, but as long as it doesn't break down it's a good machine).
Nonetheless, Skills has a point. You also could just set up an account on PSN / LIVE! and download some demos to see if you like the consoles line up.

Jam it back in, in the dark.