I had a standalone (Panasonic bd30) player, and it required frequent firmware updates just to play blu-rays. The same thing was happening on the ps3 and every standalone player. Your problem was not specific to the ps3. You don't have to update as often on your new player, because nobody has to on any player. It's settled down. I own a ps3 now and have had no trouble playing back any blu-rays, and updates are not that frequent, and are not a headache. I own both a ps3 and a 360, same as you. What I like about the ps3 is that since most gamers own a 360 or a wii and not a ps3, I can walk in and rent ps3 games on opening week, even on opening day (have done so three times now). I can never, ever do that with 360 games! I also like that the ps3 fan noise is quiet (unlike the 360). As a cheapskate, I rent far more often than I buy, and I find it much easier to rent on the ps3 due it's unpopularity and price point. That's a funny way for me to praise it, kind of like a back handed compliment, but there you have it!

Most of the ps3 games are bad ports of 360 games with performance issues (just to give an example Orange Box is probably the worst offender). On top of that the 360 has better hardware that outperforms the ps3 in terms of framerate and loading times. Graphically the two consoles look the same since nearly all games are developed for 720p. It will still probably be another year before the ps3 has a long line of interesting games that are not just crappy ports from the 360.

If you actually care about gaming, then simply choose the console based on content. The real reason that the xbox looks like garbage on this thread is because the thread is on slashdot. The anti-MS fud knows no bounds here. I do get tired of it, very tired of it. Face reality: this is not the year of the linux desktop, and this is not the year of the ps3. Maybe next year, we'll see.

And that doesn't make me an MS fanboy either. I want to enjoy the ps3, I am waiting patiently for good games to be released on it to justify buying it. For those that feel it's a must have for a media center (not unlike the reason people buy those overpriced iphones) I have a "media center" too-- it's called a computer. I mean how many people at the local walmart say "awesome I bet it plays Blu-Ray!" or even better "fantastic, I always wanted a media center!" No, the reason to buy a ps3 is to play games on it. The rest are supposed to be perks, and not the main reason to buy the console.