But, the technology inside is cutting-edge, from graphics that Sony promises are revolutionary (seems like we hear that every time) to the Blu-Ray optical drive that allows a whopping 40+ Gigabytes of storage on a single DVD-like disc. So heck, the PS3 is a computer -- and an extremely high-powered -- but singularly-focused -- one at that. Guess that $500 tab does buy you quite a wallop of tech value.

Here's the retail irony -- Nintendo, which invented the universally-popular and advanced gaming console industry pretty much in the late 80s, is bringing its $250 Nintendo Wii gaming console to store shelves this Sunday after stores open.

Yes, it's half the price of the Sony Playstation 3 and the design looks as svelte as any 2006-era gaming console as well. Nintendo has a huge capability to have gaming titles produced for its console, as does Sony who will have game publishers lined up around the block if the PS3 is a hit. While Sony has guaranteed 400,000 units for the launch of the PS3 that started today, that's $200 million in retail sales if they sell all those units -- and that's just for the $500 unit.

Will many customers opt to purchase the much-cheaper Nintendo Wii for $250 this Sunday? The "Playstation" brand has a ton of power, and it carries much more weight that even the "Nintendo" entire brand does at this point. Although Sony's console is an entire year behind Microsoft's Xbox 360 launch that happened this time last year, the console -- even at $500 and $600 price points -- will have credit card issuers jumping for glee as customers charge 20% interest away just to get their hands on the new PS3 console.

Is Nintendo's effort doomed before it even launches? I doubt that -- because there are bound to be loads of customers who would love a new, state-of-the-art gaming console, who consider $500 and $600 to be just too rich for their blood. In that case, the Nintendo Wii may just be the answer -- or perhaps the lower-prices Xbox 360 as well.

Who will win the battle of the 2006 holiday season retail gaming console sales war? I'm not sure that is even an apples-to-apples comparison since the pricing is so different and the consoles launch on different days (although just a few days apart). You make that call, and so will millions of consumers this weekend. Be sure and drive the sub-compact, since finding a parking spot in front of that fave retailer may be a bit difficult.