The PlayStation 3 may not be flying off store shelves right now, but you'd be foolish to dismiss Sony this early in the console generation. The PS3 has all the processor, graphics, and communications power necessary to win this generation. Unfortunately, Sony wasn't able to pull together the right game portfolio in time to justify the console's high price tag. The fact that Sony stumbled at launch, failing to consistently sell out at retail even after cutting supply, shows how competitive this console generation will be. If the Xbox 360 and Gears of War didn't exist, the PlayStation 3 would be sold out everywhere; thus, we would all be happily playing Resistance: Fall of Man and marveling over the sweat in Fight Night Round 3

The major game developers believe that the PlayStation 3 will have a sizable install base and allocated resources to ensure a steady supply of games. Larry Probst, the outgoing Electronic Arts CEO, stated in a recent Web conference that he believes the PS3 will eventually win this console generation in a very close race. Sony may have lost a few exclusives because of the PS3's slow start, but those games will still appear on the PS3, even if they're also going to be on the Xbox 360.

Selling more than 100 million PlayStation 2 units will give you a strong brand and, if treated kindly, a loyal customer base. However, Sony has squandered much of its customer goodwill over the past year with a string of disappointments: product delays, price raises, feature cuts, and lackluster games. Many of us, despite all the letdowns, are still prepared to buy a PlayStation 3 because we know that Sony is very close to transforming the console from a maybe into a must-have.