My original Playstation was chosen for me as a Christmas present. I had no say in the matter at all and what I found a little odd was that I don't recall even hinting to my parents that I wanted one...
The PS2 was an easy choice simply because it was in effect a continuation on from the old console. It also played all my existing games. A genuine no-brainer.
The PS3 was interesting. By the time that was launched, I'd lost touch with about three quarters of my old school friends, including my best friend who also had both previous consoles and we’d always be playing them together most weekends.
I naturally chose the PS3 because of having both the old consoles, although I really did wince at the price. I also wasn’t happy with the fact that it only come with one controller (yet both the older machines come with two as standard...) and it wasn't backward compatible. Other than that, a very slick, smooth console. When I did finally get back in touch with my gaming friend about three years down the line - he'd moved to the xBox

. I was genuinely upset about that, especially after all those years.
As things stand I still have my PS2 (although now it's long since been redundant up in the attic) and I'm still using my PS3. My former gaming friend now has an xBox One even though he's openly admitted the PS4 is the better all-rounder. Apparently, all his newer friends have Microsoft’s machine but it just doesn't appeal to me. He's also heavily into all this 'online' gaming business which has gone right over my head entirely. I’m still very much of the mindset of inviting a friend round with a spare controller and find a two-player/multiplayer game. I'd love to tie-up with him again one day but I doubt whether it'll ever happen, now.
So, what's next for me? It really is a waiting game at the moment. I hold my hands up, I did briefly consider an xBox One before coming back to my senses. I will be getting a PS4 but for what I want it for, simply slotting in a disc and playing a game, I can't justify paying full list/launch price for one. I do want to get it online (hopefully with your help - I don't have a
clue how to go about it) to see what all the fuss is about. However, I don't have 'unlimited' broadband access - so I'll probably have to upgrade to such a package before I take the plunge, otherwise I'll face monthly over-usage charges. I don't think I can wait long enough for a proper price drop, but can probably afford to wait for the hype to die down and for some better value bundles to come along. I also have a £50 Amazon gift voucher from Christmas to use, so maybe with a few more of these come my birthday in April, I can probably purchase a PS4 from them at a reasonable price!
You could class me as a Sony/Playstation fanboy and to an extent I probably am. I just don't see the appeal or the sense in changing from one company's console to another. In many aspects of my life, I generally get to know a brand and stick with it.