ps2 have wider choice of games, free online play, and more people have it (so kids could swap/borrow games from dey friends), d controller is better than xbox, graphics worst than xbox, gameplay is about the same, xbox only have a handful of class games that ps2 don't have like halo n thing.
xbox have better graphics, better processor - but they other factors are weaker than ps2 (see above).
with the next-gen systems i feel this gonna change, and xbox360 go be more favored over the ps3, as sony done turn off plenty people by delaying dey system by so long (12 months after xbox360 launched)... plus when it come out it goina cost more dan the xbox360 and wouldn't have much different performance i feel. Plus with microsoft backing, the xbox360 could always be upgraded by software patches to make the experience all dat better, as we all know microsoft programmers are boss when dey get it right.