Getting hold of the latest consoles

You might walk past them without taking any notice 99 times out of 100 - but if you want the Game-Cube and xbox, newly launched in the US but not released here until next year, you need to know your specialist games shops.

The counters are heaving with geeks in anticipation of the new superconsoles, available on import if you know what you're doing - and the specialists (and their hardcore gamer audience) will have them before Christmas, and months before the high street stores.

So which should you buy? "Nintendo is not publishing for anyone else, so if you love Nintendo games you must go for the GameCube," says Jonathan Cronin, of The Computer Exchange, which sells both consoles. For raw power, "xbox is technically the most powerful console you can buy, and it comes with a hard drive and broadband internet connection built in". It also has more games available now than the GameCube, with a wider variety than the kid-friendly console too. But that will change over time.

The downside? Expect to pay a high price for your console. GameCubes retail for $200 in the US, but when the first machines landed here they were changing hands for £600. Although they've fallen to less than £300 in most specialist shops already, that's still a hefty mark-up. Expect to see a similar trend with the $299 xbox. "They'll be £600 initially," says Cronin. Shop around to get the best deal. While The Computer Exchange holds a prime retail site off Oxford Street, there are plenty of specialist stores in the suburbs. If you're prepared to schlep round the M25 you can pick up some bargains. If you feel supremely confident, you can buy one even cheaper at auctions over the internet, on sites such as ebay.

That's if you can get your hands on one. Many shops have waiting lists because demand for the consoles is still so high in their launch countries that they can only get a few at a time. "There's no such thing as a good launch if the console doesn't sell out," says Cronin. "And once the first rush dies down, it'll almost be Christmas." If you don't want tears on the 25th, get your order in now - at The Computer Exchange they've already had hundreds of enquiries and pre-orders for both machines. But don't worry about availability - while selling out of consoles may help the manufacturer's hype, selling out the games never does. You'll be able to get them from specialist stores and online sites in the US (around £60 per game in the UK, around $50 plus shipping, import duties etc from US internet sites).

When you finally get your hands on an import console, you'll need to buy a "step-down" transformer to convert our mains voltage. You'll also need a TV that can display a 60Hz NTSC signal with the appropriate inputs. Most US consoles ship with a "com-posite" output of red, yellow and white cables. Games stores will often sell alternatives if you don't have sockets to match.

And because you're buying a machine that doesn't come from the UK, the manufacturer's warranty will be useless. Most reputable shops will give you 12 months' cover for breakdowns. Keep that receipt and you've got a dream ticket for your kids, or yourself, to be the coolest in class this Christmas.

The Microsoft Xperience is the first opportunity for UK gamers to play xbox, four months before it launches in the UK. There are three zones - Video (demonstrating the power of xbox), Play More (consoles with a variety of games) and X (a chill-out area with a chance to pre-order). It's open on weekends until Sunday 16 December, 10am-7pm, at Nutopia, 42 Shelston Street, WC2. You can pre-register to avoid queuing at msn.co.uk/xbox .