According to online tracking service NotifyWire.com, which tracks online retailers and sends "in stock" alerts to members via email and cell phone text messages, Sony's PlayStation 3 is actually in stock fairly often and currently is not experiencing the same fervor that Microsoft's Xbox 360 did during its launch window.

NotifyWire founder Ian Drake said that he was surprised by the online availability of Sony's next-gen console. "I wasn't expecting this much volume before Christmas," he commented. "I think we're already at the point where many people won't pay a premium for the console or be forced into buying bundles."

In comparison to the Xbox 360 last year, the PS3 has been in stock more often and in more locations for longer periods of time. "Last year, at NotifyWire.com, we tracked several one thousand dollar Xbox 360 bundles which would sell out in less than two minutes after becoming available," Drake continued. "Just today, a one thousand dollar PS3 bundle was in stock at eToys.com for over 12 hours. This sort of thing didn't happen with the Xbox 360 until well after Christmas."

The prices of PlayStation 3 units up for auction on eBay have also fallen off a cliff. Immediately following the launch of the system, purchasers were hit with PS3 auctions of $2,000 or more for a $600 console. Currently, however, the average PS3 auction is either at or slightly above the standard retail price. "I think people are tired of being gouged on eBay," said Drake.

It's not as if the PS3 stock is just sitting on store shelves, however. NotifyWire does acknowledge that the system "is not readily available from retailers online or off," but it's no longer as hard to secure a PS3 in part because of an aversion to the high price tag.

"It looks like level of enthusiasm for the console is moving closer inline with the supply and this is clearly not what the industry was expecting," the online tracker concluded.