I know I'll just end up spending over an hour on the character selection screen alone! Even the ability to change a races physical abilities is going to be time consuming! you want them to be just right before committing to the game!

It is easy for me to choose a Nord. My first character on Morrowind was Nord, on Oblivion my fourth character was also Nord (son of the first Morrowind's character). Now I have already created a family tree to see how many generations there have been between Morrowind and Skyrim.

Dunmer mage

I'm either going Altmer, Dunmer, or Breton....I'll do that hat thing I guess.

Altmer or Breton for me - not sure which yet but probably Altmer

I've always gone with Dunmer, favourite race by far, but the setting screams big hairy Nord.

Choices, choices.

Your avatar is potentially the best thing I've ever seen.

On-topic: race choice is all about aesthetics. No one race is best for any class - it might take a bit more work at the beginning to make, say, an Altmer warrior than to make an Altmer mage, but in the end any race can max out all 18 skills.

I'm going Nord-Argonian-Khajiit-Altmer-Bosmer-Dunmer-Redguard-Orc.

Always played Altmer, thinking of going Nord for Skyrim because I am 100% original. Breton looks nice too.

Nope ... I'm all set. I highly suggest a Dark Elf as they can excel at anything.

No I am not.

no I don't. I eventually play as all the races but I do start off as a dark elf, and then as the race that the game is really pushing for.

I'm having hard time deciding too.... I've always played with a Dunmer, but now I've started to have second thoughts about that. A Dunmer would be nice as a dovahkiin for the contrast it has: a Night Elf saving the empire of the Nords. Lorewise pretty shocking, eh? :hubbahubba:

A Nord would be cool too, but I think that might be a bit too predictable and therefore boring since Skyrim's probably full of 'em.
I've also been considering a Bosmer. I like the agile close-to-nature -feel to them, and besides, I'd get to tame a companion to kick some draugr ass with me :toughninja:

I really have to decide before I buy the game, otherwise I'm gonna spend half a day choosing between the races + the time I'll be modifying the character itself...

probable Argonian, though i may go with Kajiit. have always been partial to the beast races and have a merderous hatred for the wood elves.

as far as play style my first cherecter is usualy a warrior type but i may go stealthy this time. not sure. if i do go Argonian he will were fur armour to stay warm. (refrence - the poor bootless argonian in the Bloodmoon expantion for Morrowind)

Bosmer for my first playthrough, Nord for my next one, I rarely play any other races then that I don't really care for the others for different reasons.

Any race can excel at anything. That's the beauty of the Elder Scrolls levelling system.