Nah,  they made money with the PS2 sales and at that time they were desperate for some money.

Downplaying? It is a good rumor (and yeah... I'm the biggest Sony fan here so you wrote that to me )

PS. Recharge batteries over AA always... a issue with Wii controller is the use of AA batteries... PS3 recharge battery included in controllers is a way better option.

Ethomaz - in this thread you do seem to be the exception. But if you can't see the other trolling on here - you may need to check your eyesight!

MS have that option available (play and charge kits) - but just like the PS3, when those batteries die after 3-4 years - you're looking at replacements more expensive than regular AA rechargeables. And also - I hate playing with a cable plugged in for charging - much easier to get up, switch batteries, sit down - no cables. It's choice that they provide. You say Sony give you a better option - but you have no option at all - it's the only option you've got!

Once again - I find it baffling that some proprietary hardware choices are bashed (360 HDD) - and some proprietary ones (Vita Memory Cards, PS4 controller batteries) - are championed. And any non proprietary moves by MS (32gb Memory sticks useable for all game functions on 360, universal batteries) - are attacked by the same SDF watchdogs.

Or maybe it's not so baffling, considering the usual suspects.

Windows 8 running on the next box I only see good.  The fact that Indies can skip the whole 10 grand cert process, the publisher model and all of tha that clunky crap that got in the way of them creating games for the 360 is gone.  They can make their games, and updated them without having to sell a liver.  Just because the Windows store is short on apps now will probably change pretty quickly once Developers head to that gold mine.

Windows 8 Kernel is very stable.  Tested and approved for true multi-tasking which should make moving around the next Xbox UI to other stuff way better than the 360, and faster.  

I actually like the batteries for my 360 controller over how the dualshock has it internal.  I always have rechargeable batteries charging so when my 360 controller starts to flash, no hooking it up to the box just swap the batteries.  On the Dual shock when it needs charging, I have to plug it in and since my cable is pretty short, most times I have to remember to charge it after I am finishing playing or have to wait 15 mins to get a decent charge to continue to play.

As to why MS would release a Mini and also have the Durango with the SOC inside is that the Mini is just a 360 without a disk and the plans to having it connected to the Durango unit was scrapped in favor of supplying Durango with BC.  In other words, MS decided (only if rumor is true disclaimer) that BC would be a competitive advantage and its worth the cost of putting it in the Durango unit.  I would agree this would be a clear competitive advantage and probably will allow MS to keep a good chunk of Xbox gamers.  The Mini probably will be sold and marketed as competition to the Apple TV, Google and Samsung devices.  As the rumor noted, this device is being made by a totally different team so their priorities are probably different.

As far as complexity of having the 360 SOC and Durango current setup.  yes, that does appear to be something MS will need to address but then again, MS has a API layer and if the SOC is treated as any other GPU then the complexity will not be that great.  It really will depend on exactly how this SOC can be used with native next box games.  If Developers can purpose the chip any way they please well, it could be very interesting how games shape up on the device.

B b b ut the only Sony fans was me

I have two controllers.. so when I'm playing with one the other is recharging... my biggest complain about AA baterries or AA rechargeables is the time to change the batteries... with PS3 I can play almost one week but with Wii in one or two days I have to change the AA (the AA rechargeables are even worst).

Dude - seriously? It takes as long to change batteries as it does to plug a controller charge cable in. That's just letting your troll flop all over your trousers, put it away, no one wants to see it.

And you've got a second controller purely to avoid playing with a charge cable in? I think you're getting my point of why I prefer AA batteries. Must be a shame if you've got a friend over playing 2p - but I guess at Ethomaz's house they'd be given the charge cable to play with!

BC is a decent blow against the PS4... at least for the short term.

Everything seems so positive, hard to believe this at all.

Vita memory cards get yelled at all the time for being proprietary. Also you have to remember that the 720 will be around till 2018. If AA batteries don't get replaced in the first version, they'll be replaced down the road.

Rechargable AA batteries don't suck any more. Read up on them: http://www.eneloop.info/home.html

I've replaced all my home batteries with Eneloop which last just as long as regular batteries and recharge fast. The keep their charge for years so I always have fully charged long lasting batteries for everything in my life.