How come people don't count the fact that the PC should in theory get $100 per year allotted to it for "general pc use" If the Sony boys can get away with counting Blu ray, then $100 a year to keep a reasonable computer that you're posting on already! Isn't too hard to stretch.
So between Live $50- General computer upgrades ($100 a year) and say 5 games - $50 we have up to say $200 per year to spend on hardware. That gives us a budget of $1400 if you count the initial cost of the Xbox360.
So initial build $800. (2005)
Upgrades for CPU/GPU/Ram/HDD in 2008 for the third year $600. 2008 (HD4850, Core 2, 2gb ram, 320gb HDD or so)
Then Next generation start again (2011)
This is like comparing the Iphone gen1/gen2. Gen1 cost $400 more but the gen 2 will cost $240 over 24months more than the gen1 and actually will end up costing the buyer more over time in spite of costing less.
I've been a bad PC gamer recently. I've hardly touched a new game, I just play Civ4 and all the expansions.
Tease.
