You guys are all dreaming. First - this is a very obvious move for Apple. They have great kudos with the public right now.

Secondly - this is a logical extension of the iPod. It already has a bunch of games for it, and there are a LOT more coming out. Eventually iPods will be as powerful as PSPs, if not more.

...

Much depends on which angle Apple will take. Its a great time for them to enter the market, because there is a REAL market gap. And it would completely change the dynamics of the industry.

One possibility:

 - Apple will leverage off iTunes, as much as they can. Whatever they do - it will support iTunes for movies, music & games. So we are talking digital distribution, maybe completely. A bit like Steam, but for consoles. Sort of like the Phantom - but "real" :)

 - Will they take the Wiimote route? Who knows, maybe. The way I see it, both Apple & Ninty are the "darlings" of the industry at the moment, both targeting 'casuals'. I may well be wrong, but I suspect Apple will NOT want to fight with Nintendo. Either way, they could leave a nice space for a Wiimote capable device if needed.

 - both MS & Sony have started moving infrastructure towards digital distribution. What they really lack though - content. This is what Apple has, as well as copious amounts of online architecture. In a way, Apple are half MS (OS & software), and half Sony (make rock solid hardware, that catches the 'eye').

What I think makes the most sense:

 - a smaller "PS3", with no drive bay.

 - be about as powerful as a 360

 - will run OS/X, and have several USB ports. It might even double as a "Mac" (that would be interesting!)

 - external drive may be available

 - open license system - Apple would NOT focus on software, rather making the platform more open and just skimming royalties via the iTunes store for everything. A bit like AppleTV, just cheaper.

 - internal hard drive, may come in a variety of sizes

The key is the pricing. I think it will be something between a Wii & 360 - I can't imagine them doing the "uber" version, and releasing something more expensive than the PS3 (but it could be an option?). The reason, is that without "awesome" exclusive titles, its sort of pointless.

Software will be interesting... will it "just" be a PC? Run OS-X software? (be a nice bonus!). But even the cheapest Macs are too expensive as console options... I think.

...

Really looking forward to this, and I think solid Apple HATING will start real soon if they do. Why? Because this is a REAL threat to both MS & Sony (& Ninty to some level). I still think Sony has the most to lose, as Apple can pretty much do everything Sony can - they took away their portable music market, and now they might try to do the same with games.

I have no doubt there is no room for FOUR REAL consoles - but if Apple structures this right, every console they sell is a bonus for them (bit like a Mac) - so they just can't lose. Maybe this is the end of the PC(?) as a gaming solution... 

Well... we'll see. No use speculating.

Erm, you could say that about 95% of all internet topics.

I'm not an Apple fan because they have lockin of all kinds up the wazzoo.  If the Nintendo SEAL OF QUALITY was bad, the Apple version would be a thousand times worse.

I actually hope they get into the business. It'd be funny to see how bad the fanboys would be at it. Maybe then everyone would leave Nintendo alone and move onto the iGame (or whatever gay name they choose lol)

 No, the Dreamcast ran Windows CE. If Apple enters the market, it will run a far superior OS ;)

I love apple, but I have left my opinion about it out of this thread... although all the Apple haters seem to be filling it up... so... /shrug.

Because Sony will have dropped out

Stof: Safari is the worst browser i have ever used... it just plainly doesnt work with my banking pages. downloads are handled so lousily it hurts just to remember about it.

I have had more lockups working on a mac than on a vista system, and I use vista every single day oppsed to macos only when editing video....

I hate macs and I use them A LOT (just in case you try to use the old you just dont know them argument)

Hey, I remember you :). You were the one that touted being a power user, but hating mac software, because you could not do much with it compared to the Windows counterparts. When I showed you that you could do everything you were asking for, and more, with a command line argument you said you wanted those options in the UI. If you put the in the UI, the would not be for power users :p

Anyway, sorry for your experiences. You are the exception however. 90% of the people who use both regularly, prefer the Mac, and experience less technical issue compared to there PC's.

It's because Apple controls the environment, so MS fanboys don't need to remind us of that. But as a consumer, I don't care why it is, I just care that I can get a stable computer that does everything I want, and will continue to do so for years to come. I use my Mac 5-6 hours a day, it's two years old, and gives me the same user experience as a brand new one would.

Stuff like that is what I care about, now the logo on the side ;) 

No, it's because once MS is relegated to 3rd place, they would rather pick on 4th place then try and regain 2nd.

It's the typical character of the kind of person who loves MS. ;)