1. I will say again for the thousandth time: Microsoft is not a monopoly. They are in a fierce struggle right now with not only Apple, but all the open source companies out there that are offering alternatives to Microsoft's software.

2. People who say Microsoft has contributed nothing to gaming are idiots. Did Microsoft invent video games? No. But without their various PC platforms and innovations, gaming in general would be a VERY different situation right now. Yeah, it's considered cool these days to hate Microsoft, but I actually feel fortunate that they have been a player in the industry all these years.

3. Referring more to the OP--When I think about bringing computing into not only your living room but into all aspects of your life in general, Sony is NOT the company I think of. ESPECIALLY now that I am running Windows 7 Release Candidate on my entire network here at home, I feel like I finally have access to everything I need, whenever I need it, from wherever I am. Assuming that I have an internet connection, I can truly access whatever I need in my own personal little "cloud", be it from my entertainment center, my laptop, my tower, my Xbox 360, or my cell phone. Vista made some neat strides toward this, but Windows 7 is going to perfect it. I'm unclear as to how Sony is really trying to replicate that kind of setup. I know they're working on something to tie things all together, but I don't think they have the software chops to do it quite as well.

I truly think Microsoft is on the right path with Windows 7 as far as using software to tie your whole technological life together. If people actually bother to use the new media sharing features that it will offer (features that I am LOVING now that I am seeing how well they work first hand), Microsoft is going to have themselves a force to be reckoned with. The Xbox 360 fits really well into that concept. The PS3 actually does too, just not nearly as well.

For the people suggested that Sega invented online gaming, didn't Microsoft give/sell them the software for that online networking? If I recall correctly they designed much of the software and tools for the Sega Dreamcast.

Also the GPU in the PS3 wouldn't exist without the 3rd party collaboration between Microsoft, Nvidia and ATI in defining the direction of the graphics industry and unifying standards.

:P

Just a few points:

1. In the OS market I believe MS has >50% market share. In Britain when Tesco's market share went above 40% people started complaining they had passed the threshold and were a monopoly. So in the OS market, I'd say MS has a monopoly.

2. Out of the 3 console manufacturers, MS has been the least innovative with there console business. Recently, there game division has been downright annoying for PC gamers (R.I.P Ensemble studios, need Vista for DX10?).

3. From what I hear Windows7 is a big improvement and I'll probably be upgrading my XP system, especially with the media sharing you just mentioned. I'd just like to point out though that with free software 3rd party (e.g. Vuze) you can also integrate a PS3 into a home network really simply. I just drag and drop a file onto an icon and its immediately accessible on the PS3, and if its not compatible, it'll convert the file.

^ Innovation? How exactly does one measure innovation? We can tell their gaming division has been much more effective than Sony and much less effective than Nintendo, so mediocre? Lastly who cares about DirectX10? If consoles don't use something, then PCs won't either for a very long time.

I lot of people..mainly Sony fans..Post things like this..I doubt this is the goal MS has....These assumtions are out of line.....I think MS has the User Base in Mind before the Competitor...

XBAND was an early online console gaming network for SNES and Sega Genesis systems. It was produced by the Cupertino, California software company Catapult Entertainment, and made its debut in late 1994 and 1995 in various areas of the United States. It is the precursor to modern online gaming social networks seen in the sixth and later generations of video games, such as seen with the Xbox Live service.

Initially, Catapult Entertainment had a very limited staff and virtually no advertising. Many avid gamers first learned of it via small news articles that were published in the popular console gaming magazines and strategy guides of the day. By January 1996, XBAND network playability had reached practically every metropolitan area in the country, and several rural areas, but there had only been a handful of advertisements published: the most well known of these such advertisements had appeared in gaming magazines, and were directed towards people wanting to be able to play their favorite videogames against anyone, anywhere, at anytime. The actual XBAND modems were carried by a handful of software and video rental chains across the United States. Internationally, the XBAND saw some limited expansion in the Japanese market, and Catapult was working on PC and Saturn based versions of the platform, when they were acquired by Mpath Interactive, and the focus shifted to the online PC Gaming service, Mplayer.com.

I remember XBand but never actually knew anyone who had it.

Personally I don't think online gaming- or many facits of the internet as we know it today- were really viable untill highspeed internet became a common houshold staple.

Achievement Unlocked 250G - Beat Sony Badly

I would have to mostly agree. Its obvious the only reason Xbox exists is to ensure Sony doesn't become the defacto home entertainment box.

Nintendo is and always will be a games maker. They create games and make money off of the hardware/software for games.

Nintendo adding a browser (that's not made by them) and potentially a download video service (also not made by them) is solely to add more benefits to buy their hardware and eventually their software. Not because they want the Wii or nextWii to be a home entertainment system.

These items don't cost them $$ to add as they end user must pay them to download the services. This is why Nintendo systems have never played disc movies, otherwise Nintendo would have to pay royalty fees.

However, I bet we will get dlc as that will solely be billed to the user who wants it.

Personally, I would still just build a entertaiment PC if I wanted one. But, that is not mainstream, xbox/ps are.