This generation will live for 8 years. It will, it has to. Right?

Oh man...... you destroyed my dreams...

That's ridiculous. 2011? Sony launches a $599 console and a PS4 only five years later?

Nov 2012 is earliest possible, but everything points to a Nov 2013 PS4 (high launch price of PS3, slow price drops for all three in this gen, motion tech additions, economical Crysis etc). Same with Wii-2.

And Xbox 3 will launch first again, in Nov 2012.

Hardware is usually in development for at least 2-3 years before it hits the shelves guys.

For all we know, the DS/DSi's lifespan may be over in just a year or two (I'm sure the next Nintendo handheld will have BC though -- they always do), and the Wii will probably be supplemented by a Wii HD in the near future, as many have speculated.

Sony would be doing the right thing by sticking with the Cell for a new console, IMO. Would save experienced PS3 devs a lot of time and money at the start of the next gen, thereby enhancing the first wave of games considerably.

They had the funds to compete before, they just chose not to. Plus the fact that they disdain the razors and blades model of getting the hardware out at a loss.

Its not a matter of means, its just out of their nature

It is not that expensive to design a powerful console, after all, if it is sold for more than a cheap one, it brings back its price too. In the previous generations, they were already a small company, but they could make relatively powerful consoles.

But now, Nintendo just didn't WANT to make it expensive, and apparently, this new strategy works.

I'd expect the new Nintendo console to have the power of two Wii ducktaped together, with something entirely different that will make it unique.

I find it puzzling that a new console would launch a mere year after the Natal / PS Dildo inniative (assuming it will hit 2010). MS especially seems to be pushing Natal as the 'next step in gaming evolution' so it would probably be a bitter pill for it to arrive a mere year before the next Xbox. Perhaps it will be forward compatible with next gen console?

Well, here's hoping that when the next Nintendo system releases in 2012 or 2013, that it won't be using a processor and graphics chip from 2001.

Nintendo kept it cheap this generation because of the risk of the Wii remote, their next console has to be more powerful than the PS3 if they want 3rd party support from major developers that doesn't consist of fitness games and mini game compilations, yes there are a few great 3rd party titles scattered here and there that are great, but most developers continue to ignore the Wii because of hardware limitations.

Even on the day they were announced, I suspected that both motion controls are supposed to be released with the next generation only. 

Just look at Sony's PurleWand! It was obvious from the presentation's amateurishness, that they didn't plan to show it, it was just an escape plan in case Microsoft shows something too. So they grabbed some PS4 controller prototype, and bluffed. 

Microsofts presentation was more planned, but it was still weird with no release date, no actual games, no price, and no free hands-on demo. I could be wrong, and maybe they honestly only prepare for a peripheral launch that is as big as a new console's, but as you said, it just doesn't make sense to release it that late in the generation. 

If I would have to choose, the 2011 release of the next generation is much more probable, than the launch of NATAL in 2010.  

MS and Sony motion controls are still in their infancy and will be tack-on's if they're ever implemented at all this gen. I think they'd rather release a refined version of them for the next generation where they can start from scratch and tailor make software, hardware, accessories and dev kits for it. (Pluss, I don't think we'll see a next gen console till late 2011/early 2012).

PS: Lol @ PS Dildo! That's exactly what I thought when I saw it!