For me PS4 will have to be a major upgrade from the PS3, and that will be what matters.

If they launch a $199 PS4 with Blu-ray, an HDD, and an enhanced XMB with Home intergrated with the following specs then I say F76& You Sony.

Hardware
-16 SPU Cell w/ 2 PPU at 4GHz
-A GPU that can not compete with the best on the market(at that time)
-2GB of RAM

Controls
-Dual shock 4 with enhanced 6axis
-HD EYE + Improved Wands and improved tracking
-Glasses for 3D viewing

On the Other hand. If they were to launch at $1999 with the following I would be there day 1.

Hardware
-64SPU Cell w/ 8PPU's @4.2GHz
-A GPU that is as good or better than those in PC's at launch
-At least 4GB of RAM w/ 1 extra GB for system OS only
-A Multi SSD RAID
-12X Blu-ray Drive up to 400GB
-Card Readers
-Fully Intergrated Home and XMB (meaning your system boots either directly to Home and XMB is a PS button away, or the system lanchs to XMB with Home a PS button away)
-XMB with extream enhancments (Same simple XMB, but in complete 3D, and tons of depth. Something like what they showed on PS2 with Eye Toy which MS rehashed with the Natal showing. The ability to through multiple videos on screen at once, run videos on one portion of the screen while browsing pics or the web on the other.)
-Truly in game XMB (everything is possible at any givin time, no more would you like to stop this to do that, only a you have to many programs running, please close one to continue.)

Controls
-Dual Shock 4 (more precisis motion detaction, improved rumble, and a built in sensor to taylor the game around your emotions)
-HD EYE (precise enough to lip sinc you to a "T" with a virtual charicter, eye tracking, assists the controllers to relay more info about your state. Ex. body temterature, persperation, blinks per minute, mood.)
-Improved motion controllers. (controllers would have the same sensor, built in mic, built in speaker, small oled screen for multi purpose, and the enhanced rumble)
-3D glasses
-Blue Tooth Headset
-Blue Tooth key board for browsing

Well, the PS3 already does everything, and it's 300 dollars, what more could the PS4 do that would cause a spike in the price to be 600 bucks?

It will play Blu-ray, CDs, PS3 game (it better) PS2 games (it should), and PSX games (why skip one?) I know it's going to play all the previous because they'll each have games on PSN, and, if PS4 doesn't play one of them, that's going to hurt sales.

But, like I said, the PS3 does everything in the realm of entertainment.. besides play games of the competitors. What more can they do besides add a music store? By the time PS4 comes out, the tech should be cheaper. Hopefully the chips in the PS4 wont cause a huge price increase, like the CELL. We are getting to the point when next gen systems should look pretty close to real life.. We're almost there now.

I wouldn't worry about the price.. Maybe 350 at launch.. 450 at the most, but, no more.. Just read the post above mine... I wasn't going to get that specific, but, you still have to consider that in 2014, or whenever it's launched, prices for 4GB RAM, and much of what you said will be outdated by then...  If it were to come out today, that may be the price, but, the later is wont be priced at 1000+ dollars in the future.  1 GB ram for OS is pathetic by 2014 standards.

I'm not really ON the Sony ship, but I would not pay more than 300-400 for a new system regardless of WHO made it.

I would wait until the price is 299 lol

Yes you are.

I'd say it was more of a pleasure cruise, than outright ownership.   My PS3 is $299 old!  ; )

I would likely never abandon Sony, their products have been very reliable for me. Only had to buy 1 ps1 and 2 ps2s (bought a slim but not because the original broke or anything), 1 ps3, have owned 2 of their tvs in the past 9 years. For me they are solid electronics and gaming goodness.

I despise MS the company for several reasons personally and call me a fanboy or whatever but I won't own one of their consoles ever. My next computer is probably going to be Mac but need to finish my Master's degree up first to have the spare change.

I would consider adding a Nintendo console back into my home alongside my PS3 or PS4 when it hits if they move to HD and something intangible changes (for example I cannot stand the Wii lol).

If it can prolong lives and cure death. YES!

well as long as its under 600, ill buy it since i did get a launch ps3

ill just wait for the PS4 Slim or the pricedropped PS4 Phat. Which ever suits me more.

Def no first day buy for me.