I highly doubt it, there's no way Natal can carry the 360 by itself for 4 years

They will continue its use with the 720 by including it with the console at launch
The 2 years following Natal's release will be used to breath life into the 360 and act as a time for developers to get used to the system so they can integrate its controls into 720 titles from launch.

This way they can continue selling the 360 as a cut price console, including Natal after the 720s release. It will offer developers the chance to port 720 games back to the 360, both with Natal controls so they aren't selling to just a small 720 market at launch.

I dunno, you may be right, but  I think it can. The Xbox sales are still pretty strong, then you add a new 360 SKU with slightly upgraded hardware and Natal. Four years sounds about right.

2012 I so think so too, Microsoft will still support the Xbox 360 still after the XBOX 3 comes out..

Microsoft will support the XBOX 360 with Natal till 2015 giving it a ten year life cycle while the Xbox 3 will be in its 3rd year by then..

Is like Sony is doing, supporting the ps2 till 2010 while the PS3 is thier main focus.

So we will have Natal for 2010, we will hear the next Xbox E3 2011 and the launch of the Xbox 3 november 2012.

Theres no point launching a console with slightly upgraded hardware as then developers have to either develop their software for the older system so it will work on both, or develop for the new system and rule out the older consoles. You may as well launch an entirely new system.

Natal on 360 is mostly a teaser and preparation for it being embedded in the next generation. 35-40 million console owners aren't going to buy into Natal so there will only be a handful of games that are Natal compulsory, a number of games that are Natal optional, and many games that don't use Natal at all. Natal is unlikely to significantly drive 360 sales forward, especially not for 4 years.

As for the OP. No chance the 720 releases in 2010. There is a chance they will announce the 720 at one of the 2010 conferences, but not the unit itself.

Well, from what I read, rumor is that the next Xbox will be Forward Compatible instead of Backward Compatible..

Meaning your new games from the Xbox 3 can be played on the older Xbox 360, of course sacrifing quality, like graphics.

If MS want to kill it, Halo reach and everything, yeah.

Is Ms one of the biggest companies and richiest if they had a monkey in their staff? No.

Next Xbox end 2012.

WoW there's a lot of BS on this thread! FORWARD COMPATIBLE! LOL

I'm just curious, how much better can the graphics be if they launch in 2012? It has to be a significant step, otherwise what's the point. And yes, I have seen Crysis.

2010 is way too early considering that Natal will serve as a relaunch as everyone here is saying.

NO. M$ is releasing NATAL in 2010 and will having a "relaunch" of the 360. They will not be releasing a brand new console.