Well it's certainly happening now, as time goes on consoles are becoming more and more like our PCs, from using a HDD and USB ports to being upgradable, even since the days of the PS2 it was becoming more like a PC with the ability to use USB keyboards and a mouse, and even have its own OS in Linux, and the PS3 continues this trend, and is you have the 60GB model it has card readers for all major types of memory cards. On the subject of the 60GB model, it used to be a case of one model of console and that was it, now depending on what you pay you get more technology in your console, like a larger HDD and card readers for instance, and even wireless functionality, with some technical know how you can even upgrade the PS3's HDD yourself, much like a PC, turning the PS3 into a PC in all but looks really. Sony are not the only ones to do this of course, Microsoft started off this with the Xbox and having a HDD in it, and they did say it's not a PC it's a console, so funny thing are going full circle and console start to become more and more like PCs, then again PC technology has became such a standard it's hard to argues against it. The Xbox360 is a has been a slightly different matter up until now where it's upgrades have been available as just system expansions, so the core system could really just be upgraded to the premium system over time, well until now of course with the latest elite system featuring one major change to the system its self and that being the HDMI socket on the back of the console, so much like the 60GB model of the PS3 you have to pay for slightly better technology, and then there is the 120GB HDD which as with all the other parts of the XBox360 is also available as a separate upgrade. It make me wonder how long it will be until Microsoft include both built in wireless functionality and HD-DVD in the package, which were more than likely left out at the moment to keep the cost down, but in time they will become cheaper so the system may stay the same price for a long time to come but just have more annual updates, to the overall package, much like PCs. The same seems to be happening with the PS3 with an 80GB model rumoured. The only one I doubt this will happen with is the Wii, since it really has no need for it, unless it eventually had a flash memory upgrade, although seeing as you can pick up a 2GB SD card for about £20, I see no real point.

I don't see this as a bad thing at all as long as newer games don't require any of the major system differences to run, I don't see it as a bad thing for the games industry to have the systems improve over time, and always means if you have a console from early in it's lifecycle, when you do have to replace it you will be getting a more streamlined model with better features. As long as the new systems aren't over priced that is, since my Xbox360 is starting to go I am looking at the new Elite system, and eagerly awaiting to find the price out. If it is no more than £350 I will look into investing in it, any more and i would have to go for the premium system. If it is £350+ I would consider getting a PS3 before I replace my Xbox360. Funny really how consoles were always so different from PCs now they are becoming so much like them, i guess it's because PC technology has become so much of a stantard for everything it had to happen, now all I have to figure out is where I put my new graphics card in my Xbox360 and I'll be all set.