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It would be worth a little extra if it meant we could get rid of the piece of crap DVR we got with Fios and replace it with the TV (me and my roommate hate set top boxes and stayed with Comcast until they got one solely cause they didn't require one. And we love the DVR function but our DVR is the biggest POS ever and has so many stupid quirks so I'm sure we could be convinced to pay a little extra to be able to replace it and I'm sure Apple's could do far better).

But yeah, twice the price? Nah, that wouldn't convince us to buy.
 
Apple already has a gaming platform. It's called the iPhone and iPod Touch (and, for niche customers, the iPad). Coupled with an Apple TV, you can even mirror your games to the TV, and I predict that sort of functionality will be refined further. Apple hasn't been targeting the XBox and PS3. They've been targeting the casual gamer more. But that's been a pretty successful approach. The Nintendo DS and Sony PSP sales have dropped, but iOS device sales have surged.

And based on what I've seen of some of the more impressive FPS games for the iPhone 4s and iPad 2, they could probably compete fairly well against the XBox and PS3 with an A5-based $129 ATV. Couple that with a wireless traditional gaming controller and I think they could have a winner.

That $600 price for a PS3...that's what it was, not what it is. I just picked up two XBox 360's with Kinects on Amazon lightning deals for $150-200. The XBox 360 Slim has been out for a while, and the underlying hardware has been out for even longer, so I suspect this hardware can be sold for $150 at a profit. So a $129 A5-based ATV3 is definitely doable. Bring it on.

yeah... cause you'll definitely see games on par with bf3 and cod mw on that. yup! not that specs were ever that important when making great games, but... yeah.

as for console prices, for natural reasons - over time, with volume - prices drop. surely though, the BOM alone for the ps3 is still well above 129. Further, its not the hardware alone that makes good games, but new tricks in how to make the most out of the same. Thats why we see steady progression in game quality over the life-span of a console generation, even though the hardware (with few exceptions) stay the same. Apple would start as a new born, xbox and ps3 are closing in on retirement. Huge difference.

that said, i still agree with you. they can do perfectly fine just by re-using hardware used elsewhere. in part removes the volume issues, and certainly does casual gaming well enough. In fact, i think i've been saying that all along. Basically, take a 399 panel. Re-use the internals of a device you already have. Sell at 899 (or wherever the sweet spot is).
 
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