Next Gen

The console wars are beginning to heat up and this is considering that 2 of the 3 systems are not even going to released in the next year. Xbox360 will be making an appearance under Christmas trees this year but Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Revolution are going to be kept under wraps until early to mid 2006. I've read a lot of articles on the 3 systems and it appears that as of right now it is too early to decide on who has the best strategy.
Microsoft has a huge advantage being the first to the market, but that could also bite them in the ass because Sony and Nintendo will have plenty of time to adjust their systems to be certain that their systems are have superior performance. The Xbox360 does look like a mean machine though. It, like the PS3 is planned to be a household entertainment hub. On top of playing video games, you'll be able to chat, email, surf, and numerous other things all on this one system. How well Microsoft performs on this front is still up in the air.
Sony is going for a similar machine that Microsoft is going for. The advantage that Sony has is that their system will be technologically superior to Microsoft and Nintendo's systems. Sony has build a processor that they call "The Cell." I'm not exactly sure why it is so special but Sony has made "The Cell" sound like its the greatest technological achievement known to man. On top of the processor, Sony's PS3 is going to be the first console to be able to truly be playable in 1080i and possibly 1080p High-Definition. They are making this possible with the use of Blu-Ray DVD's, which will hold much more information than the current DVD. Sony's clear advantage in High-Definition will definitely be a huge selling point for many gamers, but most Americans have till not purchased a HDTV and for this reason, Sony's venture may be before its time. Needless to say, HDTV is the future and Sony is putting one foot in the right direction by leading the industry into HDTV.
The Nintendo Revolution is the underdog of the three consoles. Minimal specs have been released about the Revolution other than its appearance, which according to Nintendo will likely be smaller upon release of the system. The systems is no bigger than 3 DVD cases stacked on top of each other. Nintendo is taking a step away from Sony and Microsoft by not creating an entertainment hub and instead sticking with the conventional game machine that will likely save consumers on price. Like Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo will be using wireless controllers but Nintendo is the only one to not give the public a view of the controller. Many rumors have surfaced about the controller including a LCD screen and gyroscope technology, but none have been proven. In the end not much is known about the Revolution or even why it is "Revolutionary." One thing that is known is that if Nintendo misses with Revolution, they may be booted from the console wars and dropped exclusively in the handheld market.
In my opinion, Sony and Microsoft have a clear edge. As long as Sony isn't hurt by Microsoft's rush to put their system on the market, Sony should end up again as the winner. Nintendo just hasn't given enough information to rank them anywhere near the others. There is one known thing though, the gamers out there have a soft spot in their hearts for games like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid and as long as Nintendo continues to create these games and other exclusives, there will always be a small niche for Nintendo.