Time for an IBM type console

I dont know how much longer the console wars and the PC gaming vs Console wars are going to go on for at some point a company is going to come out with a IBM type console. By that I mean end users will be able upgrade the hardware OS e.t.c without having to buy the next generation console.
It makes more sense to give users the ablity to to upgrade there console as needed. For example people may only need two controller ports but the option could be availabe to upgrade via PCIe style slots. Thrid party manufacturers could develop the likes of the hardware and firmware.

When such a console appears the PC gaming and console gaming market may merge.
Can anybody think of a company who would be brave enough to do this ?
Am I way off base or is there an opening in the market for a IBM type console ?

[edit on 2-9-2006 by xpert11]

I dont think theres a need ,your basically describing a pc, it does everything youve said there and alot more.Console are consoles for one reason there architecture is static.

Originally posted by Merkeva
I dont think theres a need ,your basically describing a pc, it does everything youve said there and alot more.Console are consoles for one reason there architecture is static.

So you dont think it is possible for a console to become upgradeable without becoming a PC ?
Some PCs particuarly the off the shelf variety can be nearly impossible to upgrade due to there design and yet there still considered to be a PC.

Im not saying a console could not become upgradable,but whats the point? We already have a pc's they fit the bill of "upgradable gaming platform" which is basically what your proposing.Ever open up a ps2 or an xbox ? There basically pc's just choped down and put into a neat package, sure they dont run os's like windows,but thats the point.

The console market is for people who just wanna stick a disc in and play not worry about having the latest gpu and that there machines meet the specs for the game.

Merkeva I think that there is an untaped markets that consoles could enter if they were more flexable in terms of being able to customize and upgrade. For example I read an article recently that refered to a console being modified to aid disabled kids I probaly cant go into the details because of the T & C .

The point of consoles is that the games developers can push the limits of the hardware and be asured that the game will work as expected on all machines.

Where as with an upgradable machine (like a pc) you need to constantly spend money to play the latest and greatest games as the developer intended, and therefore get the full experience.

Or as in the case of add-ons (like the MegaCD or 32X for the Megadrive [genesis]) a games developer limits the amount of people that can potentially buy the games they produce -- and therefore opt for the standard specifications to reach a bigger market.

Personally, I have never understood playing games on PC's. I use my PC for work and internet, and although I have tried playing games on it, it just isn't the same as sitting on a sofa with a big screen tv and since the mid-eighties I have had most consoles, domestic and imports (seriously, a lot of machines have come and gone over the years.)