As other people have pointed out. They are a hardware company first. Media company second.
The background doesn't mean a lot. I mean, of course Sony will never make an underpowered hardware like Nintendo, that is true. But that doesn't mean that this time they aren't going to consider other aspects (like retail price, profits and the fact that new controllers will add considerably to the total costs compared to previous generations).
With that in mind people should just use logic, neither Sony nor Microsoft have magic, they are both going to AMD to design a console targeted for a holiday season 2013 release.
If they're going for the same price, it's impossible for one of them to be significantly more powerful than the other. I that happens it's because one of them has decided to make a premium high end product but that will have consequences on the price.
I mean....if Microsoft wants to make the new PS3, price it at 500$, 600$ at launch and do 2-3 years subscription deals to make it cheaper while Sony goes for 399$.... I don't know who's smarter and who didn't pay attention to the past lessons.
I don't think that Microsoft will make such a big mistake thinking they're making the new Iphone.....so I expect both products to be very similar.
