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> would you acquire an early dev kit for some new console, only to find out that it has less ram, gpu and/or cpu than the final product? how can we actually test it fully?

I guess for MS is important to have a good portfolio of apps before the product is launched to the public. This class of unpolished dev kits are not unheard in MS world, Do you remember when the dev kits for the XBox were Apple Power Macs?

they were, but the hardware was the same was it not?

Not really, just the processor was the same, but it was the best they could do in a short time.

oh sure, in an ideal world the dev kit would have all the capabilities of the live consumer device.

But when you're developing a new category of device, that's not always possible.

For a very related example, look at the Oculus Rift approach to VR. they've been iterating on developer kits slowly improving the hardware while letting people feel out how to use that class of device.

Ultimately it'll be down to individual dev. houses whether it makes sense for them to invest at this stage, or wait till it's closer to consumer launch

> only to find out that it has less ram, gpu and/or cpu than the final product?

That doesn't sound like a problem. Now if it turns out it is less powerful than the final product, that would be a serious issue.