Xbox turns a profit: The End Is Near

Striegs sent in this piece about Xbox's newfound profitability. At this pace, they'll be in the black in 312 years.
But remember, Gates just wants to be in your living room. He knows your living room is more profitable than your office. Gaming is the means to an end. Cue evil laughter.

Striegs writes:

Many of us never thought this day would come. Ever. The Xbox doesn't make money! It's just a tool for market share! Well, we're still right to an extent, but I'm still surprised to read that the Xbox made $84 million in the last fiscal quarter, compared to the $397 million it lost in the same

period a year earlier.

Now, this still doesn't mean that Microsoft has made any money on the Xbox venture (one quarter of profit does not outweigh 3 years of losses), but I think it's painfully obvious by now that Microsoft is in this business for the long run.

And, personally, I think, without a game of Halo 2-size proportions announced for 2005, it seems that Microsoft will be hard pressed to do it again. But could it perhaps make Mr. Gates rethink launching the Xbox 2 later this year, now that the original 'box is doing this well?