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IMO, there should be a comma after "console" for 2 reasons:
1.) Ambiguity: without a comma, the sentence could be read to mean that x is
identical to those consoles with some sort of "exception" related to the
optical disc drive mechanism. Admittedly, this reading is a bit
far-fetched, but I do think some readers might stumble over it.
2.) I would naturally pause after that word in speech.
I seem to remember some English teacher telling me to insert commas wherever
there would be a pause in actual speech; this will catch and cure much
potential ambiguity. Is this a "rule"? Since an English teacher told me it
was, it almost certainly is not. :)
Now that I think about it, maybe #2 is a silly reason to insert a comma;
after all, we're reading, not speaking. Still, it does seem to be one of
those rules of thumb with some usefulness... Perhaps G. Hart would care to
comment? HTH!
> "The [dev system] is identical to a production...console with the
> exception of the optical disc drive mechanism."
>
> Should there or should there not be a comma after the word "console"? And
> can someone refresh my memory as to the rule for this?
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