Computers because you don't have to pay for the games. Just pirate them. I don't think you can do that on the PS3 or 360. Unless I AM MISTAKEN!?

*facepalm*

This gaming argument is the most boring argument in gaming there is. So my argument is gonna be why you shouldn't make PC vs all consoles arguement.

Like it or not, personal computers (that includes Macs and the others) are also, technically, a console. Just because it doesn't look like, cost like, uses like a console, it doesn't mean it doesn't BEHAVE like a console. Next putting a personal computer against three other systems which, together, bog down on the computer is unreasonable . A more solid and joyful argument would be PC vs Xbox360 or PC vs PS3 and such. The consoles together against the personal computer doesn't look good for the computer; the computer is outnumbered. And by terms of math and even fun when gaming, the computer would lose.

Next personal computers vary from household to household. Just because one owns an Alienware machine (which btw are generally made for gaming, hence behave more than console than anything else), it does not mean your dearest friend will have the same computer. This argument disqualifies all computers as a whole from being a console on a large scale, but qualifies them as just tools for society. This suggests that while a personal computer can behave as a console it doesn't necessarily mean it can be put up against three systems which main and technical purpose is for gaming. In which sense, you cannot argue that just because you can do your everyday web surfing on the internet and play games in your personal computer, that that makes it better than or can even be put up against other consoles which are wholly dedicated to gaming. In fact that might very be the reason why is not a good idea to argue that; thanks to web surfing and other activities on your computers, your computer is more prone to viruses, malware and many other malignant forms of trash that can affect your computer. Although the other systems are vulnerable in their own right, one cannot compare the vulnerability a computer has, thanks to more varied internet use than the subjective use of the other consoles, which is why is not a good idea to put a lone vulnerable computer against three systems that have more advantage on that matter; it's unfair and unreasonable.

And piracy is available for ALL consoles. Including handhelds, and even slipping in on the iphone.

Consoles, always consoles. For the simple reason that never will you buy a console game and be unsure about whether or not it works with your system. You won't have to go upgrade your graphics card every so many months or install new RAM or struggle with component compatibility and operating system compatibility. You buy a game and it just works. That's the way the model should be. It might create technical limitations for developers on some level eventually (Although the 360 and especially the PS3 have definitely not had their limits come close to tested yet), but otherwise that level of assurance is just something you'll never get from a PC.

PCs are general-purpose task-oriented machines that can also play games. Consoles are machines built for the sole purpose of playing video games. If the context of this debate is 'Which one is better for games?' then consoles are always gonna win out in the end.

Being a person who has tried and tested mostly every console out there except for the Wii (I damn you because you lack a presence), I have to disagree with your comments. First off, a good PC can last a really long time. All you need is the knowledge when it comes to getting the parts. I have made a few, some lasting longer than expected (I have a few friends who have PCs they've made six years ago and are doing fine). Though a slight upgrade is needed every few years (not months >>; ), it is not a major upgrade. Most upgrades I see or experience myself are for aesthetic purposes -- a new casing, mouse etc.

Now, when it comes to major upgrades, you really have to come up with a well thought up plan. Most people do not realise this when they upgrade their PCs, hence they end up with a slow and less compatible PC. Overall, it depends on how you manage your PC. One of the best bits about PCs is their upgrades. PC gamers compete against one another in an attempt to show-off their RIGs. Which is a lot of fun. A

Now to consoles: they are simply dull. You have no choice of upgrades, features. Maybe you might be able to upgrade the harddrive, but that's it. Also, since most people don't really have HD televisions, the whole 'High Definition' gaming is a waste. And HD televisions don't come cheap. It's as if you're buying three fully upgraded PCs. One thing I will give consoles over PCs is the ability to play the game out of the box. No installations. No passwords. No nothing. Just put it in the tray and play. That's a nice feature, I'll admit.

In the end, I like PC gaming over consoles anyday. It's a lot more exciting. And I would also like to say that a mouse and keyboard is still the way to play games. Certain games require a controller, but any game is playable on a keyboard.

It wasn't that long ago that the PC was the only choice you had if you wanted to play games online. The first console that included a modem for online play was the Sega Dreamcast, which launched in Japan in 1998. The Dreamcast wasn't a big success, however, and went out of production in 2001. It wasn't until the second half of 2002 that PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube introduced online capabilities. Naturally, the latest generation of consoles all have features that use the Internet to enhance gameplay.

Today, online console games are quite common, with Microsoft's Xbox Live service leading the way. Sony also has big plans for online content for the PlayStation 3, and consoles are now starting to get game downloads and other applications formerly only available on the PC, such as Web browsers. A few titles can now be played across platforms, such as Final Fantasy XI, in which PS2, Xbox 360, and PC users explore the same online world.

That said, PCs still offer the largest selection of online games, and some of the most popular online games, such as World of Warcraft, are exclusive to the PC. Of course, there are many things to consider before deciding on a gaming platform. Foremost among these is deciding which games you want to play, how much money you want to spend, and whether or not you need a PC for other purposes. Ideally I suppose we would all have both a console and a PC, but if that's not an option, here is quick comparison of the two.

Now there are advantages that are shared by both of the selective sides of this debate.

Final Thoughts
The latest round of consoles has a lot to offer online gamers, and if you're into sports and racing titles, consoles are a good way to go. If you like massively multiplayer games and online shooters, there are a great deal more to choose from on the PC. Online play options for consoles are getting better all the time, but proprietary networks and fees for services like Xbox Live make them a bit less attractive. For the most part, PCs are still the dominant platform for online gaming, and that appears likely to continue for a while yet. However I believe that the only thing that might turn off PC's as the dominant siding factor that is as stated before is the pure expense of the system.

I don't argue that consoles are computers. But just by playing games, computers act like what we know today as consoles.  Maybe true, it may not be a technicality on how they do this, but theoretically they are like consoles because they play games like consoles. And if you believe or "know" in this sense that are not even theoretically like a console, then theoretically they don't execute games either.

I really don't know why or how you're insulted. If the information is wrong or skewed, it's still some random person blabbering in the internet. The point is that they weren't even arguing with you. I mean I don't get insulted when I read someone say black is a color.

Well I actually i don't really care for computers or consoles. In the end they're both machines. And I think I've mentioned what you just said in a previous post, only that you were more coherent.

My initial argument in this thread was that arguing about PC VS Consoles is just dumb.

^ This.

And a decisive nail in the coffin for PCs:  Jeff Strain's Zombie MMO

Zhelir's just been smoking too much.

Nazi Zombies is bettar.