pc vs consoles

[Reasonable]

let me explain - as a current PC player who also has PSP, DS, Wii, PS2 & PS3...

consoles are easy to use/setup - they're relaxing in that you sit in a nice big comy couch in front of a big TV, and the PS3/360 in particular have opened up online/collaboration in the living room. They're also cheaper to buy.

But PCs are technicaly better in just about every way apart from the above:

Input - a PC can support gamepad, joysticks, K&M, steering wheel, etc. - i.e. not only can it match a console but for FPS it can exceed it. Once you get the hang of it a K&M is demonstrably more accurate than even the best player on gamepad (there's a reason FPS on console has 'aim assist' and not on PC. Oh and of course everything a Wii does with motion sensing a PC could only more accurately as well.

Graphics - despite the strides of 360/PS3 a decent PC is always ahead, and a great PC is miles ahead. Hook a gaming PC up to a big HD TV and PS3/360 games suddenly look like okay Wii games

Flexibility - again, everything 360/PS3 do around media a PC can do better, and with better support for all formats. It can also burn DVDs, etc. if you want plus stream content.

Storage space - now PS3 isn't too bad here with its open standard for HDD drives, but still, if you want a lot of media stored, and HD media at that, the PC is still way ahead here too. The drives are also faster for better loading times.

Processing power - again, depends on specs, but a PC can relatively easily provide more processing power than a console for all those complex physics, etc. that the PS3/360 have failed do deliver (just look at how COD4 has neutered physics to run on consoles).

Online/Community - Live is great, PSN is good getting better, LBP is going to be amazing, etc. But all of that is actually trailing PC capabilities in that regard. Heck I was playing 4 player coop twenty years ago on PCs!

Reliability - you know I can't be bothered searching (but I'd bet PCs are generally more reliable than consoles). I've never had one fail on me anyway while I've had consoles fail, etc.

Factually, a PC can do everything better than a console that a console can do - no exceptions technically when it comes to games, controllers, etc. But a PC has three main drawbacks which is why people prefer consoles (and people like me are increasingly switching to consoles):

1) due to design/habit most people don't stick a large gaming PC under their TV and don't seem to consider this a viable option

2) PCs are seen as expensive and do still cost more (although not as much as you might think if you build your own)

3) PCs are associated with working/home office, etc.

4) PCs are technically daunting vs take it out box, plug it into TV, switch on and off you go

My thoughts as they say.