Please explain to me what it is that distinguishes PCs in a wholesale manner from Consoles.

Let me give you a list of possibilities:

1) PCs can surf the web

2) PCs can download and play movies

3) PCs can store and dlownload pictures

4) PCs can play music

5) PCs can play games

6) PCs use word processors

7) Is an "evolving" platform with hardware updates

8) Is an "evolving" platform with software/OS updates 

Any major functions I'm missing? Let me know. Which of these do you feel makes PCs a distinct animal from consoles?

Pc is a multi-purpose utility media and communications tool, a do-everything piece of technology that lends itself by its very nature to altercation, adaptation, upgrading, optional features and personalization.

Just because Video Game consoles are making a pauldry attempt at becoming that same versatile tool doesn't mean they are or that their market will allow them to succesfully and it certainly doesn't give free liscence to people to use the umbrella philosophy of PC optionalization and personalization to excuse Video Game consoles who are putting a half-hearted effort forward towards not giving the consumer a choice like PCs do, but rather saving their asses from the fallout of putting a piece of hardware on the market that is too expensive for the average consumer.

No. Stop. This is a smokescreen -- I'm not interested in general philosophical ramblings, I want precise and specific enumeration.

Tell me precisely what PCs do that make them different enough to make them so distinct from consoles. I'd appreciate it: and again, I offered a list to start from. 

@Bods:

Photoshop, burn discs, movie making, CAD, music production (one of my favorites), screenshots and movies from games with high fidelity.

More to come later.

No, stop, you're missing the point.

is a case of video game consoles not being PCs, not a case of PCs not being Video game consoles. Pcs of course can do what Video game consoles can do, they can do just about everything, that's because they're personalized, upgradeable and customizeable media and communications tools. Do you know what Video game consoles aren't? Personalized, upgradeable and customizeable media and communications tools. The defense for Video Game Consoles being used here is that multiple SKUs give consumers a choice just like PCs do, a defense which can only be applied to PCs which by their very nature require consumer research, personalization and choices.

This is not a matter of people saying PCs can't be video game players, or that PCs graphics don't matter so take your pet peeve to a thread where it is relevant. This is a debate dealing exclusively with allegations that Video Game consoles are like PCs in giving that they give the consumer a choice in customizeability and personalization, which they don't.

I am not missing the point! I have now requested this THREE TIMES:

Give me a precise list of functions that dinstinguish the "PC" from a "gaming console." Unless you stop ignoring that simple request,  I'm done with this conversation, as I can't really argue against some general sense that PCs are "customizable" and "upgradeable."  

What in gods name are you talking about?! What does this inane request of yours have to do with this thread or the topic? WHY DO YOU WANT PRECISE FUNCTIONS THAT DISTINGUISH PCS FROM GAMING CONSOLES! THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS THREAD! THIS THREAD IS DEALING WITH WHAT PCS ARE THAT VIDEO GAMES AREN'T, MACHINES THAT LEND THEMSELVES TO UPGRADING, PERSONALIZATION, ADAPTATION AND ACCESORIZING!

WE DO NOT BUY VIDEO GAME CONSOLES LIKE WE DO PCS! WE DO NOT CUSTOMIZE VIDEO GAME CONSOLES! READ THE THREAD BEFORE CONTRIBUTING! 

ALLOW ME TO BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU!

1. Someone said Multiple SKUS for Video Game consoles make them like PCs in that they give the consumer a choice.

2. I said no because Video Game consoles are not upgradeable or customizeable like PCs are so that defense is moot.

3. You emerge with this tyrad asking for specific examples illustrating technical difference between Video game consoles and PC completely immaterial to the discussion in this thread.

1) This was me, which why this was relevant.

2) Video game consoles (specifically the PS3 and 360) are upgradable and they are customizable, so you are wrong.

3) This is a specific discussion within this thread -- and one you personally took issue with. If you didn't want to have this conversation, you shouldn't have responded to my post in the first place.

Let me break this down for you.

Me: PCs are like gaming consoles now.

You: No they aren't.

Me: How so? What specifically makes them different?

You: That's irrelevant to the conversation!

Also, PCs are expandable while consoles are not (unless you're willing to muck around with a soldering iron, in which case you can also argue that my garbage can is a PC too).

I really don't get why this could be bad for a consumer.

The only one who have problems with it are the stores. Which one should they buy to sell?

Should they buy all? What if they can't sell a special Sku etc...