lol, sorry . I gotta update the OP.

Pretty dense, eh?  Do you not recall the second reply to this very thread?  :P

I do, however, the second part was purely speculation and had no relevance to the thread.

-_-

It was just a joke dude.

Sorry, late night, and dealing with my very own personal troll, my sense of humor is gone.

This is silly a game console is a subset of a general purpose computer. A PC is a super set of a game console. They overlap and are not mutually exclusive. You can install linux on a PS3 (and other consoles, but often requiring mod kits), and hook up a keyboard to it. A PC has a console built in, and it's called that with every PC, including those running Windows. Why do you think Microsoft has a section of their API dedicated to console functions?

What a bizarre thread, and one that constantly seems to shoot itself in the foot.

However, because I'm bored, I'll wade in (probably only once, as some of the replies in this thread have been little more than infuriating): All consoles are personal computers, albeit ones with limitations built in. All computers need a console to access and control them. All personal computers designed for gaming are, by definition, gaming consoles. So, a PC designed primarily for gaming is a games console, even if it can do others things. Examples of these include 360s, PS3s, Alienware machines, and many, many more.

So, if you want to get it straight for a definition, you'd have to answer the OP's question with: sometimes.

I.e.: all gaming computers are games consoles by the very meaning of their words, but not all personal computers are games consoles (although, nowadays, most home personal computers are). So, by definition, the PC is a console, and the PC may be a gaming console.

So, are gaming consoles PCs? Yes.

Are PCs gaming consoles? Sometimes.

A PC contains a console.

That sums it up quite good.

@Ironman:

I would have to say I am on the fence then sadly. I think gaming consoles are PCs at their core and that PCs have the function of being a gaming console. I believe if we wind up having a discussion about games that appear on both then they both have to be considered gaming consoles for that argument. I do feel that PCs are capable of much more than playing games (and PS3 and X360 are both capable of more than games but not as much more). Hmmm so thanks for being mature about our conversation and I am not being difficult but I would have to say I don't have a definite opinion because I do view it as mostly a grey or blurred concept. Interesting thread though.