I’ve loved consoles and PCs since I was a kid, though I’ve switched back and forth over the years. Let’s compare why we love them and where each of the systems shines.
Console
In the red corner, weighing in at roughly 6 lbs. we have the family favorite, king of fighter games.
PC
In the blue corner, weighing in at 20 lbs. The Swiss army knife, the real mean machine, it’s the PC.
Let’s Break It Down by Stats:
Games
While there are a ton of games for either system, racing and fighting games seem better suited for console, while RTS’s and FPS’s feel right on the PC. The PC has a much wider variety of games, and thanks to Gabe, cheaper too. Consoles also get all the fun hardware like guitars and Kinect. While most of those end up on PCs they never seem to keep the excitement. So for this I’m calling a tie.
Graphics
Console graphics are pretty good in today’s 1080p world. However, graphics on PCs just keep improving. Even as the console is rolling off the assembly line, PC equivalents are usually already better or faster. Consoles generally have a 7 year lifespan, which means their hardware takes a long time to improve compared to PCs. There’s plenty of graphics hardware that makes leaps and bounds for the PC every year if not sooner. PC wins!
Functionality
Consoles have recently expanded their roles to include functions like Netflix and exercise programs. With a shift in focus, the consoles of today are practically PCs based on their parts list. However, true PCs are the jack of all trades. They can be a work computer on Mondays, an art project on Fridays, a gaming and multimedia machine on weekends. Whether work or play, the PC can handle it all. PC wins again!
Ease of Use
Many may argue that a PC is just as easy to use as a console, but I always have to go with the parent test. Place parents in front of a pc and they are lost. Put them in front of the Wii and parents will be bowling in 10 minutes. So for this test console wins!
Cost
While initially PCs tend to be the expensive choice here, their usefulness in the home and cheaper games give them the better bang for the buck over the long run. One could argue that a PC can be made for cheaper than a console, but a true gaming system still requires a few more dollars then a console. We can’t ignore the base cost here, so Console wins!
It’s a Tough Fight to Call. Let’s Check With the Judges
Honestly my home isn’t complete without at least one of each. But I definitely spend 90% of my time on a PC. What’s your favorite system? Let us know in the comments below.
