1. For $500 you could make a computer that could run Crysis on Medium-high settings.
2. Don't be an idiot - I've never got a virus.
3. This is a valid point.

A company that...wants to make money?

SURELY YOU JEST.

m1cr0$h@ft doesn't need any money, after all bill gates is the richest person on earth

You can't buy a new computer that can do what a new Xbox can do for the same price.

Certainly not the cheapest Xbox.

I've seen empty computer cases that cost more than 200 dollars, and the 200 dollar xbox happens to run just as well as the elite. So long as it's a recent model.

Consoles are a perfectly valid alternative, and there's no real reason for PC users to dislike console users or vice versa.

Internet users are so angry all the time.

[joke]That's rich coming from you.[/joke]
I totally agree with you.

Computers have much more utility than just games, so if all you want to do is play games, then it's certainly more efficient to just get a console. Of course, some genres just plain work better or are more plentiful on one when compared to the other, and such. I needed a laptop for college, so I got a really nice one and it has a lot more utility than running my old games.

Also, I really don't see piracy as having as much an actual effect on the gaming industry as is commonly perceived. Stardock has some interesting things to say about that (namely #8 on their gamer's bill of rights, stating that gamers have the right not to be treated as a potential criminal). Personally, I'm of the opinion that DRM has hurt the industry more than helped. My economics class has some interesting things about crime control, too...

Anyway, I refuse to elaborate on all that, since I'm lazy. Also, price is no object when you're not the one paying.

Obviously computers have more use beyond gaming, but there's also plenty you can do with a computer that can't necessarily run the latest games. I have two laptops with less than 2 ghz CPU, and 1gb of RAM apiece. Both run perfectly fine and do everything I want out of them, so long as I don't expect them to run the latest 3d games.

A desktop that's well made is certainly a great choice if you've got a few hundred bucks to spare, but not everyone does. A console is a commonly cheaper alternative that requires no assembly, is harder to break, has a much better warranty, and has no hassles with installation or DRM or anything of that nature.

It's not so much that computers are hard to use; it's that consoles are excessively easier. Computers still, of course, offer the massive advantage in power. Any up-to-date console is obsolete three months after being designed, let alone manufactured and shipped. And if you make a console with the capacity for upgrading, it's a recipe for disaster.

So, as I said, both have advantages and disadvantages. Obviously, this forum probabably has a larger market of PC consumers, but if you went on oh horror of horrors gamefaqs, you'd probably find plenty of illiterate ignorant and incredibly stupid console supporters. They're the ones who give us a bad name, you know.

Man I am just making long posts all over the place today.

I like where you stand, Grif. My computer runs well, and does what is necessary for my and my dad (my mom uses it sometimes I guess), and because it's from 2002, I can't play any of the best PC games (besides UT '99, but the disk disappeared). So consoles are for people like me I suppose, but it really does suck not being able to mod every game you get like you can with PC games (not as easily I should say).

this is great!
my mate is complaining its 'too complicated though'
its not at all, fun exploring aswell!

The NXE Update just finished and it's pretty neat.

The pop-up guide is smaller, uses the blades, looks better and gives more quick info, lets you browse marketplace content, shows you a popular DLC item for the game you're playing, and is a hell of a lot more optimized. You can launch different games from it while in another, check on your party, etc. The party system is pretty nifty if you want to talk to a small group (I think about 5) while in the same or different games.

Now about the avatars, They're pretty neat too. The customization is a hell of a lot more advanced than the wii version, you can take a pic of the Avatar in the configurator to use as a gamerpic, they can be used in some arcade games (UNO, Kingdom for Keflings and more soon) and new accessories/clothes are added every week or two.

I've only used the HDD install for one game (Halo 3 6.5GB). While the load times are faster and the 360 quieter, it doesn't seem worth it to me but somebody'll get a kick out of it. There's more but I don't want to type anymore, overall it's an awesome update and a nice change.

(ON TOPIC)
I don't see why people get both instead of bashing one or the other, getting a nice PC and a 360/PS3 (Wii and Nintendo can burn in hell now) sounds like a pretty good investment and you won't miss out on much...

seems there's a bug; when you click on someone on your friends list, and then back out to the dash again, it freezes for about 20 seconds.
laaame.

The avatars think seems too childish...

Please let that be sarcasm.
I like this hard-drive copying stuff; considering the rate my 'box eats discs, it'll be a blessing.