For a long time, people viewed video game consoles as entities separate from computers, after all, a video game console has a completely different look and interface when compared to a PC. In the past, video game consoles and PCs were quite different, but these days, it seems like the two are becoming much more alike. Take the Xbox 360, it has a hard drive, Ethernet capabilities, and a Windows OS, much like the central features on the average PC. In fact, the Xbox 360 is just a supped up PC in a smaller package designed for games, in other words, a high-end gaming PC. Critics have speculated that consoles are becoming computers, and soon, the consoles will be abolished in favor of the PC, which will be able to support all games. However, the relative price of the console when compared to the PC is the main reason the console has continued to succeed. For a computer capable of what the Xbox 360 can do in terms of games, it would cost about $1500 to custom build it, and more if bought in a package from a manufacturer. The Xbox 360 currently sells for about $270 at any electronics store.
Consoles have also become easier to repair over the years, and an experienced computer repair person can also repair an Xbox 360, whether an owner needs to replace Xbox 360 hard drive, install a cooling system, or repair a video card.
