I recently was talking with some people of gaming. I mentioned that I primarily use my PC.

I then got a flood of "why don't you just use a console/so much cheaper/less hassle/bigger market/etc"
This made me think about just why I use the PC.


Its not because of the better graphics, mods, (seemingly) better community, etc. Nope, but those are great perks.

I do it because I love the PC in general.
I love the feeling of upgrading my rig. It feels great when I get a performance boost when I OC. I love tinkering with it. I get giddy when I put a new graphics card, or when my PC first boot uber fast after I put in a new SSD.
I'm the kind of person that looks up part specs for fun.

Its my career, my hobby, I just love it.

When "normal" people find out I build PCs, they act so amazed, like its more difficult than a couple hours research. This leads me to believe that most people just think of a computer the same way as, say, their phone or TV. As a tool to be used, something thats a means to an end.

I love the variability of a PC. I can game, do homework, do work, surf the web, and do everything else electronic with no hassle. Not to mention all the other perks you mentioned, like better graphics, mods, and constant upgradability. I'm sure everyone who has a console has a PC or laptop. Why bother having both?

Looks like you're talking to the wrong crowd of people.

It's more of a lifestyle for me. I've been around PCs since I was born, my father taught me how to use them when I got older, and I've owned one for as long as I can remember.

I still use consoles for the games I can't get on PC... but with a PC you have so much more diversity in the types of games, you don't really have to worry about "backwards compatibility", and you can use them for other things besides gaming.

Hmm. No, I pretty much just use my PC to run games on. I did build it, but I didn't enjoy the experience (I'll admit it was a useful learning experience. Gave me a better appreciation of what you get for the extra $ involved in buying a good prebuilt). And I don't tinker with it... no OC'ing, doubt I'll make any changes to it besides upgrading the GPU in a couple years. I've also used consoles (PS1/2/3) for years. But, again, just for what I can run on them.

Now my Macs, on the other hand..... those, I live on. And have since I started using Apple computers in 1980.


But, still, honestly.... I don't think I can call computers a "hobby" of mine. I use them to run things on - it's the programs and applications that are the hobby, not the devices themselves.

Buy a console > play games > watch movies.

Buy a PC > play games > surf the web > write documents > download music > create music > watch movies > create movies > talk on forums > communicate with family > store pictures > create pictures > start a meme > end a meme....the list goes on and on.

OT - PCs to me are a bit of a minor hobby but mostly a tool. I enjoy customizing, upgrading and playing around with different things to get the most out out of it, mostly for gaming but sometimes just for kicks/knowledge but it's mostly just a tool.

Laptop Shopping with my sister;
Sister: I want something that can run sims and is easy to use.
Me: This has a quad core intel CPU and a pretty good GPU, it should be able to run Sims 3 perfectly. And If I believe right, this brand doesn't come with much bloatware.
Sister: *Points to a dell thats around the same price, but horrible specs* "But this ones Purple and Shiny!"




And don't get me started on people who think they're "good" with computers.
You wouldn't believe how many PCs I've had to fix because someone thought their kid was a PC Guru, and just made it worse.

For the first 10 years I had one, my PC was a stand-alone tool, used for genealogy files, photo editing, office-type work, and gaming. I've only been online for about 7 years, but I still see then PC as a tool.

I also build my own, and upgrade regularly, turning the tool into a hobby.

If I only had a PC to play games on then I'd hardly be playing anything at all. Most of my favorite developers, genres, series, etc. have never had any significant presence on PC and the vast majority of multiplatform titles that make their way to PC don't interest me at all. Mass Effect 3 and BioShock Infinite are the only two PC titles I plan on buying this year.

Anywho, I like my PC but it really is just a means to an end. It's handy being able to do so many different things with it, but it's still just like any other device to me. I've stopped caring for the technical side of things though. Overclocking, which is something I used to enjoy, has become tiresome. Following new hardware developments is much the same and I have no plans to upgrade my PC anytime soon as I really can't stand building them anymore. Managing ~5 accounts that games require me to use is annoying.

Is it something you enjoy doinging?

Or when you need to upgrade do you think more along the lines of "ugh... I have to take off my CPU Fan, CPU, put the new CPU in, put back my CPU fan, then hope nothings wrong"

I like it. In the late 90s I used to build a new one every 6-12 months, then hand the old one down to my nieces. I currently have 4 desktops running in this room (see sig for reason), and I'm always looking at new hardware.

This is me. I can swap out a fan, put in a new drive or replace some RAM, but that's about it, and I don't really enjoy doing it.

I do really enjoy what my PC, as a tool, allows me to do, but it's no more a hobby of mine than is the screwdriver in my garage.

A PC is definitely more than a tool for me. It's a hobby and an obsession. I'm always tweaking and testing my computers, and I spend way too much time researching the latest components. I couldn't necessarily describe what exactly I love about it, but I can't really think of anything I'd rather do (hyperbole, but you get the point).

Plus, looking at my desktop (low budget as it is) I love the satisfaction of knowing that I hand picked and installed every part. It makes a pre-built seem so soulless in comparison.

I love my pc for all the things it can do, that consoles cant, but i hate it because of the technical problems, id have alot more money if not for the money sinks pc's are.

This explains it exactly.
Recently my gf walked in on me while I was looking at GPU benchmarks

"Whatcha doin?"
Seeing how well old cards work in SLI compared to the ones.
"You upgrading your computer?"
No.
"So your looking this up... for fun?"
Yep
*her look*

Computers are all wizardry to me. My dad, brother and brother-in-law are all very skilled techs which is fortunate for me because I am not mechanically-minded. My first instinct when my computer acts up is to turn it off.

Your leagues bettter than my parents then.

A few decades ago I moved back home and was staying with my folks before I could find a place.
They didn't have a computer. They didn't have an internet connection, but I set my rig up to play a few games I got at a local gamestop.

So after a few hours of gaming I went out to catch up with some old friends. I left the computer on, my mistake.
I came back and tried to use it, but my monitor was broken.


After talking to my mom, I figured out why.
While I was on my dad wanted to use the internet.
He tried using IE and couldn't get it to work.

So instead of waiting for me to get home, he hit it.
Repeatedly. Apparently to him computer=fancy TV.

Yes, I spend most of my free time working on computers. I dont consider it work though. I love finding out new things about technology and what you can do with it. I too have had a computer for as long as I can remember.

I am currently taking a Cisco Networking Academy course working on my CCENT and CCNA. And probably will take the Net+ exam here soon. I also get satisfaction by upgrading and building new computers.

when it comes down to it i only use computers because that's what i'm used to

Kind of, though I don't do much tinkering. I'm in it for the games, and basically the wide variety of tasks it can do. So yes, but more in an entertainment sense than a tinkering sense in trying to push its to the max and figure things out. I'm sure there's lots of people out there better with computers than me.

I'm definitely one of those people that treat PCs as a tool or means to an end, instead of a hobby. I've heard a lot about how with a bit of research building your own isn't that hard, but I think many just haven't experienced my level of incompetence. When I've got the money I do plan on building my own, but that will be with the help of my friend who does consider PCs a hobby and a passion so hopefully it will all go smoothly.
As it is, my laptop isn't very high spec so I play very few games on here, and I also found that I'm hopeless at playing with a keyboard and mouse. I've been told to persevere and I'll get used to it, but buying a controller for it is on my "to do" list.

I have to agree pc can be annoying with the requirements needed for games. But Pc has many many advantages then consoles.

A big advantage being its games are a lot more customizable. Games like Sims they lack on console being less costumizable while if on pc you have tons of more options. Same with TES games. People make mods making the game again have a better advantage then it is to have on consoles.

I thoroughly enjoy computers and technology. My job is directly tied to them, and most of my hobbies in some way touch base with it too. Can't stand being long without a computer of some kind. I enjoy upgrading my computer and thorougly enjoy learning more about computer/technology-related stuff.

That said, I'm much more into software than hardware. I don't squeeze every drop out of my hardware, preferring to save energy, so I don't bother with overclocking. I also don't particularly enjoy looking up information on the latest and greatest graphics cards or CPUs, just passively learn some and only look when I'm in the mood for a new part.

A bunch of preinstalled crapware and stuff that slows down your boot time on always sub-par hardware (even if you get the same specced hardware, you don't get choices on the little things that add up, like what manufacturer made a specific part. Best example is hard drives. Even among 7200 RPM hard drives, speed vary greatly from one to another).

Macs are PCs that run Mac OS X. There is no fundamental difference which is why those stupid "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials were the biggest BS ever. Case and point: you can install Windows on a Mac. If it wasn't a PC, you wouldn't be able to do this. You could then use your "Mac" just booting into Windows and have all the (exaggerated) problems those commercials described on your "Mac".

My PC, assembled 2 years ago - 1500 PLN - handles Skyrim on High and somewhat Ultra.
XBOX 360 250GB Slim now - about 1000 PLN - handles Skyrim on Low.

The argument about "PC being horrendously expensive" is invalid.