Ok.. I think some of you are a bit uh... Confused.
a) If you think a game on a (comparitively) small computer monitor, is better than the same game on a large tv screen, then i think you need to invest in a new TV. if you insist on Hi-Res games because you just want to be able to tell people that although they can't see the difference it's actually there, buy a HDTV, and a HDTV kit for the console (i dunno if PS2 has this, but as much as i hate MS, xbox is by far the best gaming console at the moment)
b) as for "internet" play, why play with someone who is 10 000 kms away, and have to deal with lag and pay $100's (or $1000's) a month for a 'net connection that will allow online gaming. Once again, PS2 supports 2 machines, x-box supports up to 4 (with halo) and up to 16 machines (Yes, 16 x 4 = 64 Max players) in UT. And, all you need is a cheap Hub/Switch and some Cat5.
c) as for cost. I assume you meant $US1300, which is roughly $A2600. I know someone who has an X-Box, 3 controllers, and about 13 or 14 games. it has cost him about $2000. but how many PC games, can you have four people playing at once? how many PC games can you play from the comfort of your own COUCH?? And, while we're on the cost issue. Unless you're gonna start buying pirated games/OS (which i have nothing against, but it drops the price on both sides, and im assuming everything is legit), if you want to run Windows games, you have to buy a copy of Windows. Last time i checked, WindowsXP Home cost more than an Xbox. Then there's the games. Are they supported by XP? Do you need '98 as well? Do you have fully supported Video/Audio cards? Is your Motherboard fully supported? Does the game have a beef with your modem? Don't tell me it doesn't happen nowadays, because it does.
The bottom line is, computers, that is, Desktop/Laptop/Server/Mainframe computers, were not DESIGNED for games.
"Video" Game Consoles/Etc (incl. Atari/Sega ANYTHING/Nintendo ANYTHING/ PSX, PSOne, PS2, Xbox, etc) are specifically designed to play games, on your TV. Sure, the xbox is basically a desktop in a small case with a cutdown ROM OS, but it is designed to play games. Do you think Apple, or Microsoft, or even the Linux community's main goal is to make a Desktop OS that runs games? No. They want an OS that is stable, can be used in a VARIETY of manners, and yet still be easy to use. a console is tailored for games. until EVERY house has something that resembles the future/ideology of Apple's Digital Lifestyle, then computers will ALWAYS be secondary for gaming.
Pengu