I have a laptop that I bought quite a few years ago and it works fine. The cost came out to be like $1.2k (active 3-D glassed included) but it is a system that I've been able to use as a PC gaming system and it works perfectly fine with all games so far. Now, for the same price you could get a much better... -much- better desktop, especially since this laptop is now 3 years old. I have a PS3 controller I use for the games, but you can also use an Xbox 360 controller, of course. Also, there are emulators so not only is a portable current-gen console (provided the PC version of things are out -ahem- GTA V =[), but of course a portable PS1, PS2, SNES, DS, bla bla up to Wii. There are also modding and multiplayer communities... and no fees for multiplayer. 3 years with a console membership.. I'll assume like $60 a year raises the price $180... change that to 7 years (how long the PS3 has been out) and you've got an extra $420 added to that cost.
Then again, there are different multiplayer communities for consoles, and you do get games with the PSN subscription and even the Xbox's crappy games =p. I'm a huge fan of portability, and that's my main reason for getting a PC.
Okay lmao I'll stop with my advert for PC games there =p.
Wait, one more thing... I say this as a person who (of course) used to play... okay buy consoles. I have one PS3 game, and one (maybe two?) Xbox 360 games (free games not included). I did buy a lot of Wii games though, oddly enough... which makes me not feel as bad about pirating more -whistles-.
Seriously, I'll shut up lol.
Edit: Holy.. that's a wall of text.