What is a PC?
This article about PCs is about personal computers, sometimes abbreviated PC. See Player Character (sometimes abbreviated PC) for the article on the gaming term.
PC is an acronym for personal computer, defined as "a general-purpose computer equipped with a microprocessor and designed to run especially commercial software (as a word processor or Internet browser) for an individual user." 1
Basically, a PC is any computer small enough and inexpensive enough that an average income citizen can afford one and fit it easily in their home, as well as operate it without much difficulty.
By strict definition, all desktops and laptops are PCs. However, Microsoft ran a campaign asking users "Are you a Mac or a PC?" Partially in response to this ad, many use PC to reference a computer running on a Windows operating system and Mac to reference those running on Macintosh.