Actually, I'd rather have a potato pancake (latkes) with the egg mixed into the potato, but I like my rosti plain with onions - hmm, carrots might be ok, too.
Then you are clearly neither a rösti nor a hash brown connoisseur... so what are you doing in this thread in the first place?
Well, by that logic they're all "fried potatoes" as well... and any dish with chicken and wine is "coq au vin"... oh yeah, and pineapple upside down cake is a "pancake" (it's a cake! cooked in a pan!)
No my point is that hashbrowns are prepared differently around NA. And they are called hashbrowns. Hashbrowns is a coarser-grained term, fried potatoes even coarser (to refer to your example). Rosti are a specific type of hashbrowns. One would even say a regional variety.
I know my hasbrowns very well thank you and can appreciate all their diversity.
Interesting attempt at being clever. I think you meant to say they basically both food. Which would be correct. The process of cooking (do you cook?) are not remotely similar, so even then you would be mistaken.
I am sorry that you both disagree, but hasbrowns is the term for potatoes that are sliced than pan-fried. Even in North America, they are not always pressed. I suggest you visit the whole continent before engaging in this discussion.
Hashbrowns, latkes, rosti: they are the same with slightly different preparations possible.
Next thing you'll be telling me chips aren't a type of fries.