Since computer subsystems (graphics, sound, netwoking...etc..) became commodities (is that the right word?) in the late 90's closed hardware became pointless...
Even the Amiga Designers in the early 90's started to plan for third party gfx cards (read some of the comment about the AAA chips set Dave Haynie has made). let us not forget that even the Hallowed Mac's use Third party sound and graphics... Tthe CPU will eventaully be come commodified, although a common CPU interface would be needed if that is to be come a totally true satement... Hypertransport anyone?
The point is that now you can get a great system with everything you can need (ie mini-itx) for the same price now as a Ram expansion would have cost you 10 years ago... :-o
Computers are no longer special, they just are... everybody has one and they all do the same thing. All you have to choose is the OS and the price...
