a nicely done article, being the nitpicker that i am though...
open PCs replaced proprietary microcomputers twenty years ago.
actually proprietary microcomputers didn't have much of a market until IBM created one, and since IBM's PC was open architecture right from the start, one can't really say it replaced anything. IBM did try for a few years to keep PCs slow and inefficient to try and make sure they didn't cut into IBM's minicomputer market, but that didn't last long as they fumbled the ball to Compaq quite early in the game.
anyway, i digress, good article, the future's bright.