PC Towers to be replaced by Large Screen Tablets?

A current design trend being promoted by manufacturers is to kill the PC Tower. The flawed rationale is that consumers want large screen tablets with integrated computer components and interfaces packed into the tablet case. The idea is that this simplifies cabling, eliminates consumer assembly, provides convenience and a cleaner look.

• Flawed Rationale.  Don't buy into this fallacious thinking! This is a design promoted by manufacturers who want to sap your funds by locking you into expensive prefab design components and tablet replacement whenever hardware upgrades or maintenance is needed. Locking integrated PC components into a tight tablet-like case with a big screen forces you into custom integrated circuit boards that require wholesale replacement when upgrades or repair is needed. And guess what? You have to go back to that manufacturer to get those parts -- so you're locked in as a customer at higher prices! Laptops do this. Think too of the integrated TV and DVD Player products -- what do you do when the DVD Player goes bad? Go back to a manufacturer-certified service center for a high cost repair? This is similar to a strategy that Dell has taken to customize their computer motherboard and other components so you MUST buy upgrade and repairs from them.
• Advantages of Flexible Ubiquitous PC Tower.  For most of us, it is better to have the home court advantage that a ubiquitous flexible PC tower provides. Here you can select from among the BEST components at competitive prices for repair, upgrade, replacement, or even to build the best system from scratch. Yes you need to learn a little more about the technology -- but its worth it!   Because (1) you benefit from such learnings in our increasingly high-tech hyper-connected world, and (2) it saves you money!  You can easily upgrade and add new computer capabilities as technology evolves.   We built my system from scratch, researching the best components, buying from NewEgg, ASUS motherboard, Intel Core Duo, Western Digital drives, high reliability, WIFI, and dual O/S booting with vmware. Much more powerful server-like features than a PC... at a cheaper cost than a Dell.
• Bottom line.  Choose the ubiquitous flexible PC tower as your powerhouse system. There is a place for the miniaturization integration technology of tablets, laptops, and iPhones for mobility computing, but not as your main system. This is especially true for home and small business users. For large business, there may be some rationale because you can negotiate large discounts on manufacturer service plans.