> Did the upgradeable PC ever really work, or did the vast majority of PCs sold go to the dump with exactly the same configuration as sold? IME, it never did.

> Did the upgradeable PC ever really work, or did the vast majority of PCs sold go to the dump with exactly the same configuration as sold? IME, it never did. Except for techies, hardly anyone opened their computers. I remember seeing some system offered to corporate customers that lacked upgradability (except maybe memory). At first I objected - what a ripoff - but then I realized the truth. My impression is that PCs got their start with hobbyists and were designed for them, with extra slots and bays, etc., and to this day the designs are still adjusting to the vast majority of end-users. I think the first office suites included relational database authoring tools for everyone - as if most office workers would just whip them up as needed, like word processing documents. Apple has always seen it differently: You couldn't (can't?) open the cases without special tools.