<What we need is the "Open Hardware" movement. What is Open Hardware? It is <a set of specifications for a computer and an interface system that anyone <can build processors, I/O, or accessories for without owing any taxes to <anyone. Or an older SS50, s100, Multibus, STDbus, Qbus, unibus, Omnibus, eurobus... system. < <However, ideally, this "open architecture" needs a bit of software already <available for it to get the movement off the ground. I suggest that the <PDP-11 could be that architecture for several reasons: < 1) It has lots of software available for it. < 2) It can be expressed in a single modern FPGA so processors < can be "home built" < 3) It has some pretty easy to use busses defined for it (Q-Bus, Unibus) Why roll your own when there are plenty of them cheap to free. Special hardware could be handy like a good IDEinterface or a really cheap SCSI. <Alternatively one could go with something like SPARC (which Sun alleges is <open but I have my doubts) Too highend. Allison