The other day I was reading this article about stuff that lasts vs disposable junk (my paraphrase): http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4273660.html

Which got me thinking: what would it take to make a computer that is useful 25 years from now? Would it even be possible, or would such a machine become obsolete way before that?

Maybe some type of machine with a reduced capability set. A text editing-only, or a teach kids to read-only appliance (a souped-up Leapfrog perhaps).

But then, after some years, you would have the problem of communicating with the external world. Owners of some "vintage" music samplers have that problem: the instrument may sound and play fine, but if they want to load new samples they need to use Zip drives or SCSI.

Opinions?