Another: We have chosen the "god in a CPU" architecture for our PCs -- one supreme all-powerful all-knowing CPU that runs everything, surrounded by much smaller CPUs that are total idiots in comparison. Instead, what about architectures where there are large numbers of small CPU, roughly equal in capability, networked together to form a powerful system. Working examples of such systems can outperform supercomputers, at far lower cost. They could readily be built with Z80-type SBCs by hobbyiests.
Well I think the people at Intel et. al. realize that they have to go to multiprocessor systems in the near future. They already have it on servers and workstations of course but they may make their way down to the average PC. They currently manipulate the cost so that if you want something that is 3 times faster than average you end up apying more than three times. However, the only thing I'm aware of that lets them do this is the fact that the most popular OS is sold per-processor for licenses. If linux were to finnally catch on...
IBM just got a contract to buld the worlds most powerful computer for the dept of energy. It will run on linux and lots of intel chips. It will not run AIX (ibm unix) :) Oreilly has a book about how to build a supercomputer this way.
Glen.