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(And may God have mercy on your soul)
So, where is the mystical "Compaq-Land"? The countryside looks not too different from any other, the cities the same as the rest. Like all other mystical lands, it must be sought out, for that which appears to be one thing on the surface is often something entirely different. To truly find "Compaq-Land", you must enter through the back woods. There are many telltale signs that this is a different place, if you know how to find them. Sneak through the gates into the castle. What were seen as beautiful towers from miles away now become the frightening passages in the dungeon...
There are two basic ways to build a computer. One was is the way we do it. Start with a solid foundation. Pick a high-quality motherboard. Add to that a reliable processor and good RAM. Select a sound card for either value or home-theatre quality and plug it in to an available slot. Select a video card for everyday use or the highest end games. And know that if the buyer ever changes his or her mind, they can change your card to something else. Put it all in a standard tower, using industry-standard power supplies, and admire your handiwork.
The other way is as in "Compaq-Land". Start with your motherboard. Be sure to use a proprietary design that will only fit into your tower, and also make it impossible to use an industry-standard motherboard for a replacement in the event that an upgrade or replacement is needed. Then make the video card an irremovable part of the board, and do not provide a slot for a standard graphics card so it can never be changed. (This is what is referred to in the business as "integrated", an evil sorcerer that is to be avoided at all costs.) Have the video memory share system memory (which means that if you have 32MB of RAM in your base system with 8MB of shared video RAM, you actually have only 24MB available for applications.) You may also want to make the sound system part of the motherboard, and perhaps even the modem.
There is much more to be seen if you’re a brave adventurer and choose to continue your quest into the dark streets of "Compaq-Land". Have your sword ready. The dragons known as "Proprietary Power Supply", and maybe even "Proprietary RAM" live there. And if you’re truly an unlucky traveler, you may even see the dreaded "Bigfoot". Perhaps the queen will tempt you with her iresistable offers, only to leave you paying the dreaded "Microsoft Network Tax" for years to come.
To be fair, it is possible for an occational tower in "Compaq-Land" to be free of demons. But you most likely won't know until it's too late, and you're in the monster's grasp. If you would like a tour of "Compaq-Land", come to Computers 76, where we have the ruins of one of the ancient towers for you to see while safely escorted by a gallant and fearless knight.