does anyone have an answer as to why all these new pinball companies havent stuck with the same system Stern is using...is it because the Stern system cant run large LCD screens, or will that be a easy add on to the Stern system to have a LCD working with it.

Sterns system seems to work really well, doesnt take up much space at all, and there is bugger all to it, so why havent the others gone this route instead of PC based ideas/systems.

Seems to be efficient n cheap to build/use, so why not copy Sterns way ? I wouldnt mind hearing why people think these new companies havent done what Stern has done ?? what is the advantage oof staying Sterns way, what is the advantage of going the PC way, cause so far, we are hearing no benefit by going PC based, except maybe its easier to put together from shelf parts ??

anyone have an idea why they are not sticking with a tried n tru method ?? 

Very simple - a PC (Personal Computer) already has all the LCD screen driver hardware built in - NOTHING to do - just plug a screen into the port that is already on the motherboard and anyone can find a programmer to write stuff for PC's

They are taking shortcuts - that is the ONLY reason. To drive an LCD screen using embedded systems is MUCH harder times 10

In the short term it will be great because we will have a myriad of new players making pinballs and probably a lot of great ideas will flow from that but I fear, in the longer term (after five years) we will have an awful lot of these new machines being junked because nobody will be able to keep them going. That includes JJP, Heighway and ANYONE who is going down the Personal Computer route.

My mate with the jukeboxes wishes he had never become involved with them - they are taking a massive amount of time, work effort and money and, in the end, break down again after a couple of months.

PCs simply ARE NOT reliable enough and they become obsolete far too quickly for this type of product IMO.