Computing appliance

Definition
A computing appliance is

"[a] computing device that provides predefined services, and that has its underlying operating (OS) software hidden beneath an application-specific interface. Computing appliances offer reduced complexity (e.g., installation, administration and maintenance) and faster deployment by hiding the operating software and embedding the application within the device. A computing appliance may be based on a general-purpose OS (e.g., Windows, Solaris or Linux) if the OS's complexity is hidden and the ability to load arbitrary services is removed.

Computing appliances can provide one or more services; however, they not general-purpose devices in that they are not flexible in the services they provide. Gartner, IT Glossary (full-text)."