Is this board a good alternative to the PC?

Hi,
I have seen the board described in this link.
http://www.seventech.it/english/merlinoboard/2.php
I think that its a good solution to realize an embedded system with VGA
output, in that cases where, to use the PC, is not convenient.
I have seen that it's available also a dev kit to develop the code in C++
and it is not necessary to use an operating system, but its possible use
linux..
How is it possible to work with a system without operating system?
You thing thought of it?  Is it really a good product? Who has used this
board?
Thanks
Renato