Make README.md introduction less esoteric.

README.md

@@ -1,21 +1,20 @@
 # Prometheus
 
-Bedecke deinen Himmel, Zeus!  A new kid is in town.
-
-Prometheus is a generic time series collection and computation server that is
-useful in the following fields:
-
-* Industrial Experimentation / Real-Time Behavioral Validation / Software Release Qualification
-* Econometric and Natural Sciences
-* Operational Concerns and Monitoring
-
-The system is designed to collect telemetry from named targets on given
-intervals, evaluate rule expressions, display the results, and trigger an
-action if some condition is observed to be true.
-
-TODO: The above description is somewhat esoteric. Rephrase it into
-something that tells normal people how they will usually benefit from
-using Prometheus.
+Prometheus is a systems and service monitoring system. Prometheus' main
+distinguishing features as compared to other monitoring systems are:
+
+- a **multi-dimensional** data model (timeseries defined by metric name and set of key/value dimensions)
+- a **flexible query language** to leverage this dimensionality
+- no dependency on distributed storage; **single server nodes are autonomous**
+- timeseries collection happens via a **pull model** over HTTP
+- **pushing timeseries** is supported via an intermediary gateway
+- targets are discovered via **service discovery** or **static configuration**
+- multiple modes of **graphing and dashboarding support**
+- **federation support** coming soon
+
+Prometheus collects metrics from configured targets at given intervals,
+evaluates rule expressions, displays the results, and can trigger alerts
+if some condition is observed to be true.
 
 ## Install