There has been a lot of interest in what has been called
the "Network Computer" or "NC." These terms are somewhat loosely used to
describe inexpensive computers that have little or no local storage (i.e. floppy
or hard drive) and download their applications and data from a network server.
Network computers have few moving parts and are very inexpensive to manufacture
and maintain. Some models do not even need a fan. Prices for the first generation
NCs are between $300 and $1000.
An even greater advantage for companies and schools are the very low annual cost
of ownership of NCs. The estimated annual cost of a desktop PC including hardware
maintenance and software administration is $10,000 to $12,500. In
contrast, the annual cost of a NC is estimated to be $2,500. For a company with
thousands of PC's, migration to NCs could save them millions of dollars. The
hardware would be almost maintenance free and software updates for hundreds of
NCs could be accomplished by one change on the server.
A number of companies have rallied around the concept of network computers, and
developed a reference standard. This standard would make the the term NC similar
to PC, in that one implies "NC" compatible and the other implies "PC" compatible.
The NC Reference Profile, developed by Apple, IBM, Netscape, Oracle, and Sun, defines
what features are required to allow a computer to be designated a Network Computer or "NC."
The NC Reference Profile requires:
Several companies are working on Java applets. Corel has been demonstrating a
Java version of its WordPerfect office suite; Applix and Oracle also have office
suite Java applets for Network Computers.
Some skeptics question the logic of loading applications and data across a
network when network bandwidth is already a limiting factor. My response to these
skeptics is: a large number of institutions already launch large applications and
data from servers across their network. The only difference between what they do
now and what they could do with NCs, is that instead of launching a
multi-megabyte Microsoft Office suite from a server, they are launching a 600
kilobyte Java applet suite. NCs are not necessarily a problem for an
institution's network; in many cases they make better use of a network than
many organizations already do.
This is not to say that Java is ideal. Java is new, and not as robust and fully
featured as other languages. Better development tools are needed. However, Java
is improving an incredible pace, and most of these problems will be fixed by the
time Network Computers become widely used.
Network Computers would be a threat to Microsoft's current domination of the
computer industry, and initially, Microsoft dismissed them as a bad idea that
would never catch on. However, in the last few months, after it became apparent
that the idea of Network Computers was being well received by businesses, Microsoft
changed its tune. It has adopted a new strategy which involved the
development of a competing standard called the "NetPC." The NetPC is a slimmed
down version of an Windows Pentium machine that would have lower maintenance
costs than current systems. The NetPC would still run some version of Windows,
but it would boot and run software from a WindowsNT server. NetPC would have
fewer moving parts than a traditional PC and not require a hard drive. Unlike the
NC, the NetPC would not be processor-independent and would still tie you into
using Microsoft's Office solutions.
In Summary:
Articles and Reviews:
Press Releases:
NC SoftwareL
Note that the reference profile does not specify a processor. This is possible
because Java applets are processor-independent. Several companies have announced plans
to develop Network Computers; although these computers will have different processors,
they should all be able to connect to the same server and run the same Java applications.
The Network Computer has the potential to revolutionize computing, and even its
detractors are taking it seriously. NCs will certainly have an impact in
specific industries that use a large number of computers for relatively light
tasks, but it is unclear if they will dominate the desktop computer industry.
Additional Information:
InfoWorld [10.21.96]: Compaq thins down PC leader to launch NC products
Apple's Press Release on the NC agreement
Applix Anyware Office
Oracle NC System Software Suite
Updated: Thursday, December 12, 1996, 8:32 pm
Peter DeVries (pdevries@cs.wisc.edu)
Copyright © 1996 InterNIC Internet Scout