Newsletter sign-up

View all newsletters

Sign up for our technology specific newsletters.

Enterprise Java

Email Address:

Deciphering the NC world

Network computers and Internet appliances hold great promise for the world at large -- and for Java in particular

By William Blundon, JavaWorld.com, 03/01/97

Page 2 of 3

The result is that client hardware can be anything -- well, anything that can render a few basic content types like HTML, GIF, and JPEG. The nature of the client, its cost, resources, and capabilities are variables that are unique to each specific purpose or use. In the case of applications that are highly transactional or repetitive, there is no need to store much information or perform much computing (beyond rendering) on the client. In fact, with applications that are entirely transactional, there is no need for local storage beyond the requirements of display and network caching.

This new "design center" has fostered a rash of innovation. Three types of appliances in particular -- WebTV, the network computer, and the NetworkPC -- warrant some additional discussion.

But first, let's look at how Java ties into this new computing paradigm.

Java and Cinderella's glass slipper: A perfect fit

The Network Computing Reference Profile Version 1 defines a standard client environment for network computing. Java figures prominently as the working environment for applications due to its cross platform capabilities -- and because of its unique ability to produce both fast, compact applets and sophisticated applications software. Complete Java applications will be available for download and execution on the diverse chip sets found in the NC clients that are currently in design or production.

These clients will maintain an integral operating system but will rely on a Java virtual machine to execute network applications. Most analysts forecast relatively few native applications; the majority will be downloaded dynamically from the network. This may be a self-fulfilling prophecy since the NC specification does not mandate a local disk. NC vendors are relying, perhaps optimistically, on an adequate supply of third-party applications published by independent software vendors.

Since the NC standard does not mandate a specific CPU or motherboard, it can accommodate multiple implementations by different computer vendors. In development are CPUs based on the Intel X86 family, PowerPC, and Intel 80960. The NC also is creating a market for completely new chips, such as Sun's picoJava.

People with a long memory and no sense of humor may try to equate the NC with Sun's diskless workstations of the 1980s. These computers and the X terminal proved to be too slow for most users. They also created a tremendous aftermarket for add-on disks and network servers. Comparisons between these workstations and NCs are inevitable but unfair. The NC is not a diskless workstation. It is a true network device for modern networks that support distributed computing. Their target user is also different. Where workstations were designed for engineers doing heavy computational and disk intensive work, the NC is designed for the less demanding computing work of office workers.

Variations on a theme

The NetworkPC is Microsoft's hasty response to the NC. It is based on an Intel design that requires a 486 or Pentium CPU and an operating system based on Windows 95. It is, in short, a personal computer. Dell, Gateway, and Compaq are supporting the NetworkPC -- at least in the press. Compaq and others, however, also have a new strategy and are trying to drive down the price of their standard personal computer lines to break the magic ,000 price point. Compaq's Presario 2000 does so (well, without a monitor) and does not require a network for operation. Good luck to the NetworkPC.

 

Improve efficiency with Visual Studio(r) 2010 Beta 2. - Microsoft

About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Terms of Service/Privacy

Copyright, 2006-2008 Network World, Inc. All rights reserved.