The network computer comes of age - computer suppliers developing NC Reference Profile I standard guidelines for network computers - Netcomm Update - Technology Information - Column

Communications News, July, 1996 by Morris Edwards

Six months ago, the Network computer was little more than a concept--and a controversial one at that. Today, it is the talk of the industry and one of its hottest products, backed by several vendors and further legitimatized by a recognized set of standard specifications.

In an unprecedented move, five major suppliers--Apple Computer, IBM, Netscape Communications, Oracle and Sun Microsystems--have joined forces to create guidelines for developing the low-cost, easy-to-use devices.

Called "NC Reference Profile I," the guidelines provide a common set of standard features and functions across a broad range of scalable Network Computers (NCs). The goal is to make multimedia Internet computing as "ubiquitous as telephone and television services," and to promote competition in the new class of devices for use in business, homes and schools.

The architecturally-and platform-neutral guidelines should also ensure compatibility of models from different manufacturers and protect the investments of users, content providers and suppliers of systems, services and applications.

NCs complying with the guidelines may take many forms, from laptops to desktops to video phones, pages and conventional PC Systems Coordinator. Linked to the Internet or a corporate network or intranet, the devices will be able to run basic applications such as Web browsers, E-mail applications, word processors, spreadsheets and presentation packages.

NCs may also function as multimedia machines by supporting video E-mail, 16-bit CD-quality sound and digital videos. While the guidelines provide for standard functionality, they do not impose limitations, so vendors who want to add more functionality to their NCs may do so.

NETWORK-CENTRIC VISION

The concept for a stripped-down, inexpensive computer that would draw its power and resources from the Internet or internal corporate networks was first floated by Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison.

He argued that today's PC Systems Coordinator is too costly and hard to use. As an alternative, he proposed a $500 network access device that could handle popular applications such as E-mail, word processing, Internet and database access and videoconferencing.

Ellison received support from an unlikely source--Lou Gerstner, chairman of IBM, which made the PC a business staple. Espousing a "network-centric" vision, Gerstner agreed that it made sense to migrate many PC functions to the network, including applications, data, storage and even some processing.

Sun Microsystems provided the enabling software with its Java programming language, which allows the NC to tap the Internet or corporate network for the extra computational horsepower and software needed to handle an application.

Programs written in Java are known as applets and can operate on any computer. They can be downloaded from the network to do a specific job and no more. When the user needs an additional feature, he simply clicks to fetch the appropriate applet.

Unlike with PC Systems Coordinator, NC users would not have to upgrade their devices each year to get the next fastest processor. Instead, they would "upgrade" by subscribing to higher levels of computation power on the network. The network would also mask the complexity and incompatibilities of operating systems and allow users to move from application to application and from one release to the next without scrapping the software investment.

NO NEW STANDARDS

To speed development and acceptance of NCs, the Reference Profile was created from existing industry specifications. The hardware guidelines, for instance, call for a minimum screen resolution of 640x480 (VGA) or equivalent, a mouse or track ball pointing device, text input capabilities and audio output.

The Profile also incorporates standard Internet protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP), as well as optional support of Sun's NFS and SMTP, a protocol for distributed device management.

In addition, the Profile adheres to World Wide Web standards HTML, HTTP and the Java Application Environment, as well as to mainstream mail protocols and common data formats.

The standards schedule calls for the Reference Profile I to be available for public comment and review this month. It may be viewed on the Web, along with future versions, at http://www.nc.ihost.com.

Later in the year, the five protagonists plan to organize a joint Web site with tests for profile compliance. Vendors whose designs meet the criteria will be authorized to promote their devices as "NC Profile compliant" and to use the NC logo.

THIN IS IN

Meanwhile, Apple and IBM are readying widely different versions of the NC, and Oracle has introduced a systems software suite that it will license to over 30 manufacturers of NC devices. Sun is considering building a desktop device for corporate use based on the specifications. It is also ready to unveil an operating system called Kona designed specifically to run only Java applets and applications.

Apple says it is incorporating Java into its Pippin operating system and will configure the device as a $500 NC for browsing the Web. At the other end of the scale, IBM has developed a prototype AS/400 "Thin Client" based on the NC specifications that is likely to sell for about $1,000.