Ray Van Eng (05/23/96)
One of the most vociferous advocates of the NC, or Network Computer is
Larry Ellison, Oracle Corp.'s chairman & CEO. He envisioned the device
as a low cost (sub $500) no hard disk machine for the consumers to access
a public network such as the Internet and run downloadable Java applications
right off the network itself.
Oracle, a database and software development tool company is not going to make the device, 15 other hardware partners will, including Acorn Computer, Akai Electronic, IDEA, Mitac, Nokia Group, Olivetti, Tatung, Wyse Technology etc. Ellison indicated that a group of telecommunication companies have placed an order for 2 million of the NCs which might eventually be given away to consumers to stimulate the Internet access market.
In the US, IBM, Apple, Netscape and Sun Microsystems has pledged support for the NC specifications so as to ensure interoperability across all machines made by the various manufacturers.
IBM actually has a slightly different vision about the NC though. The first product from the computer giant will be a PowerPC based device ($750) aimed at corporate users. Apple meanwhile is preparing to roll out a number of devices that are based on their Pippin operating system.
By Christmas this year, Akai will introduce a $300 device that hooks up to a tv screen to display Internet information.
When asked why Microsoft is not on the the NC list, Ellison was careful in not alienating Its chief software rival and that "The goal of the NC is nothing less than universal service in the same sense as universal telephone service." Microsoft happens to be one of the most vocal group in opposing the idea of a NC as a cheap alternative to the PC.
It is also interesting to note that Nortel, the Canada telecommunication company is re-designing its PowerTouch business telephone sets and turn them into Internet access devices by incorporating a Java chip from Sun Microsystems. Nortel have also indicated that they will start testing Java-based consumer wireless products in 1997.
