View source for Network Computer

{{for|the Sun Microsystems slogan|The Network is the Computer}}
{{Short description|Computer that depends on a computer network}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox Computer
| name = Network Computer
| developer = Oracle Corporation
| release date = 1996
| discontinued = 2000
}}
The '''Network Computer''' (or '''NC''') was a [[diskless node|diskless]] [[desktop computer]] device made by [[Oracle Corporation]] from about 1996 to 2000. The devices were designed and manufactured by an alliance, which included [[Sun Microsystems]] (acquired by Oracle in 2010), [[IBM]], and others. The devices were designed with minimum specifications, based on the [[Network Computer Reference Profile]]. The brand was also employed as a [[marketing]] term to try to popularize this design of computer within enterprise and among consumers.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The NC brand was mainly intended to inspire a range of desktop computers from various suppliers that, by virtue of their diskless design and use of inexpensive components and software, were cheaper and easier to manage than standard [[fat client]] [[Personal computer|desktops]]. However, due to the [[commoditization]] of standard desktop components, and due to the increasing availability and popularity of various software options for using full desktops as [[diskless node]]s, [[thin client]]s, and [[hybrid client]]s, the Network Computer brand never achieved the popularity hoped for by Oracle and was eventually [[:wikt:mothball#Verb|mothballed]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The term "network computer" is now used for any [[diskless node|diskless]] [[desktop computer]] or a [[thin client]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==History ==
{{Original research|section|date=June 2011}}
The failure of the NC to impact on the scale predicted by [[Larry Ellison]] may have been caused by a number of factors. Firstly, prices of PCs quickly fell below $1000, making the competition very hard. Secondly, the software available for NCs was neither mature nor open.<ref>{{Cite book | author=Walters, E. Garrison | title=The essential guide to computing | year=2001 | publisher=Prentice Hall PTR | location=Upper Saddle River, NJ  | isbn=0-13-019469-7 | page=[https://archive.org/details/essentialguideto00walt/page/13 13] | url=https://archive.org/details/essentialguideto00walt  | url-access=registration | quote=information network desktop computer IT appliance 1970-2005. | access-date=2008-05-06 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2008}}

Thirdly, the idea could simply have been ahead of its time, as at the NC's launch in 1996, the typical home [[Internet]] connection was only a 28.8&nbsp;kbit/s modem [[dialup]]. This was simply insufficient for the delivery of [[executable]] content. The [[World Wide Web]] itself was not considered mainstream until its breakout year, 1998. Prior to this, very few [[Internet service provider]]s advertised in mainstream press (at least outside of the US), and knowledge of the Internet was limited. This could have held back uptake of what would be seen as a very niche device with no (then) obvious appeal.

NCs ended up being used as the very 'dumb terminals' they were intended{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}} to replace, as the [[proprietary software|proprietary]] backend infrastructure is not readily available.{{Clarify|date=May 2008}} 1990s era NCs are often network-booted into a minimal [[Unix]] with [[X Window System|X]], to serve as [[X terminal]]s. While NC purists may consider this to be a suboptimal use of NC hardware, the NCs work well as terminals, and are considerably cheaper than purpose-built terminal hardware.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==NC standards and drafts==

===Reference Profile===
{{details|Network Computer Reference Profile}}
The initial Network Computing standard, the [[Network Computer Reference Profile]] (NCRef), required that all 'NC' appliances supported [[HTML]], [[Java virtual machine|Java]], [[HTTP]], [[JPEG]], and other key standards.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Other standards===

Because many NCs did not use [[Intel]] [[Central processing unit|CPUs]] or [[Microsoft]] [[Computer software|software]], Microsoft and Intel developed a competing standard called [[NetPC]].<ref name="bytecoverstory">[http://www.byte.com/art/9704/sec6/art1.htm Cheaper Computing, Part I] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404210105/http://www.byte.com/art/9704/sec6/art1.htm |date=2007-04-04 }}, ''Byte'' magazine, April 1997</ref> Other alternatives to the NCRef were [[WeBRef]] ([[Motorola]] and [[HDS (company)|HDS]] Network Systems) and Odin ([[National Semiconductor]]).<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.csstc.org/manuals_e-readiness/supplement/S_Chapter4.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302101133/http://www.csstc.org/manuals_e-readiness/supplement/S_Chapter4.htm
|archive-date=2011-03-02
|url-status=unfit
| title = Network Computer in The Future
| access-date = 2011-06-08
| last= Virano Gazi Nasution
|author2=Aprita Primayuda |author3=Aristo Lystiono |author4=Indarti Primora B Harahap |author5=Medwi Swasono
| publisher = [[Non-Aligned Movement]]
| quote = Here are four NC standards and reference platforms as specified by a certain vendor or group of vendors, in no particular order: The Network Computer Reference Profile (NCRef) by Oracle. The NetPC standard from Microsoft. WeBRef by Motorola and HDS Network Systems. National Semiconductor's Odin Reference Platform.}}
</ref> The HDS @workStation was stated to ship by the end of June 1996.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/First-NC-sales-slated-for-this-month/2100-1023_3-214114.html | title = First NC sales slated for this month | access-date = 2011-06-10 | last = Shelton | first = Denise | date = 1996-06-07 | publisher = [[CNET.com]] | quote = HDS Network Systems says it's set this month to become the first vendor out of the gate with a commercially available device based on Oracle's Network Computer Reference Profile. [...] the HDS @workStation [...]}}</ref>

===NC extensions===

==NC implementations==
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===Acorn Network Computer===
[[Image:Acorn-Netstation.jpg|thumb|right|An Acorn NetStation NC]]
The [[Acorn Network Computer]] was Oracle's initial [[reference implementation]] of the NC. Its development was subcontracted to British company [[Acorn Computers]],<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BRITAIN'S+ACORN+COMPUTER+GROUP+TO+OFFER+SUB+%24500+INTERNET+DEVICE-a018302768
| title = Britain's Acorn Computer Group to offer sub $500 internet device
| access-date = 2011-06-07
| date = 1996-05-20
| publisher = [[PR Newswire]]
| quote = [...] among the first to organize the manufacture and distribution of Network Computers [...] Products based on the reference designs, produced for Oracle by Acorn [...]}}
</ref> who adapted its own {{nowraplinks|[[RISC OS]]}} to create [[NCOS]].<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Acorn+Group+Spurs+NC+Clone+Market+by+Giving+Away+NC+Hardware...-a019703042
| title = Acorn Group spurs NC clone market by giving away nc hardware production and reference designs
| access-date = 2011-06-07
| date = 1997-08-19
| publisher = [[PR Newswire]]
| quote = A scaled down version of RISC OS was licensed to Oracle to form its NCOS(TM). }}
</ref> Acorn made use of local partner companies ANT, Icon Technology and Design Edge to fulfil their contract.<ref>{{Cite conference
| first = Jonathan
| last = Sapsed
| title= Strategizing under Uncertainty and Ignorance: The influence of knowledge and technological path-dependence on corporate strategies
| conference= Managing Knowledge: Conversations and Critiques
| publisher = [[CENTRIM]]
| location= Brighton, UK
| page = 36
| date = 10 April 2001
| access-date = 15 March 2021
| url = https://core.ac.uk/reader/188247250
| quote = Acorn also made use of their local contacts in the fulfilment of the NC contract. Cambridge-based ANT developed the Web browser for the NC prototype when it was needed it in a hurry, and Icon technology similarly delivered a word processor. A local design company, Design Edge provided the prototype's casing in 48 hours. This was needed because Larry Ellison's preferred "radical" design was impractical to manufacture.
}}
</ref>

===Macintosh NC===
In 1997 Apple announced the [[Mac NC]], its attempt to develop the [[Apple Pippin|Pippin]] into a network computer platform. By the end of 1997, Steve Jobs discontinued all [[Macintosh clone]] efforts, effectively killing the Pippin, although key components of the Mac NC technology were inherited by the original [[iMac]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===NetProducts NetStation===
The first generation [[NetStation]] design and the NetStation [[trademark]] was licensed to [[NChannel]], which provided the consumer equipment and Internet service (with associated infrastructure) for the [[United Kingdom|UK]] market. After a few months, NChannel split into two entities: [[NetChannel]] (which provided the Internet service) and [[NetProducts]] which provided the consumer hardware.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

NetProducts started working with Acorn to develop a next-generation product, NetStation II and started developing an [[email]]-only set-top-box (the TVemail). NetProducts went into voluntary [[liquidation]] in 1998 before either project was completed.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Sun Microsystems JavaStation===
[[Sun Microsystems]] developed the [[JavaStation]], a [[JavaOS]]-based NC based on [[SPARC]] hardware, initially similar to Sun's range of Unix [[workstation]]s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===IBM Network Station===
[[IBM]] launched its [[Network Station]] in September 1996.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = First Network Computer Announced By IBM
| date = 1996-09-06
| publisher = [[EE Times]]
| url = http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4146333/First-Network-Computer-Announced-By-IBM
| work = EE Times
| access-date = 2011-06-08
| quote = IBM announced its first network computer [...]}}
</ref> As with the later reference design, the Network Station used a NetBSD-based NCOS booted over a LAN from an [[AS/400]] or [[IBM PC]] server. The Network Station supported local execution of basic applications, such as a [[web browser]] and [[Virtual console|console]]. In addition, [[X Window System|X]] capability was also implemented to allow both locally and remotely run applications to be used on the same machine. In practice, the lack of real applications meant that this was little more than a hardware [[X terminal]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The IBM Network Station was originally based on the [[PowerPC]] architecture, but the final few models used [[Intel]] [[Pentium (brand)|Pentium]] processors.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Contemporary analogy==
The idea behind the NC can be seen as existing in contemporary times in the system of [[cloud computing]] and in particular [[ChromeOS]]. In [[Wired magazine]], Daniel Roth claims that the failure of the network computer eventually led to the development of cloud computing. A large contribution to this transition was attributed to [[Eric Schmidt]], once the [[chief technical officer|CTO]] of [[Sun Microsystems]], a proponent of the network computer, who eventually became the CEO of [[Google]]. Google is a large purveyor of cloud technology, "most notably Google Docs and Spreadsheets".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Roth|first=Daniel|date=2009-12-21|title=Time Your Attack: Oracle's Lost Revolution|url=https://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/fail_oracle/all/1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225102231/https://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/fail_oracle/all/1|archive-date=2010-02-25|access-date=2010-02-22|magazine=Wired}}</ref>

==See also==
{{cmn|
* [[Diskless node]]
* [[Thin client]]
* [[Hybrid client]]
* [[Information appliance]]
* [[nCUBE]]
* [[Open Blueprint]]
* [[Sun Ray]]
* [[I-Opener]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/network-computers/faq/ FAQ from the network computers Usenet newsgroup]
* Contemporary press coverage of early NC pre-announcements: https://archive.today/20130119192531/http://news.com.com/Oracle+down+to+brass+tacks+for+NC/2100-1001_3-243680.html

[[Category:Network computer (brand)| ]]
[[Category:Oracle hardware]]
[[Category:Classes of computers]]