imported>DigitalIceAge: /* External links */ Category:Defunct computer hardware companies Category:Defunct computer systems companies

2023-11-10T02:58:50Z

External links: Category:Defunct computer hardware companies Category:Defunct computer systems companies

New page

{{Short description|Defunct Electronics Company}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Network Computing Devices
| logo = Network Computing Devices logo.svg
| type = 
| industry = Computers
| founded = {{Start date and age|1987}} in [[Mountain View, California]], United States
| founders = {{ubl|Mike Harrigan|Doug Klein|Dave Cornelius|Ed Basart|[[Martin Eberhard]]|Kevin Martin}}
| defunct = {{End date|2004}}
| hq_location_city = [[Beaverton, Oregon]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| products = [[Thin client]]s
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year = 
}}
[[File:Network Computing Devices NCD-88k X terminal.jpg|thumb|Network Computing Devices NCD-88k X terminal, front view]]
'''Network Computing Devices''' ('''NCD''') was a company founded in 1987 to produce a new class of products now known as a [[thin client]]. It was founded in [[Mountain View, CA]], and when it closed it was [[headquarter]]ed in [[Beaverton, Oregon]].

The corporate founders were Mike Harrigan, Doug Klein, Dave Cornelius, Ed Basart, [[Martin Eberhard]], and Kevin Martin.

At that time these devices were known as [[network terminal]]s or [[X terminal|X Terminals]]. [[Judith Estrin]] and William Carrico joined the company about 6 months after its founding as its new [[CEO]] and executive [[vice president]], and led the company through its [[Initial public offering|IPO]] in 1992. The products were some of the earliest examples of a thin client and providing [[remote desktop software|remote access]] to data in something other than [[ASCII]] as was common with traditional terminals of the time.

The [[X Protocol]] provided a way to show high-resolution images of data and graphics over a network connection. NCD supported a range of network protocols including [[TCP/IP]], [[Token Ring]], [[DECnet]] and others.
NCD also developed network-transparent audio system called the Network Audio System (nas) to play, record and manipulate audio over a network.<ref>manual page to nas(1)</ref>

== Acquisitions ==
NCD purchased [[PCXware]], which made an [[X Window System]] for [[Microsoft Windows]].<ref>{{cite news
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MKyWnw1bumwC&pg=PA59
| newspaper=Computerworld
| title=NCD beefs up X software for Windows
| author=Joanie M. Wexler
| date=May 10, 1993
| pages=59
| access-date=February 21, 2017
}}</ref>

NCD purchased [[Z-Code Software]] in 1994. Z-Code made [[Z-Mail]], a [[cross platform]] open standards [[email client]]. Z-Mail was later sold by NCD to [[Netmanage]].

NCD purchased [[TekXPress]] X-terminals line from [[Tektronix]].<ref>{{cite news
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VB4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12
| newspaper=Network World
| date=November 23, 1998
| pages=12
| title=NCD's thin clients get a multimedia boost in buyout
| author=John Cox
| access-date=February 21, 2017
}}</ref>

NCD ceased operations in 2004. However, a few of the company's employees have set up a new company, [[ThinPATH Systems]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tp-sys.com/|title=ThinPATH Systems Inc.|date=March 1, 2020}}</ref> to provide former NCD customers and others with service, support and products.

== See also==
*[[DESQview/X]], a similar product

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.ncd-x.com Welcome to NCD – The Thin Client Experts!]
*[http://tldp.org/HOWTO/NCD-X-Terminal.html NCD X-Terminal HOWTO]
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Nov_14/ai_66923057 National Semiconductor & NCD to Jointly Develop Information Appliances] ''Business Wire, Nov 14, 2000''
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_March_28/ai_72392842 Network Computing Devices – NCD – Acknowledged by Australian Government Technology Productivity Award] ''Business Wire, March 28, 2001''
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_March_27/ai_84204225 Network Computing Devices, Inc. Introduces NCD ThinPATH PC; New Software Manages PCs as Thin Clients, Reducing the Total Cost of Ownership of the Desktop] ''Business Wire, March 27, 2002''
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_August_13/ai_90327895 NCD is Finalist in The Computing Industry Awards 2002; Newly Launched ThinPATH PC is Selected as a Finalist in the Computing Industry Awards] ''Business Wire, August 13, 2002''

[[Category:1987 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2004 disestablishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:Companies based in Mountain View, California]]
[[Category:Companies based in Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Oregon]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Technology companies disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:Thin clients]]
[[Category:X Window System]]

Network Computing Devices - Revision history

imported>DigitalIceAge: /* External links */ Category:Defunct computer hardware companies Category:Defunct computer systems companies