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Sun plans new thin client, Niagara update

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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Stephen Shankland

Sun Microsystems plans to debut a new line of its Sun Ray thin client terminals Wednesday and shed more light on its UltraSparc T1 "Niagara" processors and other multithreaded chip plans.

If previous ideas from Sun come true, the new Sun Ray models will be able to connect not just by 10-megabit-per-second Ethernet networking, but also via home broadband and 802.11 wireless networks.

Sun hasn't had much luck getting the world to scrap PCs in favor of thin clients, which Sun argues are easier to manage and more energy efficient. But the company has been working on new features and sales models in an effort to make the products one of its "iPod moments" emblematic of a company turnaround.

Sun has promised Sun Rays that come with Internet calling features using voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). And Sun Chief Executive Scott McNealy has said the company is planning to sell Sun Rays through an annual subscription plan.