Intel to unveil first Net PC systems
Major vendors IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and others are expected to show systems based on the new standard at an upcoming Intel Net PC event.
Other major PC manufacturers such as Compaq, and Hewlett-Packard are expected to show new Net PC systems, and officials from both Intel and Microsoft will discuss the future of the Net PC.
Net PCs are "sealed-case" systems that will typically have no floppy disk drive or expansion slots. Promoted by Microsoft and Intel, the systems are supposed to reduce ownership cost for companies that currently use networked PCs by allowing IS staff to maintain and update desktops from the center of the corporate network, instead of visiting each PC.
Like Net PCs from other vendors, IBM Net PCs will run on Microsoft operating system software. However, IBM will also preview a new Net PC running its "Bluebird" operating system. The Bluebird OS, which is based on IBM's OS/2, runs on a server computer--not a local PC--and allows users to "roam" from computer to computer.
In other words, a user's personal interface is not tied to any particular computer. Rather, the interface can be called up on any computer on the network, allowing users to log on to a "personal" computer anywhere in the company. The IBM technology is similar to what Microsoft proposes to do with Windows NT in a Net PC environment.
The new Net PC can operate in client computers with or without disk drives, according to IBM.
These features would give the IBM Net PC some of the properties of the competing Network Computer (NC) standard. Some see the Net PC standard itself as a response to the NC concept being promoted by Oracle and Sun.
Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell Computer helped develop the reference specifications and more than 100 manufacturers worldwide have agreed to support the platform.