What is NC? Can you explain the concept?

Around 2 years back, Oracle talked about 2 things: Network Computer (NC) and Network Computing (NCA). NC is a device which is web browser-enabled with no hard disks and all the paraphernalia associated with PCs, which are becoming increasingly complex. It was meant to be low cost devices (sub $500) with near zero maintenance costs, easy to operate and can be plugged on any network (including the Internet) and to access any information, work on any software that'sweb-enabled.

What are NC's advantages vis-a-vis PCs?

Most PC users use PCs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, e-mails and in the US and Europe also for video conferencing. But one doesn't necessarily need a high-end PC (with large disk capacities) for these activities. One can work with a simple device like the NC which has a browser and work on word processing and e-mail from the central server which hosts such software.

The problem of viruses on the PC is extensive and there arises the need for taking back-ups for fear of a hard disk crash. Also, a PC is expensive to maintain.

Oracle had given a reference guide to hardware manufacturers and consumer electronics companies who wanted to manufacture these. There were mixed results, primarily because PCs were also mutating to NCs. Cost of PCs came down and they were browser-ready devices. As a concept NC remained intact. The form has changed.

Now, NCA is an architecture of a computing model propounded by Oracle as distinct fromclient-server (C/S) architecture. C/S is 2-tier model with server software on a server and client software on a client (typically a Windows PC) over a transmission and Internet protocol network.

NCA is a 3-tier architecture with a data server, where you have data and application server, where you have all the application software and a client, which has only a browser and no other software.

The client can be any device -- NC or a simple browser-enabled PC or any other device, like a browser-enabled hand-held device or a browser-enabled TV -- anything, maybe someday a browser-enabled microwave oven.

What is the latest stage in NC?

We have renamed the NCA to Internet Computing. But this does not refer to the worldwide web. Internet Computing refers to computing on any private network. Its called Internet Computing because it adopts the principles of Internet. When you click on Amazon.com on your PC, you do not run any amazon.com software on your PC. You view Amazon.com through your browser onsoftware resident at Amazon.com site.

The Internet principle is that of a web-enabled software, written basically in Java and HTML, on a central server viewed, queried and transacted upon through a browser-only at the client level. Again the client device can be anything, as long as it is browser-enabled and operated on standard networking protocols.

What's the benefit of shifting to Internet Computing compared with client-server model?

Many. First it reduces the complexity. Client-server is hugely complex with lots of little servers everywhere with complex networks becoming increasingly difficult to administer and which needs data base administrators at all server locations. The PCs will have to be maintained. Internet Computing avoids all this.

Secondly, the total cost of ownership comes down by a fifth in Internet Computing as compared to client server based computing, because you avoid those little servers everywhere, reduce the complexities of the network and avoid the hassles ofmaintaining client software at user levels.

Its no more about NCs or PCs. Its all about Internet Computing as a way of life since the Internet has changed everything. Internet is the platform. Not Windows.