Cheaper Computing

All NCs have one thing in common: From the user's point of view, they are stateless. NCs store or mirror their local state on a server. That means the NC is like an interchangeable part. Stateless NCs also eliminate all the problems that afflict PCs related to persistent storage: software conflicts, installation hassles, etc. Even if an NC has a hard drive, it's used only as a cache. The user's data and software are kept on a server, and servers are more physically secure, are more reliable, and are backed up regularly by professionals. Statelessness is what makes NCs easier and cheaper to maintain, and that's the main thing that distinguishes NCs from PCs.--Tom R. Halfhill