and so forth) would find NC1s ideal. Conversely, companies that rely on Windows applications should consider NetPCs.
Beyond that, however, picking the best client from among the many competing choices can be difficult. With these things in mind, we chose to award a BYTE Best in each category based on criteria regarding graphics performance, price, and features set.
The Best NC1
Among all the NC1s we tested, the leader was the Neoware @work Supra-66. It was the top performer among the NC1s, although it bested its closest competitor (the Wyse Winterm 2310SE) by just a hair. It was quick with video-response time, its 800-by 600-pixel resolution was bested only by the Tektronix NC217's 1024 by 768 pixels, and it had the smallest number of dropped frames (see the article "Test Results").
At $1344, the @work Supra-66 delivers an excellent price/performance ratio. Most important, though, is its rich features s
et. Powered by an Intel 80960 RISC processor, the unit supports up to 132 MB of RAM, MPEG-1 video, a display resolution up to 1600 by 1200, and Java software. It comes with either the Netscape Navigator 3.0 or Spyglass browser. In addition, it supports the Citrix ICA, Unix, and X protocols and comes loaded with a variety of network, Internet, and boot protocols. Finally, its small form factor (2.3 inches high by 12.75 inches deep) and low weight (7-1/2 pounds) help conserve desk space.
The Best NetPC
In a close match, HP's $1500 Net Vectra wins the top award among the NetPCs we tested. It fared exceptionally well in our graphics tests, edging out both the Compaq Deskpro 4000N and the NEC PowerMate Enterprise NetPC by a few points. The Net Vectra's 64-bit Trio 64 V2 graphics controller greatly aided the system, which runs on Windows NT 4.0 Workstation. The accelerator is integrated onto the motherboard along with 2 MB of EDO DRAM, which is used for video memory. The system can support resolution
s up to 1600 by 1200 pixels.
But graphics performance isn't all that sets the HP Net Vectra apart. The system comes with a unique cooling system. Rather than using a fan or a heat sync for the processor, HP installs a heat pipe on the system. The rod-shaped device, which is attached to the processor, is filled with water. The pipe leads out to the chassis's exterior and conducts heat away from the processor.
HP also includes a good selection of management utilities, such as the HP Top Tools DMI 2.0-based management-software package. The Net Vectra also comes with an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) controller for power management.
Finally, the Net Vectra unit comes with additional notable security features, including a lockable screen saver and chassis, plus security software for the optional keyboard smartcard reader.
Feature Champs
In addition to the inclusion of management software, other NC trends surfaced during our tests. Important to thin clients are su
ch things as audio support, MPEG support, just-in-time (JIT) recompilation, and smartcard compatibility. With regard to these criteria, top honors go to Compaq's Deskpro 4000N and Network Computing Devices' Explora 700, which both performed well and included many of these cutting-edge features.
The Compaq Deskpro 4000N sells for just $1249, yet it performed extremely well in our tests and has loads of features, including MPEG-1, smartcard support, and JIT recompilation. It was one of only two NCs we tested that ran on a 200-MHz Pentium processor.
The second features champ, NCD's $1695 Explora 700, includes PC Card support, 8-bit audio, and an optional smartcard reader. Expandable to 256 MB of RAM and powered by a 150-MHz Mips R4700 processor, the NCD Explora 700 painlessly ran Java applets in its Spyglass browser.
Best Overall Network Computers
