Tomorrow's NCs

Today's NC1s and NetPCs store applications and files on a central server, which reduces administrative costs. However, unlike NC1s, NetPCs download Windows applications over a network and run them locally. This approach is significantly different from that of NC1s, which run Windows applications on a central server (via the Citrix ICA protocol) without first downloading them across a network.

The differences between NC1s and NetPCs will continue to grow as new technologies emerge. Microsoft's Windows NT 5.0 OS, which is due to be released sometime in 1998, will support policies and roles tied to a directory and roaming-application support for NetPCs. T hrough NT 5.0's policy-based management, you will be able to assign an application -- say, Excel -- to a profile or a policy. Even if a particular machine doesn't have Excel, the server can still "push" the application and load it. Upcoming Windows Terminals are expected to run on the Windows CE 2.0 OS, support a variety of hardware shapes and sizes, and run on multiuser windows, such as Hydra (an add-o n to NT 5.0 that is expected to begin shipping late this year). Designed as a Windows-to-Windows terminal solution, these next-generation systems will provide some of the functionality of low-end applications using a protocol called T-Share. They will also integrate with NT5 Admin (also known as Microsoft Management Console, or MMC).

Meanwhile, Citrix will continue to sell its multiuser software for NC1 vendors. Currently called Picasso, the newest Citrix product will add the ICA protocol stack to NT 4.0 as well as some additional administration features. Most important, it will continue to connect ICA and non-Windows clients. Citrix will also sell a Java ICA client that will allow any computer running the Java virtual machine (VM) to remotely interact with any Windows application.

Another upcoming package, from GraphOn, will migrate NT users to Unix and let Windows Terminal users access Unix applications as well as Windows, Mac, and NC applications -- all while having interoperability with, and connections to, legacy apps. The as-yet-unnamed product will be shipped when Microsoft delivers NT 5.0.

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Today's NCs: Minimum Hardware Specs

Today's NCs: Minimum Hardware Specs
	NC1 Reference Profile	NetPC
CPU	Various types	100-MHz Pentium or equivalent
Memory (MB)	8 minimum	16 minimum
Disk	Persistent local storage not required	Internal hard disk as cache
Video (pixels)	640 by 480 minimum	640 by 480 at 8 bits per pixel (VGA)
Audio device	Audio output required	(Type unspecified)
Plug-and-play BIOS support	Not required	Required
Expansion slots	Not required	Not required
Network interface	Required	Required
Keyboard, pointing device, mouse	Required	Required
Locked, sealed case	Not required	Required
Optional hardware additions	Not specified	IDE floppy drive, CD-ROM, PC Card slots, USB, 1394 high-speed peripheral bus