MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-10-07 |
| FROM | From: "Inker, Evan"
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] The Network Computer: An opportunity for Linux
|
The Network Computer: An opportunity for Linux
Network Computer Terminology
Sometimes you will hear of a network computer referred to as a 'thin
client'. While there is some overlap in usage, the two terms originated in
opposite realms. 'Thin client' historically refers to a small, simple
software client that runs only the user interface for a multiuser
application. In an increasingly broad range of applications a web browser is
used, without modification, as this client tier.
The term 'network computer', on the other hand, is usually used to refer to
a small footprint PC replacement that appears, at first glance, to serve a
similar function as the mainframe terminal of years past, but with mouse
input and a graphical color display. The fusion of the two terms is probably
due to the fact that the network computer includes a thin client in its
firmware. While this article is nominally about network computers, some of
the points that I will discuss here are actually about the thin client
software that is an inherent part of the network computer (NC) itself.
Why Network Computers Will Succeed
The main case I intend to make here is that the network computer, in some
form or another, will inevitably succeed on a large scale. This success will
be almost totally a business phenomenon, with businesses, governments, and
other organizations gradually replacing certain PC functions with NC's over
the next decade. The reasons for this upcoming shift are entirely economic.
The total cost of ownership (TCO) of network computers will be dramatically
lower than the TCO of PC's for most functions. And, for almost all purposes,
NC's will be able to reduce TCO while increasing productivity.
The reasons why business will find joining this gradual migration to network
computers irresistible are:
Security: With no hard drive and no facility to insert malware into the NC,
security costs and risks will plummet. Further, in areas with secret or
confidential information, the mass extraction of data is much harder without
some local writable device like a CD writer or a floppy drive. For this
reason, some NC's will either have no USB ports or they will have a facility
to disable the use of USB ports from the server.
Maintenance: Upgrades to the thin client firmware will rarely be necessary.
When it is required, it can be performed en masse from a server. The
hardware simplicity and the interface-only function will reduce both the
amount of hardware that breaks and the necessity for hardware upgrades.
Purchase cost: With a predefined and unchanging function, the hardware
components of the NC are few and inexpensive. The processing power need only
be enough to rapidly update the display, transfer display-related data over
the network, and handle user input. And, of course, no hard drive or CD-ROM
drive needs to be present at all.
Training: With a simple NC interface and with only those applications
available that are necessary for each user's role in the business, training
needs will be significantly reduced. And, with a simple and well-tested
mini-operating system in read-only memory, and no local configuration data
to be modified, user confusion will be a much smaller drag on productivity.
Portability: Since any user can log on to any NC and immediately get to only
those applications that they use, many problems are solved. User downtime
caused by broken equipment, for example, can be almost eliminated simply by
keeping a few spare NC's to swap out with broken ones. With no operating
system installation and no custom configuration, that operation can be
performed in minutes.
Backup: Since all data is stored on a server, backups can be performed
quickly and cheaply by automated processes on a nightly basis, eliminating
the requirement for every computer user to follow data center disciplines in
order to properly secure the organization's data and information.
Control: With NC's, organizations will finally be able to control what
software employees are able to run on their desktops. This has implications
for productivity enhancement as well as reducing the company's legal
liability.
Assured license compliance: With the current PC scenario, virtually every
sizable organization has some instances of unlicensed software running on
its PC's. This problem can be made to go away completely with NC's since all
software can be loaded from centralized servers under the control of a
software license daemon, thereby guaranteeing that the license limits are
never exceeded.
As you can see, using NC's can reduce -- and in some cases, eliminate --
many of the costs, security risks, and legal liabilities of the ubiquitous
PC-on-every-desk paradigm.
Even with these advantages, the network computer will not completely
displace the PC. However, it will affect the PC market -- and NC's will
certainly replace some PC's.
Microsoft and Network Computers
This rising appeal of NC's is introducing a market that Microsoft and their
fellow-traveling entrenched partners do not control. It is for that reason
that we will likely see a series of well-funded studies which analyze one
aspect or another of the network computer and find it wanting. However, even
as Microsoft works to undermine -- or at least delay -- network computers,
it will continue its effort to take over that niche as well. Microsoft knows
that in the long run NC's will not be stopped.
The Linux Advantage
Microsoft also knows that Linux is uniquely suited to fill the niches of
both server and client for network computers. The availability of large
applications development projects, a top quality browser, and networked
graphical interface technology position Linux -- and the cluster of major
projects that integrate so well with it -- ideally to take advantage of this
shift to the network computer.
Linux is already proven as a solid and extremely flexible server operating
system. Add in the progress already made in embedded Linux and the result
almost completes the package.
And, of course, Linux already has the all-important mindshare in a critical
mass of organizations to provide a potential customer base for such a
project.
All that is needed is for a visionary company with corporate credibility,
development capital, and hardware and software resources to take the gamble
on implementing a first class network computer and server package with basic
office suite functionality and zero licensing costs. That, alone, should be
sufficient to create an initial installed base. Once the trend is
established, proprietary software, albeit not free, will follow to fill the
larger gaps left by the existing free packages. And, of course, that will
only serve to increase the rate of adoption.
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