Networking Computing Devices Inc (NCD) has launched a replacement line of network computers improving the performance while cutting the price. The Mountain View company, which manufactures IBM Corp’s network computers through an OEM relationship, has replaced its five NCs-cum X terminals with three machines all branded under the Explora name. It has also released version 5.0 of its NCDWare client software, introducing a Java virtual machine, Spyglass Inc browser, and Citrix Systems Inc’s Intelligent Console Architecture (ICA). The software already support Unix applications and terminal emulation. NCD has had ICA in its WinCenter server software for some time, but the addition of ICA to the client gives better WAN functionality than the existing X protocol, says NCD. NCDWare resides on the server and is downloaded to the client when it boots. The entry-level Explora 400, which replaces the Explora machines, is a terminal optimized for Windows, featuring a PowerPC 403 GA 33MHz processor with 8Mb RAM. Next up is the Explora 450, replacing the Explora Pro which doubles the clock speed to 66 MHz and adds 10/100BaseT support with auto- sensing/switching. It is meant as a general intranet NC, for low-end Java. NCD believes Java is too slow and lumpy to be used on a client with a chip of this speed and thus the line is completed with the Explora 700, replacing the HMX, HMXpro and HMXpro24 machines. It has a MIPS 64-bit R4700 RISC chip, clocking at 150MHz. Each machine is available in either a pizza box form or vertical – codenamed ‘Swoopy’ internally at NCD. The Explora 400 pizza is out mid-October with the vertical version a month later, with the same timescale for the Explora 450. With the optional 10Base2 support the 450 will be out in early and late November in the two configuration and finally the Explora 700 will debut mid-November available only as a pizza box design, for $1700. The 400 costs $700 and the 450 $900. The reason for the staggered shipments date is apparently a lack of the right type of plastic.
