IBM Corp’s new thin client Network Stations use a PowerPC 403 processor with a small boot PROM that downloads an operating system from the server and comes with 8Mb memory. Jim Gant, vice-president of integrated workstation solutions at the IBM server group appeared confused as to the identity of the operating system, saying it was both an IBM product and not an IBM product in consecutive interviews. But it turns out to be the same operating system Network Computing Devices Inc uses in its Explora terminals, according to Network Computing Devices, a kernel very loosely based on an old Berkeley Software Distribution Unix. Network Computing Devices will manufacture the Network Stations which will be available at the end of the year (CI No 2,993). They can connect to multiple IBM AS/400, RS/6000 and S/390 servers – but only IBM servers – running Unix, Windows NT and OS/2 simultaneously and come with either an Ethernet or Token Ring connection. The next versions will have twin-axial and co-axial support within nine months, according to Gant. Other enhancements due by then include Serial Line Interface Protocol support for dial-up capabilities and double byte character support to handle Japanese, Chinese and Korean script. Apart from 3270 and 5250 emulation software, users will also be able to download a version of Netscape Navigator, which is being slimmed down by Netscape Communications Corp’s Navio Communications Inc, although Navio was unwilling to be specific as to what it was doing. A Java virtual machine will also be available, as will Lotus Notes, with a Domino Web applications server. The device is 10 by 1.25 and looks like a very thin laptop standing on its side. When turned on, it downloads the operating system and displays whatever icons on the screen the user is set up to receive. There is a small no-charge software package for each of the servers which has a client software boot manager and a program to set up the users’ files on the server. It also has a user manager function that puts the icons on the desktop, which also handles things like adding bookmarks when using Navigator. Given that the Network Stations come with only 8Mb memory it would seem to mean that these are more green screen replacements than Web terminals, although it remains to be seen what Netscape’s Navio does with Navigator to get it small enough to run fast enough on devices like these. The AS/400 division wanted to emphasize that Network Computing Devices will be the sole manufacturer of the Network Stations, with other manufacturers being brought in for specific software and hardware components as necessary. Meantime, the IBM Personal Computer Co InterPersonal ComputerNetwork Computer effort will be iAPX -86-based and is basically a diskless Windows personal computer, with operating system-specific versions planned. They are due to be announced next quarter.
