With all this talk of the ideal Internet access device, what does a company that is designing a machine to be that and nothing else come up with? It turns out that it’s not a $500 Network Computer. ISA Inc has launched a rugged, tamper-proof Internet Access Terminal designed for public places. At about $5,000 a go, the stand-alone machines are a far cry from the magical $500 figure, but chief executive Mike King said the company has already sold five machines, named NetWave USA, to a hotel, a senior citizens club and a sports bar chain. Now discussions are under way regarding distribution rights abroad. The custom-designed terminals comprise a Pentium-based personal computer from IBM Corp that runs both Netscape Communications Corp’s Navigator browser software and AT&T Corp’s browser, housed within a heavy-duty sealed case. A standard keyboard and mouse are used to surf the Internet, and an exposed 3.5 floppy drive enables users to download and keep any information. According to King, the floppy drive posed one of the biggest design headaches for the firm, but he reckons enough virus protection software has been written into the system to prevent bugs finding their way onto the hard drive. End-user usage charges will vary. ISA will supply plastic swipe cards with the machines, and it will be up to the host location to put a value on access time. The St Petersburg, Florida-based company is better known for its IdentiKid scheme, which has run for about 10 years in the US. For a fee of $5, parents can get their children’s fingerprints and personal details stored on a plastic credit-style card for use in case of emergencies. If the child disappears, the card is handed over to the police.
