Network Computing Devices Inc got back to us yesterday to fill in the details of the new 5.1 version of its NCDware operating system, used in its Explora and HMX X terminal product lines. We questioned why the company was claiming the inclusion of a Citrix ICA client and a Java virtual machine as firsts when they were both included in version 5.0 of NCDware, released in September 1997. Senior product manager Eric Wolf explains that the ICA client was meant to have been included on the 5.0 CD but was not, and the JVM this time is version 1.1.4, as opposed to 1.0a last time. He says the company does have plans to support the recently released – but still in beta – Java 2, aka Java 1.2. Wolf says the new 16/24 bits per pixel color support is important because with so many more colors supported – 16,000 to 32,000, as opposed to 256 previously – X terminals can share a much larger palette of colors and color flash, which occurs when two or more terminals are trying to share unlimited color palette, will not occur. The move will also improve Windows and web terminals, he says, because they will be better able to handle GIFs and JPEG images on the web. NCD adopted a subscription-based pricing model earlier this year for users who wanted it and they will get the new version as part of their subscription. Otherwise, it costs $300, plus a small per-terminal fee. If users just want the additional color support without the Java and other improvements, the upgrade is free. NCD’s acquisition of X terminal rival Tektronix Inc is expected to close within two weeks (11/19/98).
