If you can't get the demo right...

CobraBoy! (tbyars@earthlink.net)
Thu, 25 Sep 1997 13:51:24 -0700


> His claims for NCs were dampened by repeated technical failures

> during his attempted demonstration of the company's NC Network in

> a Box system, which includes Oracle software and third-party client

> and server hardware. Ellison said the network Oracle installed for
the

> show was down, and blamed the problems on routers and hubs

> supplied by unnamed vendors.

<bold><bigger>Ellison: Apple Has NC Prototype, Will Use Rhapsody

</bigger></bold> (09/24/97; 2:15 p.m. EDT)

By Mary Hayes, InformationWeek

LOS ANGELES -- Apple has built a prototype of a network computer,

and plans to develop NCs that will link to the company's upcoming

Rhapsody operating system, according to Larry Ellison, CEO and

chairman of Oracle and an Apple board member.

Ellison revealed his knowledge of the project during a press

conference at Oracle OpenWorld in Los Angeles Tuesday. "Apple is

going to make Mac-oriented NCs," Ellison said. "I can't tell you how

much they'll cost or when they'll be here, or Steve [Jobs, Apple's

interim CEO] will break my neck." He added that Jobs demonstrated

the upcoming NC technology for Ellison recently. "Steve was over to

my house for breakfast."

It's unclear how Apple plans to market its NC. Some reports cite

unidentified sources as saying Apple will develop NCs primarily for

the education market, and secondarily for its installed base of
corporate

customers. Most NCs are defined as low-cost clients that store and

retrieve most of their applications and data from a server. Apple has

not announced an NC project, and Apple representatives could not be

reached for comment last evening.

Earlier, Ellison tried once again to drill home the potential of the
NC to

users during his keynote address at Oracle OpenWorld, with promises

that the NC will be less costly and easier to administer than

Windows-based PCs.

"Not only can families not afford a PC, but it's draining the budgets
of

the wealthiest corporations in the world," Ellison said.

His claims for NCs were dampened by repeated technical failures

during his attempted demonstration of the company's NC Network in

a Box system, which includes Oracle software and third-party client

and server hardware. Ellison said the network Oracle installed for
the

show was down, and blamed the problems on routers and hubs

supplied by unnamed vendors.

-

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

-Toa Te Ching

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