> 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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