ARE JAVA AND THE NETWORK COMPUTER IRRESISTIBLE FORCES?

One of the major problems confronting the network computer is the emerging battle between Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash. and the rest of the industry. Three software giants aiming to take Microsoft’s place are Sun, Oracle, and Netscape.
Sun Microsystems Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. also aims to attack Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif. as the supplier of chips that will power the network computer executing the software from these three giants. In effect, Java is becoming the catalyst for a wholesale reordering of the information technology industry.

The question is does the initiative have a chance of success? The answer lies first with information technology executives in large corporations. Will they buy the solution? Another important group that must embrace the effort is software developers. Can they see a means of making money?

Microsoft has not been blind to this concerted effort to displace its dominance. Its first counterattack came with Windows NT. Paul Callahan director of Network Strategy Service at Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass. says by giving away a Web browser with every Win 95 desktop and a Web server with each NT server, Microsoft has put Netscape on the defensive with a single stroke.

Oracle presents yet another problem to Microsoft. The Redwood City, Calif. database management systems supplier aims to participate through the formation of Network Computer, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle, that will develop and market the Oracle NC System Software Suite, as well as NC applications and server software.

Microsoft’s problem with Sun is a bit more problematic. The Java object oriented programming language layers additional functionality on top of existing network applications and operating systems, such as Netscape’s browser and the Windows NT operating system. Furthermore, applications developed in the language are completely independent of software and hardware platforms.

Sun has created another wave of computing that plays off the growing Internet and Intranet movements. What it promises information technology executives in large corporations is an applications environment that can encompass a variety of operating systems and hardware platforms.

In addition, Java lays the foundation for the network computer that can further reduce computing costs. The costs come down by virtue of the network computer eliminating the floppy and hard disk drive and associated control electronics each requires.

By removing these two devices, information technology executive now control applications software that runs on these systems from servers. They also control the data accessed and created by these computers, something not possible with desktop PCs.

Oracle cites market research claiming that the network computer can potentially replace 50% to 70% of the PCs now in corporations. Even equipped with larger monitors and more memory than a typical home model, the system will have a lower acquisition cost than a PC.

More importantly, corporations can drastically reduce by 70% their administration, support and training costs (estimated to be from $5,000 to $8,000 per year, per PC).

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