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Introduction | Advantages | Standards | Software | Security For as long as history has existed, it has been clear that with any new change also comes resistance and skepticism. In 1943, Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, said "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." Similarly, Ken Olson, president & chairman & founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, in 1977 said, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." It is almost humorous to read these predictions today when we have seen the incredible impact that computers have had on society. It is not surpassing that even today, many people, including computer industry executive Steve Ballmer, VP Microsoft, are skeptical of the NC's success. Ballmer thinks that the NC will not have as great an impact on the PC market as Oracle executives hope. It is no surprise that companies like Microsoft, which profit from client-resident software sales, are hoping that the Network Computer will not succeed. Microsoft's continued success depends on PC dominance and client-resident software, and the NC is a direct threat to both. Many people argue that if the NC attracts millions of new users to the Internet, that the increased traffic will cause the entire system to crash/fail. Unless the network infrastructure is expanded to support the estimated number of users (200 million by year 2000), this prediction may hold true. However, new advancements in telecommunications technology like IBM's RF and Wireless communications systems provide a solution to the limited bandwidth problem. When combined with an increase in fiber-optic and coaxial lines, the problem of increased network traffic may never arise. |
