When Microsoft and Intel jointly announced plans for a NetPC specification in October 1996, it was widely viewed as a defensive strategy designed to counter the NC hype. Both vendors have followed through on key elements of this initiative even as the competitive threat fizzled. While some vendors, including IBM, have backed off their initial commitment to the platform, others, including Compaq, Dell and NEC, have shipped products.

NetPCs represent the best of both worlds for many organizations. Like traditional PCs, processing is distributed, so you avoid the server scalability challenges associated with WBTs. But unlike traditional PCs, administration of desktop devices is centralized, with the OS and applications delivered or updated from servers. Further, because NetPCs include local storage, data can be cached locally, thereby enhancing performance and minimizing network utilization. However, while the WBTs' remote presentation makes very efficient use of network resources, the NetPC is designed for implementation on a LAN.

The NetPC is reminiscent of remote-boot PCs or the dataless Unix workstations that were popular earlier in the decade. Many organizations found that by restricting a user's access to a local storage device and making it impossible for the user to alter the system or application environment, they could dramatically reduce administrative costs while improving system reliability. The catch--and it was a big one--was that users had little or no control over their desktop computer environment.

Oddly enough, the most advanced desktop management technology may come not from Microsoft or Intel, but Novell. Its Zero Effort Networks, or Z.E.N.works, enables customization of applications for management and distribution, workstation hardware inventory, dynamic print configuration and secure remote control; combined with Novell Application Launcher and Novell Workstation Manager, it represents the only directory-integrated desktop management environment available today. For NetWare shops that have made a strategic commitment to NDS, it's a big win. Whether Novell can broaden the appeal of this initiative depends, in large part, on its ability to broaden the appeal of NDS by giving it OS-independence.

Expectations, Momentum and Disillusionment
Every successful technology develops a market momentum that helps perpetuate it into the future and thwart competitive threats. A web of complementary technology, expertise and standard operating procedures works against innovation outside the narrow constraints of the existing paradigm. Occasionally, the status quo is viewed with such resentment that people are open to change. To a large degree, that explains the NC revolution.

Unfortunately for its advocates, the Javacentric network computer as envisioned by IBM, Netscape, Oracle and Sun hasn't delivered on its promise, mainly because applications drive the computer hardware industry and today's application environment is Windows-centric. However, while it's little consolation to these vendors, their initiative did prompt a serious re-examination of the cost structure for today's networked PC. WBTs have emerged as an effective alternative, both because they cost less to support and because they allow for the delivery of fat clients over slower network links. More important, Microsoft, Intel and others now understand the need for a better way to manage traditional desktops. Technical solutions are emerging to address this demand.

In the end, a cultural transformation must take place within the networked organization. Over time, users will need to accept the fact that they can't have the same control over their office computer systems that they enjoy over their home PCs. This is not a particularly easy sell for IT managers, who are trying their best to make their internal customers happy, but the success of the emerging client/server application environment may depend on it.

Dave Molta is director of network and system services at Syracuse University. He can be reached at dmolta@nwc.com.