Re: IBM Nixes Net PC

sufflib@tiac.net
Wed, 10 Sep 1997 12:19:02 -0400

Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 12:19:02 -0400
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970910122243.007d8100@tiac.net>
From: sufflib@tiac.net
To: Multiple recipients of list <conntech>
Subject: Re: IBM Nixes Net PC

Rob, PC prices will be dropping so low that NET PCs will hold no advantage.  

>From Information Week (Sept. 8, 1997, p. 15):

"Analysts say a Windows NT-capable corporate PC sporting a 166-MHz--or
faster--Pentium with MMX graphics, 32 Mbytes of RAM, built in networking,
and 1 Gbyte or larger disk will sell for around $800 early next year or by
mid-year at the latest."  (Note: $150 more for a monitor).

Joe Cadieux
Suffield's Kent Memorial Library



At 10:57 AM 9/10/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Jim, I'm actually a little surprised at IBM's response to this market.  We
>have public access to the Internet at the Wallingford P.L. and several
>patrons have told me they have no need for a pc but would like to have
>Internet access at home.  Many of these people are older and have stated
>that cost is a factor.  A net pc would allow them to send e-mail, do
>genealogy searches and much more. 
>
>
>
>
>At 08:23 PM 9/9/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>
>>IBM NIXES NET PCs
>>Three months after demonstrating a prototype, IBM now says it won't pursue
>>the NetPC market after all.  The NetPC is a stripped down version of a
>>desktop computer, priced at around $1,000 and based on Intel microprocessors
>>and Microsoft operating software.  "There was a herd mentality about NetPCs
>>and now we see some of the breakup of the herd," says the president of a
>>Washington, D.C.-based computer consulting firm.  IBM says its customers
>>have indicated they'd prefer to spend a little more money and get the
>>network and software management features found on full-fledged PCs.  With
>>hardware prices continuing to fall, "nobody can give a compelling reason why
>>a NetPC makes sense," says one PC vendor.  (Wall Street Journal 8 Sep 97)
>>
>>	-- from Edupage
>>
>>[Whew.  That was close.]
>>
>>JMK
>>
>>
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