All,

Appologies if the text formatting of this is other than perfect but
here's at least part of the story that was floating around last week
about NCs and Digiatal and SA's. This has been cleared for the list
by Randy Brasche of NC Inc., but to paraphrase Randy, this is just
announcing the cooperative venture and not what OS'es etc. will be
on the platform. Information on this will follow later, and this is
being posted to this list in response to the questions of last week
about whether Digital are producing an NC or not. 

Paul
----
pwain@nc.com

======

Digital Equipment Corporation           Network Computer, Inc. 
Tom Madden                              Randy Brasche    
508.493.9437                            415.631.4650 
maddent@mail.dec.com                    rbrasche@nc.com 
 
DIGITAL AND NCI ANNOUNCE REFERENCE DESIGN FOR 
INDUSTRY'S MOST POWERFUL NETWORK COMPUTER 
 
Digital's StrongARM Microprocessor With NCI's NC Access Defines 
High-Performance Internet Appliances 
 
MAYNARD, Mass., March 24, 1997 ? Digital Equipment Corporation and 
Network 
Computer Inc., a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, today announced the 
DIGITAL 
Network Appliance Reference Design.  Based on Digital's powerful 
StrongARM 
microprocessor, the reference design is aimed at creating a standard for 
the 
most powerful, low-cost network computing platform.  The companies 
believe 
integration of NC Access(TM), NCI's comprehensive network computing 
software 
environment, with this new design will help shape the direction of the 
emerging network computing market. 
 
The DIGITAL Network Appliance Reference Design will guide manufacturers 
in 
building high performance, low-cost appliances that access the World 
Wide Web, 
yet still interoperate with existing systems.  The reference design is 
flexible and will support multiple software environments.  Documentation 
for 
the design will be available free to all manufacturers later this month. 
 
Reference unit samples will be available in April with significant 
quantities 
later this spring. 
 
Funai Electric Company Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, Japan, and Aranex, 
Inc., 
of Bedford, Mass., have committed to build network computing devices in 
accordance with the DIGITAL Network Appliance Reference Design. 
 
"Low cost and high performance are important to our customers in their 
deployment of Network Computers throughout their organizations," said 
Michael 
Chatterton, vice president of marketing for Aranex, manufacturers of the 
first 
Network Computer for business users, the Internet Client Station (ICS). 
 
"Integrating the unique high-speed, extremely low power consumption 
technology 
that Digital has incorporated into the StrongARM CPU with our ICS allows 
us to 
fulfill these customer requirements." 
 
Springboard for Manufacturers 
"We believe this powerful combination of Digital/NCI technologies will 
become 
the springboard for leading manufacturers to produce cost-effective, 
easily 
supported network clients," said Robert Supnik, Digital vice president 
of 
Research and Development.  "This reference design will enable Digital to 
leverage its expertise in microprocessors, Alpha servers, networking, 
and 
systems integration services.  Digital will offer customers complete 
solutions 
for implementing, managing, and supporting network computing 
environments," he 
added. 
 
NCI's NC ACCESS 
NC Access is the enabling software inside the network computer.  It 
includes a 
comprehensive suite of applications that provide access to the Web, 
electronic 
mail, scheduling, news services and multimedia capabilities.  Easy to 
use like 
a television or telephone, NC Access requires no installation or 
administration. 
 
"We're pleased to be working with Digital to provide a powerful 
framework for 
manufacturers to build network computers," said Jerry Baker, president 
of NCI. 
 "The combination of NCI's NC Access and the DIGITAL Network Appliance 
Reference Design will result in devices that are both easy to use, and 
affordable for homes, schools and corporations." 
 
Peter Kastner, an industry analyst with Aberdeen Group, said, "The 
reference 
platform answers four market concerns about network computers: price, 
performance, power, and productivity.  The synergy of Digital's 
StrongARM 
(microprocessor) and NCI's NC system software will be attractive to the 
many 
organizations now evaluating network computing." 
 
StrongARM Microprocessor 
Digital's StrongARM processor has established new standards for high 
speed, 
minimum power consumption, and low price.  StrongARM is capable of 
delivering 
the graphics and multimedia performance users want from an Internet 
access 
device, while meeting user requirements for power and cost.  To date, 
five 
companies ? Wyse Technology, Inc., Boundless Technologies, Inc., LG 
Electronics Ltd., Acorn Computer Group PLC, and AlphaVision Ltd. ? have 
announced Internet/intranet appliances based on the StrongARM 
microprocessor. 
 
Digital Equipment Corporation is a world leader in open client/server 
solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information 
systems. 
 Digital's scalable Alpha and Intel platforms, storage, networking, 
software 
and services, together with industry-focused solutions from business 
partners, 
help organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace.  For 
more 
information about Digital Equipment, visit http://www.digital.com  For 
more 
information about StrongARM and the DIGITAL Network Appliance Reference 
Design, visit Digital Semiconductor's site at 
http://www.digital.com/semiconductor 
 
NCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle Corp., develops, licenses and 
markets 
all software, technology and support services for the NC including NC 
Access, 
NC Server and NC Card.  With strategic partners worldwide, NCI's mission 
is to 
bring network computing to the corporate, consumer and educational 
marketplaces.  NCI's World Wide Web address is http://www.nc.com.  For 
more 
information about NCI, please call 415/631-4600. 
 
#### 
CORP/97/566 
Note to Editors: 
Digital and the Digital logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment 
Corporation.   
NC Access is a trademark of Network Computer Inc. 
Oracle, NC, and Network Computer are registered trademarks of Oracle 
Corporation. 
StrongARM is a trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.