Subject: Network Computers and comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups FAQ v1.01
Date: 16 Aug 1997 10:42:18 GMT
Summary: Information about Network Computers (NCs) and the usenet newsgroups
         for Network Computers, comp.sys.net-computer.*

Archive-name: network-computers/faq
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Version: 1.01
URL: http://www.wilts.net/nc/faq.html

      Network Computer and comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups FAQ v1.01

  This FAQ contains information and answers to common questions about both
 Network Computers and the comp.sys.net-computer.* usenet newsgroups.
 The latest version of this FAQ is also available on the web in HTML format
 at http://www.wilts.net/nc/faq.html

------------------------------

Subject: 1. Contents.

   1. Contents.
   2. What is a Network Computer?
   3. What different types of Network Computer are there?
   4. Will Network Computers replace traditional PCs?
   5. What do common abbreviations and acronyms like NCI mean?
   6. Where can I find out more about Network Computers?
   7. What newsgroups are available for Network Computer related topics?
   8. How do I post an announcement to comp.sys.net-computer.announce?
   9. What should I do if someone posts a wildly off topic article to one
      of the comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups?
  10. What should I do if I see "spam" in one of the comp.sys.net-computer.*
      newsgroups?
  11. Charter for comp.sys.net-computer.announce.
  12. Charter for comp.sys.net-computer.advocacy.
  13. Charter for comp.sys.net-computer.misc.
  14. Contact details and credits.

------------------------------

Subject: 2. What is a Network Computer?

  Network Computers (NCs) are a new type of affordable computing device
 which cost much less that traditional PCs to buy and maintain. This is
 because rather than having a large hard disk, lots of RAM and so on,
 NCs have minimal RAM and no hard disk and instead use a network connection
 to store data, and applications which are not in ROM, on central servers.

------------------------------

Subject: 3. What different types of Network Computer are there?

  Many different companies will be producing Network Computers, although
 all those which carry the NCI logo will conform to the Network Computer
 Reference Profile and open standards and so should be compatible with all
 other NC systems.

  However there are three distinct types of Network Computer which are
 targeted to different uses:

  * The home NC
    This NC will be used by people to connect to the Internet from home using
    just the NC, a normal TV, and normal phone line. It will enable people to
    join the information age and get online without the large outlay and
    ongoing upgrade costs associated with traditional PCs.

  * The corporate NC
    This NC will be used in offices and will allow staff to have a GUI
    terminal with local processing power, while storing data and specialist
    applications centrally. Because data is stored centrally and all users
    have a smart card which is used to configure the NC to their preferred
    setting, it is possible to take your smart card to any NC in the office,
    or possibly the world, and use that NC as if it is your own.

  * Set Top Box NC
    This type of NC will be normally used in conjunction with high speed
    networks to provide services like video on demand, home shopping, home
    banking, games, etc. Eventually TV channels may be a thing of the past,
    with everyone using a STB to access any programme whenever they want.
    Sometimes the network will provide fast download, for example via a
    cable TV network, but with a standard modem for return data and requests.

  There are also hybrid designs which merge together two devices, for example
 Acorn's ExecPhone NC which is a high powered Network Computer integrated
 with a video phone.

  These integrated designs are the next stage for the Network Computer,
 bringing even greater convergence of computing, house hold appliances,
 and communications devices.

------------------------------

Subject: 4. Will Network Computers replace traditional PCs?

  No. NCs will be used mainly by the millions of people who currently do not
 own a traditional PC because of the high purchase and maintenance costs.
 There will always be more technically minded people, people running servers,
 and people who want more flexibility who will use a PC type device, but
 they are now, and will continue to be, in the minority.

  However people's attitudes towards PCs may change as a result of the NC.
 If an NC can work very well with no hard disk, little RAM, and a ROM based
 OS, why are some of the traditional PC operating systems wasting resources
 like 32MB RAM and 2GB hard disks?

  With appropriate software some old PCs could be given a new lease of life
 and transformed into a NC like device, rather than being thrown away.

------------------------------

Subject: 5. What do common abbreviations and acronyms like NCI mean?

  Here are some of the common abbreviations and acronyms and their meanings
 which you are likely to come across in the world of Network Computers.

   ATM  Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a method for the dynamic allocation
        of bandwidth using a fixed size packet. Used in some high speed
        cable TV networks.
   NC   Network Computer.
   NCI  Network Computer, Inc - Oracle's NC subsidiary.
   NCOS Network Computer Operating System, NCOS1 is based on Acorn's RISC OS,
        NCOS2 is based on NetBSD.
   NCRP Network Computer Reference Profile.
   PC   Personal Computer (meaning all traditional PCs, _not_ just IBM type).
   PDA  Personal Digital Assistant.
   RAM  Random Access Memory, used to run programmes in. NCs typically have
        little RAM (around 8MB) when compared to traditional PCs, because of
        the compact and efficient nature of their applications and OS.
   ROM  Read Only Memory, like RAM in that it stores data, but unlike RAM in
        that it retains this data even when switched off. Used to store the
        NC's OS rather than using a hard disk.
   STB  Set Top Box, a device which sits on or under a TV and is used to
        decode signals, access a network or services, etc.

------------------------------

Subject: 6. Where can I find out more about Network Computers?

  There are several places to find information about NCs on the web:

  http://www.nc.com/       - NCI, Oracle's NC subsidiary
  http://www.nc.ihost.com/ - The NC reference profile
  http://www.ncns.com/     - The NC news service
  http://www.acorn.com/    - Acorn Group plc
  http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/nc/ - Information on Acorn NCs

------------------------------

Subject: 7. What newsgroups are available for Network Computer related
            topics?

  The following usenet newsgroups are dedicated to the subject of Network
 Computers:

  comp.sys.net-computer.advocacy Relative merits of Network Computers.
  comp.sys.net-computer.announce Announcements relating to Network Computers.
  comp.sys.net-computer.misc     Network Computers and related topics.

  The announcements group is moderated, see section 8 for details.

------------------------------

Subject: 8. How do I post an announcement to comp.sys.net-computer.announce?

  To ensure that only valid Network Computer related announcements are
 posted in the newsgroup it is moderated. This means that all articles have
 to be approved by the moderator before they appear in the newsgroup.
 There is a submission guidelines page available on the web to help with any
 questions you may have about submitting articles, it can be found at:

   http://www.wilts.net/nc/guidelines.html

------------------------------

Subject: 9. What should I do if someone posts a wildly off topic article to
            one of the comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups?

  Unfortunately there will always be users who don't know what the newsgroup
 is actually for, and who don't bother to read this FAQ or the charters or
 even the newsgroups line before posting.

  If you see an article in a comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroup which
 has absolutely nothing to do with Network Computers you should under
 no circumstances reply, quote, or discuss it in the Network Computer
 newsgroups. Several articles saying why an article is off topic are
 just as annoying and off topic as the original article.

  Instead you may like to e-mail a polite note to the person who posted the
 original article including this FAQ, explaining what the newsgroup they
 posted to is for. Someone who gets several copies of the FAQ is unlikely to
 post another totally irrelevant article.

  You should not be rude or abusive when someone makes a simple mistake
 about where to post, however stupid that mistake may have been. Also don't
 attack people who are slightly off topic, this section only applies to
 "wildly off topic articles". "Spam" is also different matter, see
 section 10.

------------------------------

Subject: 10. What should I do if I see "spam" in one of the
             comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups?

  "Spam" is defined as multiple posts of identical articles to many
 newsgroups. If you see the same totally off topic message in all the
 Network Computer newsgroups and in other newsgroups you read the chances
 are it is spam.

  Unlike people who post wildly off topic articles because they don't know
 what the group is for sending the FAQ to a spammer won't do any good, and
 the From: header is likely to be forged in spam anyway. Instead you should
 send a copy of the entire article which you think is spam, including _all_
 headers, to the administrators of the site which the spam was posted from.
 As with off topic posts never quote, reply to, or discuss spam in the
 Network Computer newsgroups.

  For more information about usenet spam and junk e-mail and how to report
 it see the "Help! I've been Spammed! What do I do?" FAQ which is available
 on the web at http://www.tezcat.com/~gbyshenk/ive.been.spammed.html
 Also see the network abuse clearing house at http://www.abuse.net/

------------------------------

Subject: 11. Charter for comp.sys.net-computer.announce.

  The content of posts to comp.sys.net-computer.announce should be current,
 textual, information, and must relate to the Network Computer (NC). This
 includes press releases and news items, as well as any other topical
 announcements relating to Network Computers. The group will also be used to
 distribute information relating to the comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups,
 for example a FAQ.

  Although this group is intended primarily for announcements relating to
 Network Computers which comply with Network Computer Inc's standards, other
 posts which are closely related to the topic of NCs will also be accepted
 if the moderators believe they are relevant and will be of interest to
 readers.

  Advertising is not permitted, unless the document contains information of
 interest to the intended audience of the newsgroup. For example an advert
 for a Network Computer exhibition or conference would be welcome.

  Repeat postings are not not acceptable unless there has been a major
 change to the information contained, or the posting is an accepted regular
 posting like a FAQ.

  This newsgroup will be moderated. Moderation policies:
 The moderators will accept any post which is in keeping with the above
 charter, and will NOT give more importance to announcements from any one
 company. Submissions which are clearly inappropriate will be rejected
 without a reason, any other marginal post will be returned to the sender
 with a note from the moderator explaining their decision.

------------------------------

Subject: 12. Charter for comp.sys.net-computer.advocacy.

  The comp.sys.net-computer.advocacy newsgroup should be used for all
 discussions about the relative merits of the Network Computer compared to
 PCs or NetPCs, or one NC compared to another NC.

  Such discussions should be contained in this newsgroup, and should not
 take place in any other comp.sys.net-computer.* newsgroups.

------------------------------

Subject: 13. Charter for comp.sys.net-computer.misc.

  The newsgroup comp.sys.net-computer.misc is a general discussion area for
 any topic relating directly to Network Computers which comply with Network
 Computer Inc's specifications.

  Topics relating to the relative merits of Network Computers when
 compared to each other, or more likely to standard PCs or NetPCs should
 NOT be discussed in this group, but should be confined to the 
 comp.sys.net-computer.advocacy group.

  Advertising and announcements of any kind are not allowed in this
 newsgroup. If there is an advert or announcement relating to Network
 Computers then such a post should be directed to the moderated group
 comp.sys.net-computer.announce.

  Binaries are not permitted. This group will be unmoderated.

------------------------------

Subject: 14. Contact details and credits.

  This FAQ is at a very early stage, there is a lot more information which
 will be added in due course, if you have a specific question please e-mail
 me at js@null.net and I will add it to the FAQ. Also please contact me with
 any corrections or submissions of answers for the FAQ.

  There is a web site for this FAQ and everything else relating to the
 Network Computer newsgroups. It is available at http://www.wilts.net/nc/


                             Copyright 1997, by James C N Sears <js@null.net>

