[Fwd: News]

[Peter Bart <peterb@xxxxxxx>]

CommLink wrote:

>
>                           April 6, 2000
>
> Tech Center
>
> AOL, Gateway Unveil Low Cost,
> Linux-Based Internet 'Appliances'
>
> By NICK WINGFIELD
> Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
>
> America Online Inc. and Gateway Inc. introduced a line of low-cost Internet
> "appliances" based on the Linux operating system, reflecting the growing
> emphasis on Web-access devices that eliminate most of the complexity -- and
> much of the cost -- of traditional personal computers.
>
> Already, a company called Netpliance Inc. (www.netpliance.com1) has been
> marketing a device called the i-opener, selling for $99, that connects consumers
> to the Internet, although it requires that they purchase Netpliance's own
> Internet-access service. Internet appliances from several other companies are
> expected later this year.
>
> Gateway will design and engineer three appliances for connecting to AOL from
> the home. AOL last year agreed to invest $800 million in the San Diego
> computer maker, in part to encourage the development of low-cost Internet
> devices.
>
> These include a "countertop" appliance that can be
> mounted under a kitchen cabinet; a "Web pad" that
> connects wirelessly to the Internet via a home base
> station; and a bulkier appliance meant to sit on
> desktops. All are expected to cost less than $500.
> Consumers also will have to subscribe to AOL,
> according to company executives. Two of the
> three products will be available by the end of the year; the Web pad will go on
> sale next year, the companies said.
>
> Barry Schuler, president of AOL's interactive-services unit, said he doesn't
> expect the appliances to replace general-purpose computers. Yet he pointed
> out that programs traditionally available on the PC, such as spreadsheets and
> word processors, are moving to the Web. "Frankly, you just don't need all the
> horsepower, expense and complexity" of PCs to get online, Mr. Schuler said.
>
> AOL, Dulles, Va., said it would develop a special version of AOL called Instant
> AOL for the appliances. Unlike PCs, the appliances will turn on immediately
> without going through a long boot-up process and put consumers online more
> quickly.
>
> The Gateway devices are also notable for what they will lack: operating-system
> software made by Microsoft Corp. Gateway and AOL said they chose the
> Linux operating system, which is developed by volunteer programmers who
> coordinate their efforts over the Internet, because it is faster and more reliable
> than other software.
>
> The devices point out how traditional operating systems are becoming less
> important in the emerging Internet appliance market. Instead, users will interact
> with their appliances entirely through AOL and the Web. "My engineers will
> have failed their job if anyone can see the operating system," said Peter Ashkin,
> Gateway's chief technology officer. The downside, though, is that appliance
> users won't be able to run traditional software such as Microsoft Word or
> computer games that come on CD-ROM.
>
> Write to Nick Wingfield at nick.wingfield@wsj.com4
>
>
> URL for this Article:
> http://interactive.wsj.com/archive/retrieve.cgi?id=SB954972097491208554.djm
>
> Hyperlinks in this Article:
> (1) http://www.netpliance.com/
> (2) http://interactive.wsj.com/archive/retrieve.cgi?id=SB871512940512063500.djm
> (3) http://wellengaged.com/engaged/wsj.cgi?c=WSJ7&t=234
> (4) mailto:nick.wingfield@wsj.com
>