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Network Computer

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This article
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5 min
Topic
Computer Science
Quality
Start-class
Introduced
1996
Views
184 in 14 days
Last edited
3 Nov 2026
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  1. Network Computer
Network Computer
DeveloperOracle Corporation
Released1996
Discontinued2000

The Network Computer (or NC) was a diskless desktop computer device made by Oracle Corporation from about 1996 to 2000. The devices were designed and manufactured by an alliance, which included Sun Microsystems (acquired by Oracle in 2010), IBM, and others. The devices were designed with minimum specifications, based on the Network Computer Reference Profile. The brand was also employed as a marketing term to try to popularize this design of computer within enterprise and among consumers.

For the Sun Microsystems slogan, see The Network is the Computer.

The NC brand was mainly intended to inspire a range of desktop computers from various suppliers that, by virtue of their diskless design and use of inexpensive components and software, were cheaper and easier to manage than standard fat client desktops. However, due to the commoditization of standard desktop components, and due to the increasing availability and popularity of various software options for using full desktops as , , and , the Network Computer brand never achieved the popularity hoped for by Oracle and was eventually .

diskless nodes
thin clients
hybrid clients
mothballed

The term network computer is now used for any diskless desktop computer or a thin client.

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General
  • Recent changes
  • Related articles
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This article
Reading time
5 min
Topic
Computer Science
Quality
Start-class
Introduced
1996
Views
184 in 14 days
Last edited
3 Nov 2026
Print/export
  • Printable version
In other projects
  • Wikidata item
Last edited
3 Nov 2026