Microsoft and Intel announce NetPC reference specification

Microsoft and Intel have released a reference specification for the NetPC,a thin-client the companies are proposing. They expect PC manufacturers torelease NetPC-compliant systems by the summer.

A NetPC is a sealed-case system with no external drives or expansion bays.Companies that are currently using networked PCs are expected to buyNetPCs, allowing them to reduce their support costs. The cheapest NetPCsshould cost about US$1000. NetPCs are the first step in Microsoft's ZeroAdministration Initiative for Windows and in Intel's Wired for ManagementInitiative, two plans for lowering the cost of PC ownership