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The Network PC Requirements
Required features that define the core capabilities of a NetPC device.
John Enck
December 31, 1997
1 Min Read
Version 1.0b of the Network PC System Design Guidelines defines 70 features of the NetPC. The specifications require some of these features, recommend some, and leave others optional. From the perspective of Windows NT Magazine Lab, the following required features are of particular interest because they define the core capabilities of a NetPC device.
Minimum 133MHz Intel compatible with at least 256KB L2 cache or NT-compatible RISC processor
Minimum 16MB of RAM
Limited user access in preboot mode
Remote boot can be used for system setup
Remote BIOS update
Support for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), OnNow, and Wakeup on LAN power management features
Support for Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI) and Desktop Management Interface (DMI) instrumentation
Minimum set of user indicators
Lockable case to prevent intrusion
Plug-and-play support
Keyboard, mouse, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) support
Network connectivity according to PC 97 hardware design specifications
Minimum 800 x 600 graphics display mode
Smart hard disk
You can download a full copy of the Network PC System Design Guidelines at http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/netpc.htm. Just don't expect light readingthe current version of the specification (published in 1997) is 145 pages long.
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