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NComputing Unveils the Future of Computing, Officially Launches $70 Shared Computing Solution That Delivers Full PC Functionality

Posted on: Monday, 25 September 2006, 12:00 CDT

NComputing, Inc. today officially launched the NStation, a complete

shared-computing solution that delivers full PC functionality for $70

per user. Based on patented technology, NStation, a combination hardware

and software solution, enables even low-end PCs running either Windows

or Linux to support multiple, simultaneous users without compromising

the user experience.

NStation enables simultaneous sharing by tapping into the unused

computing cycles of today's PCs. "Today's

personal computers have become so powerful that with the exception of 3D

gaming and video rendering applications, only 10-18% of their processing

power is used at any given time," said Stephen

Dukker, Chairman and CEO of NComputing, Inc. "The

rest of the time, the computer sits idle. Our products put all that

wasted power to work."

Getting to the Next Billion Users

"There have been admirable initiatives to try

to make computing affordable for the rest of the world, but they all

delivered a compromised user experience," said

Dukker. "If budget-strapped schools and

developing countries are to become technologically competitive, they

need full PC functionality at a radically low price. We have that

technology today."

In what the company believes may be among the largest proof-of-concept

hardware and software deployments in the history of personal computing,

over 130,000 NStation units were deployed in K-12 schools across the

United States, as well as at Internet cafes, businesses, and schools in

44 countries -- all to prove that the

technology works and stands up to the performance levels that users

demand.

"The technology has been run through the

rigors of day-to-day use, so we know it's

solid," said Dukker. "While

it won't serve the needs of 3D gamers,

home-theater video enthusiasts, graphic artists, and photographers

today, it works perfectly for everything else we do on computers,

including surfing the Web and running standard computer applications."

As such, NStations are a natural for schools and the developing world.

From a district-wide deployment in St. Anthony, Idaho to Internet cafés

in Manila, Philippines, NStations are making use of the power of today's

personal computer to allow more people to gain access to PC technology.

At the Fremont Joint School District 215 in St. Anthony, ID, Tracy

Smith, director of technology, has replaced the outdated workstations in

every elementary classroom district-wide using NComputing's

products, drastically reducing his tech support problems in the process. "Installation

was pretty slick -- we installed a PCI card and software in the main

computer then simply plugged in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse in the

NComputing stations," he said. "NComputing

allowed us to have modern workstations in every classroom today, whereas

in the past, we would have had to wait a few years to get the budget to

upgrade our computers."

In Manila, even small vendors can afford to build Internet cafés

using NComputing products. In rural China, NComputing made it possible

for a mayor of a small village to provide computer access for his

constituents.

NComputing Moves Shared PC Computing to the Mainstream

Shared computing is an age-old concept, dating to the days of the

mainframes which were so expensive that people bought time to use them.

More recently, server-based computing became possible with thin clients.

But users had already become accustomed to PC functionality and were

underwhelmed by thin client performance. Moreover, what was supposed to

cost less was often more expensive than putting PCs on every desk, due

to the initial capital expenditure and the added system administration

costs. The "Total Cost of Ownership"

value proposition was recast as a security benefit: centralized

computing was more secure -- a fact, but current solutions are out of

reach for mainstream users.

With NComputing products, however, server-based computing becomes

affordable for the smallest organization. The software and hardware

combination costs a fraction of other client/server solutions while

delivering an uncompromised user experience. For now, the Company is

targeting schools, libraries, and developing countries. Soon, however,

when computers become so powerful that they can support multiple,

simultaneous gamers, the company expects that its products will make

their way into homes.

Complete Solution in Two Versions

NStation is available in a PCI or Ethernet version. Each NStation PCI

supports three additional users. NStation Ethernet is designed for a

networked environment; the number of NStation Ethernets that can be

supported simultaneously is dependent on the host computer's

CPU -- from three to 30 on many computers --

and hundreds on an enterprise-class server. Both enable users the

ability to share the computing resources of a single computer's CPU,

memory, HDD, and more. All terminal software is bundled with all

NStations.

NComputing Cuts Down on E-Waste and Energy Use

Approximately 10 million tons of e-waste is disposed of annually in the

US. With computer manufacturers recommending PCs be upgraded every three

years, those piles of waste are growing. NComputing is the green

solution, slashing the number of PCs replaced every few years because

only the host PC needs upgrading. NStation also provides dramatic energy

savings, requiring only 5 watts of energy versus the 250 average watts

usage of the PC. And since it emits negligible heat, it also cuts down

on the amount of air conditioning required in a large installation.

About NComputing, Inc.

Founded with the goal of making computing truly affordable for everyone,

NComputing, Inc. is a privately-held technology design and manufacturing

company with offices in Germany, Korea, and the United States. The

company's patented Station-on-a-Chip (SoC)

communications and server technologies are designed to improve the

price, performance, and energy profiles of modern computing environments.

The current product lines deliver enterprise-class, server-based

multi-user PC computing solutions that are affordable enough for even

the smallest organization yet powerful enough for enterprise-scale

applications. The company also markets its technologies to OEM

manufacturers wishing to deliver PC functionality on new and emerging

platforms such as cell phones, MP3 players, and kiosks.

NComputing is headquartered in Orange, CA. Additional information is

available at www.ncomputing.com.

Source: Business Wire

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