New Internet Computer

New Internet Computer (NIC)
Manufacturer New Internet Computer Company
Type Internet Appliance
Release date July 6, 2000 (2000-07-06)
Introductory price $199[1]
Discontinued June 2003 (2003-06)
Units sold Less than 50,000
Operating system Linux
CPU 266 MHz Cyrix MII
Memory 64 MB RAM
Storage 4 MB Flash Memory
Connectivity 10 MBps Ethernet
56K Modem
Two USB 1.1 ports
Power 60 Watt Power Supply
Online services NetZero

The New Internet Computer (NIC) was a Linux-based internet appliance released July 6, 2000 by Larry Ellison's and Gina Smith's New Internet Computer Company. The system (without a monitor) sold for US$199.[1][2][3]

The NIC boots from a CD-ROM with a custom Linux distribution developed by Wim Coekaerts. It has no hard drive and no way to install additional software.[1] The system's only nonvolatile storage is 4 MB of flash memory.

Ellison planned to sell 5 million units the first year, but fewer than 50,000 units were sold. The company shut its doors in June 2003. PC World ranked the NIC as the ninth worst PC of all time.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tynan, Dan. The 10 Worst PCs of All Time, PC World, March 19, 2007
  2. Biersdorfer, J.D. (28 September 2000). "Internet Appliance Eliminates Hard Drive". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  3. "CNET's Smith to head Ellison's new firm". American Cities Business Journals. BizJournals.com. 7 February 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2017.


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