Well, Citigroup uses something called a 'Hobbling Terminal', which is basically the office suite in a sandbox. But remember that a Java machine is far more than a virtual terminal, and I doubt many users of the future would even understand the difference between a machine as we know it and a Java machine. And in many places a Java machine will be far cheaper than a quad-core windows box (where 75% of the processing is used for Microsoft anyway). Why does one ever need to leave the sandbox? Basically to run games. But in the US PC-only games seem to be fewer and far-between these days, as the big game consoles take over. In other words, the computer as we know it will be a Java machine (and likely not have windows inside it), and the console will absorb the games (and Windows) and maybe play DVDs too. And actually, I suspect this is exactly the future Gates envisioned right before he retired! -TD
From: sunder <sunder@sunder.net> To: "Roy M. Silvernail" <roy@rant-central.com> CC: Tyler Durden <camera_lumina@hotmail.com>, cypherpunks@jfet.org Subject: Re: CP Sighting: Vista security spec 'longest suicide note in history' Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 17:09:17 -0500
No, actually, it doesn't. Sun tried this with java terminals and the like. Not too many bought into them. WebTV tried this, not too many bought into it. (Yes, I know the beast of redmond bought them.) Many other companies got behind the various thin clients, it didn't take off.
Odds are it won't as it's the same rehashed idea. In the end people vote with their wallets, and very very few showed any interest in just another terminal.
Roy M. Silvernail wrote:
What OS? Think X terminals, with HTTP substituting for the X protocol. It's an ideal consumer medium, too. All that's available is what the servers offer, with no chance for local wizard-wannabees to install software that doesn't follow the rules. Hmm... sounds like a set-top box, doesn't it?
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