SIGPC V1N11

SIGPC

Dilbert's View of the Network Computer (NC)

Vol. 1, No. 11

15 Jun 1997

What is Scott Adam's take on network computing? A section of his recent book "The Dilbert Future: Thriving on Stupidity in the 21st Century" provides a summary that is tongue-in-cheek yet insightful. Will his predictions come true?

by Scott Tilley

References:

I recently finished reading Scott Adam's new book "The Dilbert Future: Thriving on Stupidity in the 21^st Century" (HarperBusiness, NY 1997). I recommend it - very amusing yet insightful at the same time. Did you know that Mr. Adams appears to be in high demand as a legitimate management consultant, even to those organizations that he pokes fun of in his comic strips? Ironic.

In the chapter on "Technology Predictions" there is a section on the network computer (NC). It is actually a very good summary of the entire NC versus PC debate. For example, quoting from this section: "On the off chance that you are not familiar with the NC versus PC debate, allow me to provide some background. The NC is blah, blah, blah, Java, blah, blah, trying to screw Microsoft, blah, blah, no hard disk, blah, blah, Larry Ellison." The "blah"'s are Mr. Adams, not mine. (Larry Ellison is the CEO of Oracle and a big proponent of NCs and anything anti-Microsoft. Similar to Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems in that regard.)

Says Mr. Adams: "There have been many spirited and stimulating debates about the relative technical merits of the NC versus the PC. This debate is an important one primarily because technology magazines can't sell advertisements if the rest of the magazine is empty. The NC has filled that important void". Sort of puts the hype surrounding NCs in perspective.

Mr. Adams provides an amusing set of arguments rebutting the arguments put forth by proponents of the NC:

Pro-NC Argument	Counter-argument
Many people will prefer a low-cost solution, even if it means giving up some functionality and prestige.	One word: Yugo.
The NC will be much easier to use than full-blown PCs, thus guaranteeing a dominant market share.	One word: Macintosh.
This new computing paradigm will neuter Microsoft's stranglehold on the PC industry.	One word: Bill.

"Some people will argue that Bill Gates and Microsoft aren't smart enough to stop NC's threat to the PC market. But don't forget, Bill Gates is the guy who turned Apple Computer into a no-cost Microsoft R&D center and made everyone believe it was a separate company, thus reducing antitrust complaints." If Microsoft feels threatened by the NC, one strategy Bill Gates could adopt is to bundle a free NC with every copy of Windows 95. With over $20B in stock, he could afford it.

Here is Mr. Adam's "sophisticated market segmentation analysis" of the NC:

Customer Profile	Likely to Buy
This person always wants the latest computer, no matter how complicated or expensive.	Personal computer (PC) based on Intel chip and Microsoft Windows software.
Same as above, but supports public television. Dreams of quitting job and becoming an artist. Might have a goatee.	Macintosh computer.
Same as first profile, but enjoys pain and has no friends. Might be portly and wear suspenders.	Unix workstation.
This person thinks that a computer would look lovely with the furniture and wants to "check out that Internet" someday to do some shopping and maybe book airline tickets. Might work in senior management.	Network Computer (NC).

He ends with Prediction 11: "In the future, Network Computers will be purchased and used with the same enthusiasm as home exercise equipment."

Related information:

The Dilbert Zone: www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/

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