Network Computing Devices
Defunct Electronics Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Network Computing Devices (NCD) was a company founded in 1987 to produce a new class of products now known as a thin client. It was founded in Mountain View, CA, and when it closed it was headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.
- Mike Harrigan
- Doug Klein
- Dave Cornelius
- Ed Basart
- Martin Eberhard
- Kevin Martin
 | |
| Industry | Computers |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 in Mountain View, California, United States |
| Founders |
|
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Thin clients |
The corporate founders were Mike Harrigan, Doug Klein, Dave Cornelius, Ed Basart, Martin Eberhard, and Kevin Martin.
At that time these devices were known as network terminals or X Terminals. Judith Estrin and William Carrico joined the company about 6 months after its founding as its new CEO and executive vice president, and led the company through its IPO in 1992. The products were some of the earliest examples of a thin client and providing remote access to data in something other than ASCII as was common with traditional terminals of the time.
The X Protocol provided a way to show high-resolution images of data and graphics over a network connection. NCD supported a range of network protocols including TCP/IP, Token Ring, DECnet and others. NCD also developed network-transparent audio system called the Network Audio System (nas) to play, record and manipulate audio over a network.[1]
Acquisitions
NCD purchased PCXware, which made an X Window System for Microsoft Windows.[2]
NCD purchased Z-Code Software in 1994. Z-Code made Z-Mail, a cross platform open standards email client. Z-Mail was later sold by NCD to Netmanage.
NCD purchased TekXPress X-terminals line from Tektronix.[3]
NCD ceased operations in 2004. However, a few of the company's employees have set up a new company, ThinPATH Systems,[4] to provide former NCD customers and others with service, support and products.
See also
- DESQview/X, a similar product