Network Computer

Network Computer
Network computers are also sometimes known as thin clients or dumb terminals. They provide access to a mainframe via a network and have little, if any, computing capacity of their own. Network computers provide remote access to a mainframe. They allow the user to input data or commands and receive output. The actual processing would be done on the mainframe.

Capacity and speed: Network computers do not have any processing capacity of their own. Their speed will depend on i: the speed and capacity of the mainframe; ii: the speed of the network to which they are attached; iii: the number of users accessing the mainframe. Thus in periods of low demand, they will appear to function very quickly but would appear to slow down when the demand on the system is high.

Cost: Network computers are relatively simple devices, hence they are fairly cheap.

Typical users: These would generally be the end-users of the system such as managers, accountants, receptionists, accounts clerks and data capturers.