Update: (Apr. 6, 2000) according to John G. Spooner of ZDNet News, NetPliance has taken measures to disallow the capability to install PC applications on the NetPliance. I-Opener's strategy is to give away the razor (the NetPliance system) and sell the razor blades (Internet access services). With purchasers able to install Linux and use the device for whatever they want (including as a general purpose PC), I-Opener was losing control of the environment into which they plan to sell specialized applications. Here's the latest ZDNet scoop, from Spooner . . .

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Original story: (Mar. 27, 2000) Seen at LinuxPR.com: Jim McQuillan of the Linux Terminal Server Project writes . . .

“Yes, the Iopener from NetPliance can be used as a Thin Client computer in a Linux/Unix environment. Using software from the Linux Terminal Server Project you can turn the Iopener into a diskless thin client computer.”

“The Iopener includes a 10″ flat panel display, a 200Mhz WinChip (x86 compatible), 32MB of RAM, a 16MB Flash disk, a Parallel port, 56K modem and a USB port. All for only $99. From the factory, the unit is loaded with QNX, and configured to dial into the internet.”

“The Flash ram can be loaded with a Linux kernel and configured to boot up and mount it's root filesystem from Linux/Unix server running LTSP. Complete instructions can be found on the LTSP home page.”

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