Microsoft Corp. has announced a stripped-down version of the Windows NT operating system designed to run on appliance servers for shared Internet access in offices. Windows for Express Networks (or WEN) will only be available loaded on appliance servers, starting with Intel Corp.’s InBusiness Small Office Network. Intel’s products will be available this month, after some last-minute testing. The servers come in two models, starting at US$1300 for a Celeron-366 system. Both of Intel’s new Small Office Network servers come only with a shared 56Kbps modem and do not offer support for a broadband connection. The US$1300 InBusiness Small Office Network features a 366MHz Celeron processor, 64MB of memory (upgraded from 32MB), a 13GB hard drive, 56Kbps modem, and an eight-port hub. The second model, the InBusiness Small Office Network Plus, runs on a Celeron-466, and comes with 64MB of memory, a 56Kbps modem, an eight-port hub, a 13GB hard drive, and an additional 13GB removable drive for mirroring. That unit is expected to carry a street price of US$1675. Intel’s appliance server boxes are aimed at small businesses with little or no technical support staff. With them, small offices can share files and printing, and can manage equipment remotely through a Web interface. The servers will let many as 25 networked computers share Internet access. If users don’t have a technical staff or know-how, WEN guides them through the setup process with Wizards. Microsoft also plans to license its operating system to other vendors, so more WEN-powered appliance servers will be coming to market. Intel is at http://www.intel.com.
Prices listed are in US currency.