Network PC

What Does Network PC Mean?

A network PC (Net PC) is a small, low-cost computer designed to be centrally managed and support businesses using network applications. In the mid-1990s, the Net PC competed with the former network computer standard. Net PCs are not equipped with disk drives, CD-ROM drives or expansion slots. However, they do have hard disks that are used to provide temporary cache and improve performance.

Techopedia Explains Network PC

Introduced in 1997, NetPCs were an early approach to managing computers with the Windows operating system. NetPCs are usually used for online transaction processing, banking services and retail point-of-sale terminals. Because they are relatively inexpensive, Microsoft and Intel designed the Net PC with sealed cases to discourage users from reconfiguring the hardware.

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Margaret Rouse

Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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