As expected, Network Computing Devices Inc launched its new 15 monochrome X-terminal at Unix Expo, with a list price of $1,500. The NCD15b lowers the entry price for the Mountain View company’s products from a previous low of $2,300 for the NCD19b 19 model, launched back in July. Network Computing Devices points out that the product costs over $1,000 less than DEC’s 15 VT1200 X terminal, but is twice as powerful, using a 16MHz 68000 processor: it includes 2Mb memory standard, expandable to 5Mb. Lowest price-point, however, still goes to Visual Technology Inc with the $1,000 terminal that it launched a few weeks back. But Network Computing Devices’ Judy Estrin was dismissive of such products, suggesting that some so called X-terminals marketed at seemingly rock-bottom prices were only slightly better than dumb terminals, as their design dictates that the X Server software runs on the host computer.
