Rui CarmoNetwork Computing (also dubbed “Thin Client”) is the computing model that just keeps coming back for more. Besides X11 and more modern “remote display” technologies like VNC and Remote Desktop, there are umpteen variations on this theme.
For instance, the Sun Ray Server Software also ran on Linux, and there were various rumors about a ‘lite’ version of Windows for thin clients which died off over the years until only [Citrix] and Remote Desktop remained.
Some that I found interesting were:
- Ndiyo, which went on to later become DisplayLink
- PC Expanion, a cheap desktop sharing solution
- JackPC - an embedded Windows CE device using Ethernet inline power.