Re: [9fans] Plan 9/Inferno on Pogo, anyone?

[Borja Marcos <borjam@sarenet.es>]

On Monday 12 November 2001 12:32, you wrote:
> Thin client. What operating system runs on their servers is probably more
> interesting. Strange, I can't imagine thin client supporting a very large
> consumer base; the numbers don't work out.

	Not with the typical phone network. However, recently deployed networks are 
based on small nodes serving a bunch of buildings, all linked with a SDH 
network. For example, Euskaltel, a new telehpone operator here, is installing 
one of such nodes under my flat.

	Such nodes would serve a reduced number of users (compared to the typical 
phone switch) and I think it would be possible to deploy thin clients in such 
newtorks, using cable modems or xDSL.

	In fact, when Inferno was released I thought I would see a phone company 
offering thin clients for simple computing tasks, Internet access, video on 
demand (or near video on demand), etc. I think this was the idea of the 
original Inferno developers.

	At least in Spain, where telephone network operation is no longer a monopoly 
(well, in fact it is still a de-facto monopoly) new networks are being 
deployed in that way. Forget the huge central offices with huge phone 
switches serving 100,000 lines and local loops in the range of 1 - 2 Km.



	Borja.