Definition: NetPC

(NETwork PC) An earlier approach for managing Windows computers that never caught on. Introduced in 1997, NetPCs could be configured as fat clients, but all software was monitored by a management server for version upgrades. Designed to boot from the network, floppy disks and CD-ROM drives were discouraged.

Also Like a Network Computer
The NetPC could be configured like a network computer, but would boot from the network each time it was turned on. It would also download all applications from the network and use the local hard disk to cache parts of the software for performance.

NetPCs conformed to the NetPC Design Guidelines, which included Intel's Wired for Management Baseline Specification (see WfM). Intel's LANDesk Configuration Manager was the first management server to support NetPCs. See network computer.