HDS Network Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:HDSX) announced Tuesday that its @workStation Network Computer has been awarded the prestigious Editor's Choice award by Network Computing magazine in a comparison review of existing Network Computers from a variety of manufacturers.

Network Computing said "... (the) HDS @workStation offers the best combination of features, performance and ease of use," and "the HDS @workStation offered the most comprehensive feature set of any of the products we tested."

The article further said "HDS deserves praise for the inclusion of two industry-standard browsers," and "a port of Netscape Navigator 3.0 provides efficient and familiar Web navigation." HDS is currently the only company offering a full-featured web browser in its Network Computer, with a licensed copy of the Navigator browser -- widely accepted as the most popular browser in use on the Internet today.

Other comments included "HDS was the only vendor that provided a hard disk drive," "... mimicking the tabbed dialog boxes of Windows 95, @workStation's configuration menus are easy to use," "... (the) @workStation provides excellent connectivity to legacy host systems," and "access to Windows applications can be accomplished via client software that provides access to Insignia NTRIGUE server via the X protocol or to a Citrix WinFrame server via the ICA protocol."

In comparisons of the HDS @workStation to other products being marketed as "network computers," Network Computing stated that the Wyse models are "... best described as Windows terminals;" for one Boundless model they said "... affixing the designation of network computer strikes us as quite a stretch;" for the NCD product: "... the absence of a local browser makes the HMX an incomplete network computer product," and for the Sun JavaStation: "... its initial NC offering is somewhat limited in functionality."

The HDS @workStation is the world's first true Network Computer, with the ability to run Windows, Java, Internet, and legacy applications from a simple-to-use desktop device. The @workStation is also the first Network Computer available with the Navigator browser, giving users a low-cost, easy-to-manage NC.

Other capabilities of the @workStation include the ICA protocol for accessing Windows applications over the Internet, and a suite of 32 terminal emulators for access to legacy systems. The @workStation is available immediately world-wide from HDS and its network of resellers with prices beginning at $699.

HDS's netOS operating system, which is the basis of the @workStation NC, is the industry's first standards-based operating system targeted at the Network Computer market, HDS has been first to market with virtually every major capability in the NC market, including Java, Navigator, ICA, email capability, Windows access, and a comprehensive suite of terminal emulators, because of the standards-based, open nature of the netOS operating system.

Many of these capabilities were added to the netOS operating system in a matter of weeks, while HDS's competition is not yet shipping them. HDS considers this a major strategic advantage in the market, and plans to capitalize on this advantage to continue to lead the NC industry in features, capability and performance.

HDS Network Systems, of King of Prussia, is a leading international supplier of Network Computers and related software, which are cost-effective solutions for the integration and delivery of information and applications to the desktop.