Toshiba Information Systems (Japan) Corporation, a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp., has developed a new operating system that will allow conventional personal computers to be used as network computers. The new OS is called "JVOS" and is described as a Java and Internet OS for PCs.

The new software has several unique features, said the company's Junya Mizuno. The system can be run on a standard Intel-based personal computer, rather than require special hardware or architecture of a network computer. It includes built-in support for the Java programming language and will only run Java-based applications.

The ability to run on a standard computer means that PCs in offices could be equipped to boot as either network or personal computers. An additional advantage is that, when a company decides to switch to a network-based system, it doesn't need to buy new hardware for each workstation.

The approach taken by Toshiba is slightly different to that of other companies which are designing new hardware for network computer systems. While the new hardware designed for Java will eventually be a better solution for most applications, the Toshiba system offers a cheap and flexible system for deployment now, while network computers are still expensive.

JVOS is installed directly onto an x86 platform and uses the micro-ITRON OS, an operating system designed for use in imbedded systems, said Toshiba's Mizuno. A version for microcomputers, MITRON, is used by some PC manufacturers. The JVOS systems makes use of Asymetrix Corp.'s SuperCedeVM, which compiles Java byte code and generates optimized code for a x86 CPU.

"This runs only Java," explained Mizuno. "Corel is making Corel Office for Java, Oracle is making its suite for Java, so all major suites will be able to run on our operating system. In addition others are making software for Java."

"This is not intended for home use," he added. JVOS will be available in the third quarter of 1997 and Toshiba is now contacting OEM manufacturers and systems integrators regarding sales of JVOS.

Source: Newsbytes