Are you hooked? Small businesses are finding more than one way to connect to the Internet

It's no secret the Internet is the hottest computer industry development around. But what's the biggest trend in this arena right now? The range of new technology that's springing up to make Internet access cheaper and easier than ever before.

At press time, major manufacturers, including IBM and Sun Microsystems, were working on their long-awaited "Internet PCs" - PCs without disk drives or monitors that are used with TV sets solely to access the Internet. These machines, expected to sell for about $500, should be on the market by the time you read this.

But they are not your only option; several other choices are already available, including inexpensive, scaled-down computers and set-top boxes that work with televisions and phone lines. You don't need to be tech-savvy - or have a lot of money - to purchase and use these products, which are opening the Internet to a wider range of users.

Some of these products are on the market today, and many more vendors have announced they'll be coming out with similar products in the coming year. Here's a look at some of the latest.

* ON THE NETWORK

Many small companies need PCs for standard office applications and also need to access the Internet. Network computers, a new category of hardware, allow you to accomplish both tasks for less money than ever before - well under $1,000 per user.

Network computers differ from standard PCs in that they act as terminals to PC servers. All your applications, including Windows and Internet access, run on the server, which you connect to using the inexpensive network computer, which simply acts as a display.

In a way, this computing style is a throwback to the earlier days of computing, when a series of terminals ran off a mainframe computer. Dubbed "thin client" computing in computer industry jargon, this method is highly cost-effective for smaller businesses that may want to provide computers and Internet access to several users without spending a lot of money.

Network computers are also a money-saver if your company has telecommuters or employees, such as salespeople, who frequently work outside the office. In the past, to access computer data, such "remote workers" had to dial directly into the office's computer server over long-distance phone lines. With network computers, however, they can simply access the office by making a local phone call to an Internet service provider (ISP) and connecting to the server.

Network computers also require less daily service and support than traditional PCs. They have no hard drives and are much simpler to install. As a result, the cost of ownership is significantly lower than that of a traditional PC.

The disadvantages? Network computer systems won't provide the speed and power of a standard desktop PC. Individual users can't plug CD-ROM drives and other add-ons into their systems. And if the server goes down, the whole network goes down. Still, many small companies do very well with the capabilities these network computers offer.

One of the first companies to introduce network computers was Wyse Technology Inc. Its Wyse Winterm product line provides Internet access and Windows computing for prices ranging from $500 to $750 per unit. The line includes the Winterm Model 2300, 2000T, 2500T and 2700T. The "T" models come integrated with a 14- or 15-inch display monitor; the 2300 comes with a choice of monitors. Separately available software, WyseWork, which runs on a server, allows users to access Unix and mainframe applications (the starting price is $495 for five users).

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