Digital's Palmer defends the Net against its doom-monger detractors

Digital CEO Robert Palmer hit out at critics that say demand for the internet will collapse by claiming that devices will gain mass market appeal.

Speaking at Internet World, Palmer said: ?The internet will undoubtedly become the universal computing platform of choice. Over the next few years, internet access devices may become as common as the telephone.

?Sceptics say the internet?s infrastructure is in danger of imminent collapse, but this is not the case,? he insisted.

?It will grow and evolve to meet new demand and support new users.?

Key to this growth will be the implementation of three technologies, which will combine to create the next generation of the internet: universal standards, high-speed networks and 64-bit computers, such as Digital?s Alpha platform.

Palmer proceeded to show video demonstrations of Digital customers, citing the effectiveness of using 64-bit machines to support Web sites. The customers included Wells Fargo Bank and Netscape, which records 121 million hits a day on its site.

As though refusing to court controversy of any kind, Palmer chose to keep a foot in both camps regarding the network computer versus PC debate in the industry, insisting that the internet needed both computing models.

?I think Bill Gates and Larry Ellison are both right,? he said.