Ellison's Net Appliance

Looks like Ellison will release the net appliance he's been talking about all these years -- and without Apple's help.

ZDNet is reporting that New Internet Computer Co. (owned by Ellison) will be releasing a $199 Web appliance "designed to do little more than surf the Web and send e-mail".

For $199, you get a 266 mhz machine without a monitor. For $99, you can get an i-Opener. Same idea, but with a screen, and an obligation to buy service.