How do you run Office 97 on a 286 with 2MB RAM and no hard disk drive?

Answer, you can't.

But you can use such a machine to access a computer that will run Office 97 for you, and display the output on your monitor. Citrix WinFrame is an applications server based on Windows NT Server. It allows multiple users to simultaneously run any application that would normally run under Windows NT. Each user connects to the WinFrame server using their current desktop PC as a graphical terminal. The connection can be made by modem, across the LAN or WAN, or the Internet. Because only the screen and keyboard information is sent between the WinFrame server and the client PC, using Citrix's ICA (Intelligent Console Arhitecture) 3 technology which not only compresses, but only sends changed information, snappy windows performance can be had across a modem link. The other benefit of ICA 3 is its performance across a wide area network. 10 users would be quite acceptable on a 64k link.
WinFrame is an ideal solution for mobile users and telecommuters. With only screen, keyboard and mouse commands moving up and down the wire, remote users can obtain performance as quick as that available on the LAN. There are other benefits: single point of administration and installation for new applications; the user's desktop remains the same, no matter which PC they use to log in from. WinFrame is an excellent alternative to upgrading outdated PCs on the network. Naturally, the server computer will be a very powerful PC, but if you are looking at having to replace 12 or more PCs because they no longer make the grade, WinFrame may well be the answer to your problem. A 15 user license running on a Digital XL5166 server will cost you around $23,500 plus Sales Tax installed.
To discuss how power of WinFrame can help you, please contact Edmund