| Thin client technology is like the Chicago Cubs of the | | | | company has qualified for rebates in 12 states, plus |
| IT world: it's been building for a long time and is just | | | | Manitoba and British Columbia, Canada. |
| about to break out, just as soon as it works out a | | | | For a really extreme solution, however, you should |
| few more details. | | | | keep an eye on ASUS, which recently unveiled the |
| But no matter how much the analysts and experts | | | | prototype Eee Keyboard that contains an embedded |
| like them, thin clients just can't seem to close the | | | | PC using the Atom N270 processor and sporting a |
| deal at most enterprises. The litany of pros vs. cons | | | | five-inch touchscreen/trackpad. The unit weighs in at |
| is well-known at this point: lower capital and operating | | | | 2 pounds and is expected to begin shipping by June |
| costs against stubborn user resistance and network | | | | with 32 GB SSD memory, Windows XP, 802.11n and |
| latency. The stalemate has kept thin clients waiting in | | | | HDMI-out. It's probably not the best solution for all IT |
| the wings for several decades now, registering only | | | | applications, but will probably provide a reasonable |
| the slightest uptick last year during the oil price hike. | | | | solution for many mundane tasks. |
| The funny thing is, though, that with virtualization and | | | | As with most technology deployments, however, it's |
| high-speed datacenter networking now gathering | | | | best to have a plan. Author and IT consultant Rick |
| steam, it's likely that many of the performance issues | | | | Freedman says any migration to thin client |
| are likely to fall away over the next few years. So | | | | architectures should include a full assessment of all |
| it's no surprise that the thin client industry is back | | | | applications that are involved to ensure that |
| again this year with new lower-cost models that it | | | | necessary resources are available and the proper |
| hopes will prove too economical to resist. | | | | protocols are in place. You'll also need to take stock |
| Take Germany's IGEL, for example. With strong | | | | of your server and VM architectures to ensure they |
| government backing, the company has come out | | | | can handle the client traffic, and then implement the |
| with the IGEL One that lists for 128 pounds sterling, | | | | migration on a staggered basis to ensure that any |
| about US$200. For that price, you get a client that | | | | conflicts can be resolved before they significantly |
| can run five different server protocols, including | | | | affect operations. |
| XenApp and Terminal Services, plus an onboard VNC | | | | Critics of thin client technology argue that much of |
| client for centralized remote IT support. The | | | | the capital and operational savings are countered by |
| company says the system is designed for up to 250 | | | | the need for increased server, storage and network |
| users. | | | | architectures. That's probably true, but the fact is |
| It's also important to note that many utility | | | | that most enterprises are faced with increasing their |
| companies are starting to see the benefits of thin | | | | centralized resources anyway, simply to take |
| clients on their energy infrastructures and are willing | | | | advantage of new virtual and cloud-based |
| to speed up widespread adoption. NComputing's | | | | technologies. |
| newest release lists for $70 per user but is available | | | | Thin clients can certainly piggy-back on that trend, |
| for rebates by some utilities that brings the price | | | | but only if they can convince the powers that be |
| down to $45. The unit, which is about as large as a | | | | that the cost-savings don't come at the expense of |
| coffee cup, allows you to share one PC among | | | | decreased productivity. |
| seven users, costing only about 1 watt per user. The | | | | |