Here is a very interesting article on the "Future of Computing".
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/02/marc_cuban_on_t.html
It resonates with an increasingly unanimous thought that PC architecture is breaking up to two streams : "game consoles for heavy duty apps that need processing power and the remaining casual apps, email, internet browsing, etc, will be done via internet-VM thin clients — sans dedicated OS"
The article ends by asking two searching questions :
- Which is a better development platform for app developers of the future, Vista or a Google Virtual Machine ?
- Which is a better consumer platform, using any low end PC to run all your non-multimedia apps, or worrying about upgrading to Vista ? Buying the latest Office apps or running them for free online ?
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Who will win the slugfest ?
Heres an interesting slugfest : "Linux vs Vista" - on the grounds of security.
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Kw3aVhQQWaCL4R/Linux-vs-Vista-How-Does-Security-Stack-Up.xhtml
While there are many +ves and -ves, the really interesting bit is towards the end, to quote from the article :
"Using thin clients with on-demand applications delivered over the Internet are now mainstream in the corporate world, Steinberg emphasized. Some software developers argue that new technologies are making moot the question of whether Windows Vista and XP platforms can be made more secure. Similarly, it should not be an issue if Linux desktop has exploitable weaknesses."
"Small businesses through large enterprise configurations can use virtualization to run Xen, VMWare and Windows Server installations. Virtualization technology moves the operating system to a centrally-managed location. It mimics behavior on the local machine, but the operating system is not there, said Heyman"
What they are actually saying is : When O/S itself becomes irrelevant, does it matter who wins the slugfest ?
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Kw3aVhQQWaCL4R/Linux-vs-Vista-How-Does-Security-Stack-Up.xhtml
While there are many +ves and -ves, the really interesting bit is towards the end, to quote from the article :
"Using thin clients with on-demand applications delivered over the Internet are now mainstream in the corporate world, Steinberg emphasized. Some software developers argue that new technologies are making moot the question of whether Windows Vista and XP platforms can be made more secure. Similarly, it should not be an issue if Linux desktop has exploitable weaknesses."
"Small businesses through large enterprise configurations can use virtualization to run Xen, VMWare and Windows Server installations. Virtualization technology moves the operating system to a centrally-managed location. It mimics behavior on the local machine, but the operating system is not there, said Heyman"
What they are actually saying is : When O/S itself becomes irrelevant, does it matter who wins the slugfest ?
The times they are a-changin
As Bob Dylan sang, "The times they are a-changin…."
The PC as we know it is fast evolving - thanks to new technologies like Web 2.0 and SaaS. What its turning to now is a simplified access device. Everything that the PC originally gave - like computing power, storage, applications is now slowly moving out to the internet.
An interesting offering that highlights this change is offered by a company called : www.mojopac.com
As detailed in their website :
"Mojopac is a technology that transforms your iPod or USB Hard Drive or Flash drive into a portable and private PC. Just install MojoPac on any USB 2.0 complaint storage device, upload your applications and files, modify your user settings and environment preferences, and take it with you everywhere. Every time you plug your MojoPac-enabled device into any Windows XP PC , MojoPac automatically launches your environment on the host PC. Your communications, music, games, applications, and files are all local and accessible. And when you unplug the MojoPac device, no trace is left behind – your information is not cached on the host PC"
For those of you who are interested, they also offer a free 30 day trial download - check it out.
The PC as we know it is fast evolving - thanks to new technologies like Web 2.0 and SaaS. What its turning to now is a simplified access device. Everything that the PC originally gave - like computing power, storage, applications is now slowly moving out to the internet.
An interesting offering that highlights this change is offered by a company called : www.mojopac.com
As detailed in their website :
"Mojopac is a technology that transforms your iPod or USB Hard Drive or Flash drive into a portable and private PC. Just install MojoPac on any USB 2.0 complaint storage device, upload your applications and files, modify your user settings and environment preferences, and take it with you everywhere. Every time you plug your MojoPac-enabled device into any Windows XP PC , MojoPac automatically launches your environment on the host PC. Your communications, music, games, applications, and files are all local and accessible. And when you unplug the MojoPac device, no trace is left behind – your information is not cached on the host PC"
For those of you who are interested, they also offer a free 30 day trial download - check it out.
Bye Bye Desktop Apps ?
One of the key implications for a virtual world is that, software and applications - that previously used to reside on the desktop are now moving to the internet - as either a free (like Googles "Writely" - now called "Google documents and spreadsheets") or as a pay-per-use (like in the SaaS model) arrangement.
Is this just a fad ? One of the strongest proof points that this is here to stay is when Microsoft - the company wedded to desktop applications - starts testing out the pay per use model as well.
Check out the below link.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=228&tag=nl.e622
Is this just a fad ? One of the strongest proof points that this is here to stay is when Microsoft - the company wedded to desktop applications - starts testing out the pay per use model as well.
Check out the below link.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=228&tag=nl.e622
The tide is turning back
The tide is turning back.
Mainframes & dumb terminals
Changed to
Minicomputers & distributed computing (PCs)
Which is now changing again to
Thin clients & Server based computing
Heres an interesting article detailing why the tide is changing again…..
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117011971274291861-fDPQsTb08fKyt27rmuCNIbWnGD0_20070228.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top
Are you moving with the tide ?
Mainframes & dumb terminals
Changed to
Minicomputers & distributed computing (PCs)
Which is now changing again to
Thin clients & Server based computing
Heres an interesting article detailing why the tide is changing again…..
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117011971274291861-fDPQsTb08fKyt27rmuCNIbWnGD0_20070228.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top
Are you moving with the tide ?
Thin Clients + Webcams ?
Heres an interesting sound byte from the internet : "Software Now Connects Webcams to Thin Clients".
http://www.dabcc.com/article.aspx?id=3512
The point is : More than 95% of the things that can be done on a PC - can be done on a thin client as well.
http://www.dabcc.com/article.aspx?id=3512
The point is : More than 95% of the things that can be done on a PC - can be done on a thin client as well.
5 reasons to take a fresh look at thin clients
Yes, thin clients per se have been around for a long time now. However, the reason they did not take off previously was due to the limitations that they earlier had in terms of multiple applications working parallely on a single server often having application conflicts. That is history now.
Technology today, in terms of virtualization has scaled well above these earllier legacy issues.
Attached below is a very interesting and insightful article on, "5 reasons thin clients deserve a fresh look".
http://www.fcw.com/article97382-01-22-07-Print
Technology today, in terms of virtualization has scaled well above these earllier legacy issues.
Attached below is a very interesting and insightful article on, "5 reasons thin clients deserve a fresh look".
http://www.fcw.com/article97382-01-22-07-Print
Everything is moving to the clouds
The line between big desktop applications (like MS Word) and online applications (like Googles Writely) is fast becoming blurred as more and more applications are now available as web based applications. Even Microsoft, the company most wedded to desktop applications has now forayed into Web software with Windows Live and Office Live—collections of e-mail, instant messaging, and Web publishing apps.
One such interesting roll-out is from a organisation called Tabblo.com….check out the link below…
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/01/16/04OPreality_1.html
What we are witnessing, is a trend, where - soon, we will move everything to the cloud (internet), including compute cycles and data storage. http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196600894
The implication for IT marketers is clearly that - if everything finds its home in the cloud, the device you use to access it becomes totally irrelevant. No wonder then, that thin clients have found a fresh lease of life again.
One such interesting roll-out is from a organisation called Tabblo.com….check out the link below…
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/01/16/04OPreality_1.html
What we are witnessing, is a trend, where - soon, we will move everything to the cloud (internet), including compute cycles and data storage. http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196600894
The implication for IT marketers is clearly that - if everything finds its home in the cloud, the device you use to access it becomes totally irrelevant. No wonder then, that thin clients have found a fresh lease of life again.
Thin Clients for Emerging markets ?
Heres a sound byte from the media - that’s increasingly voicing a single opinion : "Centralized computing is emerging as THE solution for an emerging country like India".
"The Indian market may also finally provide an outlet for the so-called thin client ……."
Read on…….
http://www.pcbladecomputing.com/centralized-computing-in-indias-emerging-market/
"The Indian market may also finally provide an outlet for the so-called thin client ……."
Read on…….
http://www.pcbladecomputing.com/centralized-computing-in-indias-emerging-market/
Opening a new VISTA for thin clients
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons giving a boost to customer adoption of thin clients is the imminent arrival of Microsoft VISTA operating system.
With VISTA, the base requirement for hardware suddenly shoots up to mammoth proportions - leaving organisations with the prospect that for all their people - from front desk operators to people doing pure office productivity jobs (read Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Mail) - they have to move from the standard 256MB configurations on the PC to possibly 1GB or higher configurations.
Clearly - "One size does not fit all" - is a lesson that VISTA is inadvertently teaching IT managers. A search for alternative PC architectures is hence leading customers to Client virtualization and thin clients.
Below article talks about an offering from a company (called 2X) that helps in beating the "VISTA bloat".
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsID=7765&pagtype=all
With VISTA, the base requirement for hardware suddenly shoots up to mammoth proportions - leaving organisations with the prospect that for all their people - from front desk operators to people doing pure office productivity jobs (read Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Mail) - they have to move from the standard 256MB configurations on the PC to possibly 1GB or higher configurations.
Clearly - "One size does not fit all" - is a lesson that VISTA is inadvertently teaching IT managers. A search for alternative PC architectures is hence leading customers to Client virtualization and thin clients.
Below article talks about an offering from a company (called 2X) that helps in beating the "VISTA bloat".
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsID=7765&pagtype=all
Have thin clients arrived...atlast ?
Heres another interesting article speculating "Have thin clients finally arrived ?"
Thin client as a concept has been around for ages, but as the artcle says : " Thin clients -- could start selling because of server consolidation, concerns about security and the high cost of enterprise hardware upgrades to support the adoption of the Microsoft Vista operating system"
Interesting point of view…go through…..
http://www.echannelline.com/usa/story.cfm?item=21531
Thin client as a concept has been around for ages, but as the artcle says : " Thin clients -- could start selling because of server consolidation, concerns about security and the high cost of enterprise hardware upgrades to support the adoption of the Microsoft Vista operating system"
Interesting point of view…go through…..
http://www.echannelline.com/usa/story.cfm?item=21531
The big trends for 2007
An interesting article on "The big trends for 2007".
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/features/index.cfm?featureID=3060&pagtype=samecatsamechan
This is what it says about virtualization : "It's a rapidly maturing technology, and the number of vendors interested in and selling desktop virtualisation systems is growing. This implies that the much-touted move towards thin clients could be driven not by terminal services technology but by virtualisation"
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/features/index.cfm?featureID=3060&pagtype=samecatsamechan
This is what it says about virtualization : "It's a rapidly maturing technology, and the number of vendors interested in and selling desktop virtualisation systems is growing. This implies that the much-touted move towards thin clients could be driven not by terminal services technology but by virtualisation"
Stay Out Of Jail : Buy Thin Clients
One of the factors driving client virtualization today is the increased & heightened focus on client data security. In a lot of industries like Banking, Insurance and Healthcare - worldwide - there are now legislations in place which organisations need to strictly follow to ensure data security.
IT managers are personally being held responsible for data leaks and for ensuring a secure environment. Below is an interesting article on how IT managers worldwide are discovering that "Going for Thin Clients, is the safest bet to stay out of jail"…..no typo mistake here….read on……
http://www.thinplanet.com/opinion/sarbanes-oxley.asp
IT managers are personally being held responsible for data leaks and for ensuring a secure environment. Below is an interesting article on how IT managers worldwide are discovering that "Going for Thin Clients, is the safest bet to stay out of jail"…..no typo mistake here….read on……
http://www.thinplanet.com/opinion/sarbanes-oxley.asp
The Changing PC architecture
Unlike Intel & AMD, who are the big daddies of the current PC architectures, when it comes to embedded devices, VIA has a very big head start over other players. AMD ofcourse is fast catching up. VIA today has 50% market share in what they term as "Connected Clients"….these are not just thin clients, but also include Ultra-mobile PCs, Diskless PCs and Mobile Clients.
As defined by them, Connected Clients are computing devices designed to leverage the infrastructure and security benefits of server-based "software as a service" architecture to enable effective application execution and office productivity without the need of legacy PC technologies such as hard drives.
The below link talks about VIAs perspective of how this market is exploding - it also has a link to an interesting IDC whitepaper called "The new Enterprise reality". Do take time to go through and understand the emerging landscape……..
http://press-releases.techwhack.com/6274/via-with-50-market-share/
As defined by them, Connected Clients are computing devices designed to leverage the infrastructure and security benefits of server-based "software as a service" architecture to enable effective application execution and office productivity without the need of legacy PC technologies such as hard drives.
The below link talks about VIAs perspective of how this market is exploding - it also has a link to an interesting IDC whitepaper called "The new Enterprise reality". Do take time to go through and understand the emerging landscape……..
http://press-releases.techwhack.com/6274/via-with-50-market-share/
Thin Clients : saving us from "convenience" technologies
One of the smartest inventions in IT was perhaps the USB Thumb drive. The convienience that it offered was unmatched - and coupled with the fact that it is today available upto 8GB, its taken data mobility to new levels !!
The other side of the story however is that today - Thumb drives are too often the victims of convenience - and have become the biggest security nightmares. How does a customer marry the convienience this technology provides with the security imperatives ?
Increasingly there is one technology that is emerging as a saviour….thin clients. Read on………
http://www.fcw.com/article97113-12-18-06-Print
The other side of the story however is that today - Thumb drives are too often the victims of convenience - and have become the biggest security nightmares. How does a customer marry the convienience this technology provides with the security imperatives ?
Increasingly there is one technology that is emerging as a saviour….thin clients. Read on………
http://www.fcw.com/article97113-12-18-06-Print
Dial CV for Health
One of the segments that is facing an acute necesity for Client Virtualisation is hospitals & clinics - where sensitivity to patient information has gone very high, also necessiating legislations lile HIPPA in the U.S.
This segment is increasingly realising that the only technology solution that can answer all their security needs is - Client Virtualization.
Below opinion of a professional addressing this segment, resonates the same thinking.
http://www.healthcareguy.com/index.php/archives/337
This segment is increasingly realising that the only technology solution that can answer all their security needs is - Client Virtualization.
Below opinion of a professional addressing this segment, resonates the same thinking.
http://www.healthcareguy.com/index.php/archives/337
A little more SaaS
Since the last article on SaaS - quite a few of you have asked for more information on the same.
Rightly so, since SaaS as a trend has the potential to change the way people buy software and hardware totally, going ahead.
To quote from this article : "The concept isn’t new. Even before computers, it was common enough — it is like the shift that happened from actually owning a cow to getting milk delivered in packets. Having your own data center with all the necessary software installed is the IT-equivalent of owning a cow. SaaS allows businesses to subscribe to the service without having to own the product."
The below article gives you a good enough background to discuss this in length with the next CEO you meet up, while trying to sell Virtualization.
http://www.cio.in/features/viewArticle/ARTICLEID=2465
Rightly so, since SaaS as a trend has the potential to change the way people buy software and hardware totally, going ahead.
To quote from this article : "The concept isn’t new. Even before computers, it was common enough — it is like the shift that happened from actually owning a cow to getting milk delivered in packets. Having your own data center with all the necessary software installed is the IT-equivalent of owning a cow. SaaS allows businesses to subscribe to the service without having to own the product."
The below article gives you a good enough background to discuss this in length with the next CEO you meet up, while trying to sell Virtualization.
http://www.cio.in/features/viewArticle/ARTICLEID=2465
That old thing called "thin clients"
One of the questions that customers raise, when we speak "Thin Clients" is that the thin client concept has actually been around for quite a long time now. So, is this a fad or is there a larger story to this ?
The below article speculates on the same - and gives a perspective on this issue.
http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/nethub/article.php/3649031
Bottom line, and lesson for all of us really is that - we should not even be mentioning the term "thin clients" anymore, since the thin client is only one small component of a larger "Client Virtualization" story.
The below article speculates on the same - and gives a perspective on this issue.
http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/nethub/article.php/3649031
Bottom line, and lesson for all of us really is that - we should not even be mentioning the term "thin clients" anymore, since the thin client is only one small component of a larger "Client Virtualization" story.
The fresh breath of SaaS
We spoke earlier about Web2.0 and how it is a trend fuelling thin client growth in a very big way.
Another compelling proposition that has surfaced - and will again be a major reason for thin client adoption is what is called as SaaS (Software as a Service)….which is basically a "pay as you go" or "pay per use" model that is gaining increasing ground - not only in Enterprise, but more so in small organisations.
To quote, "Due to the nature of SaaS, customers can use the software with thin client technology. This means that software no longer needs to be installed on PCs, which significantly cuts down on IT involvement. For the most part, customers do not have to worry about hardware, database support, scalability, uptime, reliability, or platforms"
For those of you humming….kyunki SaaS be kabhi ASP (Application service provider) thi….the same link below also has a write-up on how they differ.
SaaS Advantages - The Customers Perspective
By Mike Jalonen [ThinkLogic](Mike Jalonen [ThinkLogic])
Another compelling proposition that has surfaced - and will again be a major reason for thin client adoption is what is called as SaaS (Software as a Service)….which is basically a "pay as you go" or "pay per use" model that is gaining increasing ground - not only in Enterprise, but more so in small organisations.
To quote, "Due to the nature of SaaS, customers can use the software with thin client technology. This means that software no longer needs to be installed on PCs, which significantly cuts down on IT involvement. For the most part, customers do not have to worry about hardware, database support, scalability, uptime, reliability, or platforms"
For those of you humming….kyunki SaaS be kabhi ASP (Application service provider) thi….the same link below also has a write-up on how they differ.
SaaS Advantages - The Customers Perspective
By Mike Jalonen [ThinkLogic](Mike Jalonen [ThinkLogic])
Different folks, different strokes
Here are two interesting stories about two very different customers…a bank and a Fitness center…..going in for client virtualisation.
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/EDGE/News.asp?id=36994
The insight here is……no matter who the customer is - there is scope for selling atleast a few thin clients to some part of his organisation. One size never fits all……giving a powerful dual-core processor based desktop to both the CEO and the data entry operator is increasingly being viewed as funny logic.
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/EDGE/News.asp?id=36994
The insight here is……no matter who the customer is - there is scope for selling atleast a few thin clients to some part of his organisation. One size never fits all……giving a powerful dual-core processor based desktop to both the CEO and the data entry operator is increasingly being viewed as funny logic.
Virtualization+Education+Linux ?
Virtualisation throws up many exciting and cost effective options for schools and colleges.
One powerful combustible option is : when Education, Linux and Virtualisation come together.
Attached is a detailed article highlighting how Linux and Free Open Source Software can help K-12 institutions stretch their budgetary allowances through virtualisation.
Education and Linux go together
http://www.samag.com/documents/s=10108/sam0701a/0701a.htm
One powerful combustible option is : when Education, Linux and Virtualisation come together.
Attached is a detailed article highlighting how Linux and Free Open Source Software can help K-12 institutions stretch their budgetary allowances through virtualisation.
Education and Linux go together
http://www.samag.com/documents/s=10108/sam0701a/0701a.htm
More players coming in
A sign of the times when more and more unbranded and local players - are now "discovering" thin clients.
Apurva Computer embarks on distribution path <http://www.dqchannels.com/content/reselleralert/106112404.asp>
DQ Channels - Bangalore,India
In the coming days - with virtualization taking off - we are sure to see more and more such players emerging from the shadows.
Apurva Computer embarks on distribution path <http://www.dqchannels.com/content/reselleralert/106112404.asp>
DQ Channels - Bangalore,India
In the coming days - with virtualization taking off - we are sure to see more and more such players emerging from the shadows.
Make way for Web 2.0
One of the hot new trends that is expected to fuel virtualisation and thin client growth in a very big way is what has come to be referred to as Web 2.0.
Read up on what this is all about.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
Read up on what this is all about.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
Virtualize your desktops NOW !!
Desktop virtualization's time is right, says HP <http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid94_gci1231695,00.html>
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