This is the concluding part of the series by cio.com…..on "Why Thins back in".
http://www.searchcio.com.au/topics/article.asp?DocID=6100791&SiteID=19
In this final part, the article highlights a case study of Jetstar which deploys thin clients in airport terminals. We have a similar success story at Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport in Kolkatta which runs on our t5720 thin clients.
The article further highlights one key fall-out of this desktop virtualization : "The thin client and virtualisation revolution has also made it possible to finally realise the dot-com-era dreams of the Application Service Providers". The implication is software being offered increasingly as a service and not as a product. The article further highlights how thin clients have helped in maximising ROI for customers and most of all deliver "peace of mind". As it summarises : "The peace of mind offered by virtual PCs and thin clients might just be enough to justify their adoption without even doing the ROI calculations. When you add up all the advantages, thin must surely be the future for all end-user computing".
Get thinking.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Why Thin Clients Are Back In - Part II
This is in continuation of the series by cio.com…..on "Why Thins back in".
http://www.searchcio.com.au/topics/article.asp?DocID=6100790&SiteID=19
In this second part, the article talks about how "virtualization" technologies have made a change to thin client computing & how "virtualization" gives the flexibility to users to use various different operating systems like XPP, Vista - without upgrading their current user hardware or by using simple thin clients instead.
"The problem with the thin client approach before virtualisation was that there was some modification or compromise to the end user experience in some way or another. What you get with virtualisation is an uncompromised end user experience where for all intents and purposes it's exactly like having a desktop. You can change the screen, you can add your family photos, you can change the colours, do all of that, you just happen to have a thin client on the desk not a full desktop"
"From a hardware side different people will approach it differently," says Harapin. "For example if you have an existing desktop that's running Windows XP, you might want to run Windows Vista, but the hardware itself may not be adequate to support Vista. You can run a virtual client and use your existing physical desktop but stream Vista down to that old piece of hardware until it's time to replace it with a thin client, but nothing changes on the user end. So it is horses for courses and depends on the end user's environment"
Very interesting, do read.
http://www.searchcio.com.au/topics/article.asp?DocID=6100790&SiteID=19
In this second part, the article talks about how "virtualization" technologies have made a change to thin client computing & how "virtualization" gives the flexibility to users to use various different operating systems like XPP, Vista - without upgrading their current user hardware or by using simple thin clients instead.
"The problem with the thin client approach before virtualisation was that there was some modification or compromise to the end user experience in some way or another. What you get with virtualisation is an uncompromised end user experience where for all intents and purposes it's exactly like having a desktop. You can change the screen, you can add your family photos, you can change the colours, do all of that, you just happen to have a thin client on the desk not a full desktop"
"From a hardware side different people will approach it differently," says Harapin. "For example if you have an existing desktop that's running Windows XP, you might want to run Windows Vista, but the hardware itself may not be adequate to support Vista. You can run a virtual client and use your existing physical desktop but stream Vista down to that old piece of hardware until it's time to replace it with a thin client, but nothing changes on the user end. So it is horses for courses and depends on the end user's environment"
Very interesting, do read.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Why Thin Clients Are Back In - Part1
Heres a series starting by cio.com…..on "Why Thins back in".
http://www.searchcio.com.au/topics/article.asp?DocID=6100789&SiteID=19
In this first part, the article introduces a new paradigm in the way we think about thin computing, by saying : "I think even the word thin client, which I guess we're stuck with now because it's the start of the whole revolution, is a little bit of a misnomer because today thin client really refers to the thinness of the connection between the end point and the data centre. So that's what thin client today really means as opposed to the actual hardware that many people use"
What this really hints at is that the bigger question or perspective for IT managers is about : What data / applications do you want to reside locally - and how much of that do you want back in the datacenter. This could be from a policy point of view or security point of view or even from a government legislation point of view. The front end may be a conventional PC or laptop - but we might still be talking about thin computing.
We will continue to track thie series. Do read - this will increasingly be the burning question for IT managers while rolling out client devices.
http://www.searchcio.com.au/topics/article.asp?DocID=6100789&SiteID=19
In this first part, the article introduces a new paradigm in the way we think about thin computing, by saying : "I think even the word thin client, which I guess we're stuck with now because it's the start of the whole revolution, is a little bit of a misnomer because today thin client really refers to the thinness of the connection between the end point and the data centre. So that's what thin client today really means as opposed to the actual hardware that many people use"
What this really hints at is that the bigger question or perspective for IT managers is about : What data / applications do you want to reside locally - and how much of that do you want back in the datacenter. This could be from a policy point of view or security point of view or even from a government legislation point of view. The front end may be a conventional PC or laptop - but we might still be talking about thin computing.
We will continue to track thie series. Do read - this will increasingly be the burning question for IT managers while rolling out client devices.
Thin Clients = Less Head-aches
Heres an interesting write-up from a customer who has bought several brands of thin clients, and goes ga-ga about the convinience of hp thin clients - and the utilities that come with them, that makes life so easy for IT administrators like him.
http://education.zdnet.com/?p=1205
http://education.zdnet.com/?p=1205
A Thinclient Sales pitch
Heres an interesting write-up from one other vendor doing thin clients (not in India).
http://www.bosanova.net/thinclientbill.html
The article lists out the trends (as they see it), different components that go in, costs & TCO benefits.
http://www.bosanova.net/thinclientbill.html
The article lists out the trends (as they see it), different components that go in, costs & TCO benefits.
Thin Clients : Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Heres a very interesting write-up that you MUSTgo through.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2000/01/27/179160/thin-clients-enter-the-space-age.htm
For any product category that we sell - as important as it is to know the product, it is also very important that we know the history of the device evolution - and also have a perspective of where it is headed next. This article gives you that perspective on thin clients.
For example : Did you know that every day of your life, each one of you uses a thin client ? "The future will see the rise of the thinnest device to date - the mobile phone. At the moment, the modern cellular telephone has most of the requirements to qualify as a thin client: it has a permanent connection to a network; it has high reliability and its services are provided from a central source."
Then again : "We envisage that within five years IT professionals may well have a Thincard in their wallet, simply plugging the card into a network attached device to access a virtual desktop, anywhere in the world."
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2000/01/27/179160/thin-clients-enter-the-space-age.htm
For any product category that we sell - as important as it is to know the product, it is also very important that we know the history of the device evolution - and also have a perspective of where it is headed next. This article gives you that perspective on thin clients.
For example : Did you know that every day of your life, each one of you uses a thin client ? "The future will see the rise of the thinnest device to date - the mobile phone. At the moment, the modern cellular telephone has most of the requirements to qualify as a thin client: it has a permanent connection to a network; it has high reliability and its services are provided from a central source."
Then again : "We envisage that within five years IT professionals may well have a Thincard in their wallet, simply plugging the card into a network attached device to access a virtual desktop, anywhere in the world."
Theres a BOOM coming up
Heres a small write-up from the NewYork Times blog, reflecting on an oncoming "Thin Client Boom".
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/thin-client-boom-finally/
As it says : "What’s different this time? The software, networking and user experience for server-based computing delivered to individuals has improved considerably. Virtual software versions of Windows desktops can be streamed to thin clients, including audio and video. There are even notebook thin-client machines these days. PC’s are power-hungry, so they increase energy costs and may contribute to global warming. Also, Server-based computing has a big security edge over PC’s."
Do breeze through.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/thin-client-boom-finally/
As it says : "What’s different this time? The software, networking and user experience for server-based computing delivered to individuals has improved considerably. Virtual software versions of Windows desktops can be streamed to thin clients, including audio and video. There are even notebook thin-client machines these days. PC’s are power-hungry, so they increase energy costs and may contribute to global warming. Also, Server-based computing has a big security edge over PC’s."
Do breeze through.
Remote Computing in the years ahead
This is one of the really good articles I have come across - that details out the different mutated versions that remote computing will take in the years to come. Talks about SBC (server based computing), CCI (Client Consolidation Infrastructure) and VDI (Virtual Desktop Interface).
The article traces how many view the desktop PC as the "source of all evil" in IT infrastructure - and there have been historically many attempts on the PCs life - notably from people like Larry Elisson of Oracle a few years back, which however failed. As the article states :
"That all could change in 2007, and this time the attempt on the PC's life is much more serious. In fact, the murder is planned by nobody less than the "parents" of the PC. Father IBM is involved, and so is mother Compaq (now part of HP). Yes, two of the most important companies in the history of the PC are ready to slowly kill the 25 year old. Will these super heavyweights finally offer a more cost friendly alternative to the desktop PC? Let's find out"
Do go through :
http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.aspx?i=3041&p=1
The article traces how many view the desktop PC as the "source of all evil" in IT infrastructure - and there have been historically many attempts on the PCs life - notably from people like Larry Elisson of Oracle a few years back, which however failed. As the article states :
"That all could change in 2007, and this time the attempt on the PC's life is much more serious. In fact, the murder is planned by nobody less than the "parents" of the PC. Father IBM is involved, and so is mother Compaq (now part of HP). Yes, two of the most important companies in the history of the PC are ready to slowly kill the 25 year old. Will these super heavyweights finally offer a more cost friendly alternative to the desktop PC? Let's find out"
Do go through :
http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.aspx?i=3041&p=1
Virtualization 1.0
Heres a pretty good article from Rehat : A simple guide to Virtualization.
Basically states :
- What is Virtualization ?
- How does one benefit from Virtualization ?
- Who has benefited from Virtualization ?
Do go through :
http://www.apac.redhat.com/rhel/virtualization/guide/?sc_cid=136#what
Basically states :
- What is Virtualization ?
- How does one benefit from Virtualization ?
- Who has benefited from Virtualization ?
Do go through :
http://www.apac.redhat.com/rhel/virtualization/guide/?sc_cid=136#what
Securing the PC : A Lost Cause
Heres a very interesting viewpoint on : "Securing the PC".
Definite to raise the hackles of many - what he essentially says is : "PC security is a lost cause -and people who tell you otherwise are either lying or dangerously naïve". And he also says : "But what if security really does matter? then you have to abandon the PC: there are no other options". :-) Ofcourse there is the option of thin clients though.
Very interesting - far right viewpoint. Do read it to understand the issues he is raising.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/?p=916
Definite to raise the hackles of many - what he essentially says is : "PC security is a lost cause -and people who tell you otherwise are either lying or dangerously naïve". And he also says : "But what if security really does matter? then you have to abandon the PC: there are no other options". :-) Ofcourse there is the option of thin clients though.
Very interesting - far right viewpoint. Do read it to understand the issues he is raising.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/?p=916
Browsers making hardware irrelevant
We've talked about this before - the operating system will become increasingly irrelevant as more of what we do is browser-based.
Google announced yesterday that they were adding automated email migration tools to the Premier and Education editions of Google Apps for Your Domain. The latter is free for educational institutions. This new feature is in addition to several others introduced recently and available freely to educational customers. New features include a built-in PowerPoint viewer, shared address books, and increased functionality of iGoogle, each user’s personalized homepage.
"Now you can open PowerPoint attachments as slideshows without having to download anything. Just click ‘View as slideshow’ next to the .ppt attachment you want to preview. Since you can open .doc and .xls attachments with Google Docs and Spreadsheets too, there’s no need to leave your web browser to view email attachments"
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/smooth-apps-move.html
When all you need to do all these things is a browser - guess what happens to the hardware needed ?....Yes - it just needs to be a thin client !!
Guys - this is the future we are heading to - and the ecosystem is slowly but surely falling into place.
Google announced yesterday that they were adding automated email migration tools to the Premier and Education editions of Google Apps for Your Domain. The latter is free for educational institutions. This new feature is in addition to several others introduced recently and available freely to educational customers. New features include a built-in PowerPoint viewer, shared address books, and increased functionality of iGoogle, each user’s personalized homepage.
"Now you can open PowerPoint attachments as slideshows without having to download anything. Just click ‘View as slideshow’ next to the .ppt attachment you want to preview. Since you can open .doc and .xls attachments with Google Docs and Spreadsheets too, there’s no need to leave your web browser to view email attachments"
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/smooth-apps-move.html
When all you need to do all these things is a browser - guess what happens to the hardware needed ?....Yes - it just needs to be a thin client !!
Guys - this is the future we are heading to - and the ecosystem is slowly but surely falling into place.
Browsers making hardware irrelevant
We've talked about this before - the operating system will become increasingly irrelevant as more of what we do is browser-based.
Google announced yesterday that they were adding automated email migration tools to the Premier and Education editions of Google Apps for Your Domain. The latter is free for educational institutions. This new feature is in addition to several others introduced recently and available freely to educational customers. New features include a built-in PowerPoint viewer, shared address books, and increased functionality of iGoogle, each user’s personalized homepage.
"Now you can open PowerPoint attachments as slideshows without having to download anything. Just click ‘View as slideshow’ next to the .ppt attachment you want to preview. Since you can open .doc and .xls attachments with Google Docs and Spreadsheets too, there’s no need to leave your web browser to view email attachments"
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/smooth-apps-move.html
When all you need to do all these things is a browser - guess what happens to the hardware needed ?....Yes - it just needs to be a thin client !!
Guys - this is the future we are heading to - and the ecosystem is slowly but surely falling into place.
Google announced yesterday that they were adding automated email migration tools to the Premier and Education editions of Google Apps for Your Domain. The latter is free for educational institutions. This new feature is in addition to several others introduced recently and available freely to educational customers. New features include a built-in PowerPoint viewer, shared address books, and increased functionality of iGoogle, each user’s personalized homepage.
"Now you can open PowerPoint attachments as slideshows without having to download anything. Just click ‘View as slideshow’ next to the .ppt attachment you want to preview. Since you can open .doc and .xls attachments with Google Docs and Spreadsheets too, there’s no need to leave your web browser to view email attachments"
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/smooth-apps-move.html
When all you need to do all these things is a browser - guess what happens to the hardware needed ?....Yes - it just needs to be a thin client !!
Guys - this is the future we are heading to - and the ecosystem is slowly but surely falling into place.
The Devils Advocate : Why NOT VDI
Heres a contrarian view point - "Why VDI is not such a good idea".
http://jameskahn.net/blog/2007/06/18/vdi-why-you-probably-shouldnt-care/
Always helps to see both sides of the coin - and then frame our understanding. Read it, to get a deeper understanding of the issues involved.
http://jameskahn.net/blog/2007/06/18/vdi-why-you-probably-shouldnt-care/
Always helps to see both sides of the coin - and then frame our understanding. Read it, to get a deeper understanding of the issues involved.
Virtualization : You're in the Army now
One of the interesting segments adopting thin clients in a big way is the Army. I had earlier sent a write-up on how the Israeli army is moving completely to thin clients as a security measure. Heres a small write-up now on how the Americans are doing the same.
http://www.fcw.com/article92008-01-19-06-Web
Gary Winkler, director of the Army’s Governance, Acquisition and Chief Knowledge Office, said the plan would save the Army between 8 percent and 40 percent of the service's budget and would be implemented first at the 33 bases. "I see no reason why you can’t have thin clients in all of the services," Winkler said. "I see no reason why the Defense Department shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon."
http://www.fcw.com/article92008-01-19-06-Web
Gary Winkler, director of the Army’s Governance, Acquisition and Chief Knowledge Office, said the plan would save the Army between 8 percent and 40 percent of the service's budget and would be implemented first at the 33 bases. "I see no reason why you can’t have thin clients in all of the services," Winkler said. "I see no reason why the Defense Department shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon."
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