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Thin Client Help IT Budgets?
“Thin client” computers have long been considered the next generation of computing, but thanks to improved networking software and competitive pricing, thin clients are rapidly catching on in a variety of industries. According to IDC research, worldwide thin client shipments grew by 18.5 per cent in 2002 compared to the previous year.
A thin client looks much like a standard PC workstation (also known as a “fat client”), but it’s actually a simple terminal. Thin clients use the network to access data and applications from servers rather than storing information at the desktop.
Today’s PCs offer incredible processing power and storage capacity, but this can be inefficient in offices where inexpensive servers can handle this work. Some IT managers believe it’s like putting air conditioners in each room of a house that already has central air.
The main reason cited for implementing thin clients is cost and ease of administration. Industry case studies show that thin clients require fewer staff to manage more machines, significantly reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of IT. All applications are installed on and run by the server, so when new software comes out it doesn’t need to be installed on each computer. Companies that have multiple locations and require remote access can handle software issues without making onsite calls. Thin clients also tend to last much longer than fat clients because they have less internal hardware. With all data processing and storage taking place at the server, no data is lost if a device fails or is stolen.
In terms of performance, thin clients display the user-friendly interface of personal computers and run the same applications. In fact, software is available to run standard PC’s as thin clients, thereby extending the life cycle of near-obsolete PCs. Thin clients can be limiting for those using high-end desktop publishing or software development programs, or for users who travel frequently and do not have an Internet connection. For this reason, it’s common to maintain a mixed environment of thin clients, workstations and laptop computers.
Thin clients cost less than fat clients to purchase. Implementation costs depend on the current infrastructure, the number of users, and the applications they access.
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