Demanding a Better Desktop Alternative

By Carol Sliwa, Patrick Thibodeau

December 15, 2003 12:00 PM ET

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Projected shipments: Thin-Client Forecast Source: IDC, Framingham, Mass.

The Skinny on Thin Clients

SECURITY: This has the potential of being a huge driver for thin clients. PCs are more vulnerable.

SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE: This is a key cost-savings area. Desktop uptime should be as good as that of your data center.

ACCESS: Thin clients can provide remote access to business applications or to single applications such as reservation systems. For road warriors, ubiquitous high-speed networks may make a thin-client laptop practical – someday.

LONGEVITY: Solid-state desktop appliances can last about 10 years. Hybrid models running Windows XP, media players and not much else may outlast a thick-client PC.

STANDARDIZATION: The thin-client model works best for companies that have standardized applications.

LIMITATION: If all applications were Web-enabled, it might be a simpler world. That world isn't here yet.

Read more about windows and linux pcs in Computerworld's Windows and Linux PCs Knowledge Center.

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