Hi and welcome to this installment of

Tech review

 "Thin Clients".

Currently I am running 7 “evals” of the nComputing’s x300 and L “series”, Thin Client devices.

The trial lengths range from 30 to up to 60 days, however for only a few.

Early results coming in seem to indicate that for the most part, the devices are working great!

That being said however, when it doesn't work, it usually occurred with software that was manufactured prior to the current computer generations. Most of the time, these types of applications can be simply tuned, to run on this Thin Client, fairly easily.

In defense of this particular Thin Client, we have seen that it works quite well with most standard class applications. The few that experienced behavior problems are invited to contact nComputing or myself to arrange a FREE evaluation of the unit at no cost that will help see if a simple configuration change or two, can resolve the particular issue. Of course nComputing is also available for EVAL to anyone who would like to try one.

How easy…

Load software on HOST PC; “desktop or server”. It can do both.

Plug the Thin Client into your router or switch

You’re done.

Now I’m sure you knew to connect a mouse, keyboard and monitor to the Thin Client.

Restart your desktop/server and let the magic begin!!!

Once the server’s up, turn on your Thin Client and let it search your network.

It will come back with a list of servers available.

Click on the one you want, should be one server unless you loaded the software on another computer also. Powerful isn’t it. You can have more than one server. It’s easy to build in redundancy just install the service application on another computer. 

I had setup a new User ID before rebooting, “yea I know I forgot to mention that, but it’s real easy to do, and I guess I forget those spicy details  ... sorry will try to not do that again.”

UPDATE from the field!!!

The majority of users currently testing this Thin Client are; Hospitals.

They are also doing some really cool things with the technology..

For example…

Marty Cline: the IT director of a hospital in Nebraska. He installed a couple of nComputing Thin Clients and tested them. Marty even installed one of them in one of the surgical rooms. Mr. Cline commented that,  “It has no fan, it doesn’t blow dust around like a PC would. The staff like it because it small and out of the way.”

Solutions like thin clients are also great in patient rooms and common/shared areas. NComputing Ultra Thin Clients, are competly silent yet aways available instantly when you need it. It won't distrube the paitents or staff.

In addition to the abpve, these Thin Clients only draws around 4 watts of power. In todays' world, modern computers require aroiund 200 - 300 watts. 

Think what you would save over the years in electricity alone, by simply switching to an Unltra line Thin Client..

And that's just for starters.

Supporting your “thin” clients.

Supporting this type of network is a lot easier than supporting a PC distributed network. Now when the IT person needs to make a change to someone's profile, they can begin without leaving their desk. The IT person can now handle just about everything, remotely. That makes things better.

nComputing also have software that allows the IT administrator or Teacher to take  control of every Thin Client connected in the class. Now every one can watch my summer vacation slides you took last week. Isn't that wonderful?

I’m sure I 'm going to find a other great uses for this technology. so…

…stay tuned I’m on it!

Calculate you own saving.

Desktop with monitor uses around 250 watts

Ultra Thin Client using 4 watts .

Use this calculator to see your saving.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/energycostcalc.html