In terms of hardware resources and software, we probably use less than 10% of the capability of our personal computers.  We pay for availability.  Why not move the hardware and software resources back to a mainframe stand-in, and pay a fraction of the cost for the same availability?  Our mainframe stand-in is known as a terminal server.  The terminal server looks a lot like our personal computer, except the operating system is Windows 2000 Server, or Windows 2003 Server.  The OS is a little pricier than what we had on our personal computer, but now we are sharing the OS and hardware resources (and cost) among several users networked to the terminal server.  When we add expensive applications like AutoCAD®, we cut the cost per user by time-sharing the application.  Instead of using a personal computer, we connect to the software and hardware resources using a Thin Client.

So where does the "thin" part come in to play?  Our computing power is "thin" because we have eliminated much of the hardware and software on our desktop.  All we need is a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and small appliance to network to the terminal server.  The appliance, known as a thin client, contains no hard drives.  In fact, it may contain no drives at all, making it no bigger than a thick paper-back book.  The Thin Client appliance generally has a serial port, printer port, USB ports, and audio out.  CD and DVD drives can be connected to the USB ports.

Personal Computers can also be "thin" in terms of the software they run.  It is economically prudent to share expensive applications among many users, running the application on a terminal server.  If users run the application concurrently, more than one license will be necessary.  But statistically the number of licenses will only be a fraction of the number of users, since we don't all do the same thing at the same time.  A browser, such as Internet Explorer is the only software required by the personal computer to open a session hosted by a terminal server.

Thin Computing is catching on in companies requiring tens to thousands of terminals.  PCs require ongoing hardware and software maintenance, not to mention replacement every few years.  In a Thin Computing environment, total cost of ownership is drastically reduced.  But Thin Computing is also economical for small businesses and SOHOs that are networked to application servers, such as over high-speed Internet.  Personal computers, as well as Thin Clients, can access shared applications on terminal servers.

ACP Thin Manager

Deploy and manage thin clients quickly and easily.

Handheld Control

PDAs make perfect Thin Clients  Control your plant from anywhere in your plant.