[LINK] Fujitsu to launch cheap Zero Client computers

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

On 20/04/2010 8:24 AM, Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
> X-Windows?
>
>    
Sort of. In this case it's a much simpler environment on the desktop 
machine than needed for X-Windows.

And for completeness, in the X-Windows model and all thin clients 
environments, the desktop machine runs a server software component, not 
a client. But Gartner could never get their head around this concept and 
totally stuffed up the client/server paradigm by making it a hardware 
model.

More broadly, Fujitsu is exhibiting a case of vendor smoke-and-mirrors 
combined with cost shifting and cost hiding.

All hardware has an operating system, some just less capable than 
others. This Zero Client has a basic operating system and an application 
that uses a standard remote presentation protocol.

Every Zero Client computer needs at least one set of infrastructure in a 
data centre for the desktop environment. Data Centres are more expensive 
environments than offices and, being a centralised model are more 
riskier environments - which is why most large organisations such as 
governments have DR sites. As soon as you factor in the extra 
infrastructure required for a DR site, you approximately double the 
amount of data centre infrastructure on which to run your desktops.

When you take a full system view of a thin client implementation most, 
if not all, the cost advantages disappear. But you won't hear that from 
a vendor.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au