By definition a "thin client" is a computer that has no hard disk drive. The lack of fans and moving parts makes it completely noiseless and that feature alone is priceless in today’s noisy work environments. It offers low foot-print, much lower acquisition and deployment costs compared to regular desktop. Thin clients consume a lot less electricity than desktop, on average around 5W. It’s also very secure as no user data is stored on a thin client, instead the user has to log in to a server to access data. This makes theft of thin client unreasonable as no data can be taken with it.
Workspace replacement or migration is much faster and easier with thin clients. On average migration of one user from one desktop to another takes about 3-4 hours. All user data has to be backed up, new computer has to be installed, patched, secured, configured, fine-tuned, etc, and finally user data has to be restored or copied onto the new desktop. This is tedious process and is hardly imaginable in big rollouts. With thin clients all user data is already on a server or SAN and if you want to move user from one room or desk to another, you just ask the person to log in from another thin client and that’s it. Same goes for replacement of thin client, you unpack new thin client from the box, connect the cables and add new Remote Desktop Connection. That’s IT, you just saved about 2.5-3.5 hours! I like numbers so I’ll just drop this thought in just for digestion – an hour of IT engineers time costs around $30, so installation of one desktop can cost around $100, installation of 10 desktops $1000. There is also one more thing to add – all computers running Microsoft products should be patched and updated on regular basis. I tend to do it at least twice a month. Let’s say you spend 30 minutes updating 1 device, you have to download patch, apply it, perhaps restart the computer and see if everything is still working. So you spend an hour each month just to keep IT secure, up-and-running. If you have 10 desktops it will take you 10 hours a month, 100 desktops – 100 hours a month. Thin clients don’t need patching! There’s nothing on them that should be secured, they are secured when they are manufactured. And back to numbers – let’s say you have 1 server and 10 desktop computers, IT engineers hour costs $30, patching 10 desktops and 1 server would cost $330/mo, multiply it by 12 month and you get $3960. Now a second scenario – you have 1 server and 10 thin clients. Cost: patching 1 server = $30/mo times 12 month = $360, saving $3600. Folks, I haven’t added in the savings you can realize from the price difference between thin client and desktop.
A Thin client solution is ideal for every business that uses computers for creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations, browsing internet, working with data. It would not be suitable for editing images or any other type of work that requires big video processing power. Most businesses fall into first category and I’m pretty sure thin clients will suit you perfectly.
I’m going to repeat myself again by saying that before rolling out any solution it’s essential to hear what you want to get out of it. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
