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need pointers on thin clients

T

ThePiston

Senior member
I wanted ot try out a thin client for my needs. i have a small office with about 15 client PCs all over. I'd like to use Terminal Services with 15 thin clients if possible.

I shopped on Amazon and found this model (http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-DC-12...s=thin+clients), but it says I need Windows Multipoint Server 2012 and 2011.

I'm currently only using Windows Server 2003 but I will update soon to 2008.

DO I have to find a thin client that works with Server 2003/2008 or are these backwards compatible to earlier Windows Server versions?
 
You need to buy what the thin client supports. Considering those are USB clients and not Ethernet thin clients, your choice is going to be rather limited. This also means your effectively limited to about 20 feet with USB unless you buy some extenders.
 
After a bit more review, that "thin client" you are looking at is actually a docking port. MS multipoint server has a built in "application" that lets you split multiple monitors and keyboards in to multiple sessions. That is not a "true thin client" even. That $400 HP thin client is closer to reality for thin clients.
 
We use this device:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey_1fo7VhuM

Multipoint is essentially a tweaked a version of the server version - the key points are:
1) Its cheaper - aimed primarily at schools - but not exclusively
2) Has a 20 client max
3) It does support USB connected devices - but this concept seems to have failed - HP introduced a USB device, but withdrew it almost immediately ! (HP T200) It seems USB connected, and "TCP/IP over USB" put a crippling load on the server
4) You can connect to Multipoint over standard Ethernet/RDP/RDS - so in that respect it is equivalement to any other Microsoft Server product, and does not incur the loading issues of USB devices

The HP product mentioned in post above is a fine piece of kit - but do you really need the power of Windows7 in the client (and expense - and it only has a 3 yr warranty- which is short for a thin client - the norm is now 5 years...).

A Win7 thin client probably has all the issues you are looking to avoid in going down the thin client route, ie cost, power consumption, local administration, virus issues, Windows updates - local user accounts etc. Put another way there ain't much difference between between a Win7 PC and a Win7 thin client in terms of functionality or cost - but the PC does provide much more flexibility and future-proof
 
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2282267&highlight=thin+client

You've already asked about this and we gave you all the info you needed.

Just by looking at those clients I can tell you its going to be a terrible experience. Don't frustrate your users for no good reason.


Going to proper thin clients is likely to be so cost prohibitive at this point that there is almost no point. Need the network, the server power, the server licenses, the windows licenses, the antivirus licenses, and then the thin client.
 
ThePiston said:
I wanted ot try out a thin client for my needs. i have a small office with about 15 client PCs all over. I'd like to use Terminal Services with 15 thin clients if possible.
Click to expand...

I have never, ever, seen a Windows-based thin client solution that doesn't end up getting ripped out in a cloud of user revolt and misery.

This problem was solved in the 90s (early 90s) for *IX systems with X.
 
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