Cloud computing is a convenient, cost-effective and efficient way to scale existing infrastructure without springing for a ton of new boxes. But too many IT departments are still working with badly out-of-date hardware that has limited capabilities, making the move into the cloud more problematic than it should be. Hardware vendors have responded with products designed specifically for cloud computing, and thin clients are high on the list.
This week Hewlett-Packard Co. announced two new additions to its thin client portfolio designed to support virtual work environments. The company had also updated HP ThinPro 5.0, its embedded Linux OS for thin clients, with a new user interface and better ability to move between HP ThinPro OS and HP Smart Zero cores.increased
The new clients are the t310 All-in-One (AiO) Zero Client and the t520 Flexible Series Thin Client. The t310 AiO has a minimal profile to save on space and is optimized for PCOIP and VMware environments. It’s been designed to optimize a virtual work environment in high-performance industries such as healthcare, financial services, government, retail and education. The t310 AiO delivers for reliable connectivity and secure access to data without requiring active management or configuration.
Features:
- when connected to VMware the t310 AiO delivers a high-performance remote Windows or cloud user experience based on new Teradici PCoIP technology that cuts display latency and maintains response times for applications such as multimedia. The Teradici PCoIP technology is native to Amazon WorkSpaces, VMware Horizon DaaS and VMware Horizon View;
- the unit has a fanless design, with quiet cooling and a 23-inch diagonal display including keyboard and mouse.
The t520 is a mainstream thin client tailored for high-demanding environments like call centres, retail, financial services and manufacturing. Features include:
- a fanless design that HP says is 20 percent smaller than its predecessor;
- a desktop user experience supported by an AMD GX-212JC SOC, SATA flash drive interface, HD graphics, and configurable memory and storage. HP says it is 14.4 per cent faster than the t510;
- a range of operating system and client virtualization options.
The t310 AIO and t520 are expected to start shipping in select markets in late June, with worldwide availability over next two months. Both are backed by a 36-month lifecycle, a standard three-year limited warranty and globally recognized ecocertifications.
The new ThinPro 5.0 combines the ThinPro OS and the HP Smart Zero Core on top of a new interface. Customers can switch between the ThinPro OS and the Smart Zero Core as needed. Users also can customize the desktop and manage the system with automatic updates from HP or on a USB key. Restore points enable unique configurations and enhanced security.
The ThinPro 5.0 is expected to be available this month at no additional charge on HP flexible series thin clients.
“User demands for more reliable and powerful computing means businesses are looking for new, affordable solutions that are flexible, secure and easy to manage,” said Jeff Groudan, HP’s worldwide director, Product Management, Thin Clients, in making the announcement. “Our new thin client solutions provide workers with advanced hardware design, easy-to-use software and a secure cloud computing experience.”
HP (Nasdaq: HPQ) will highlight the t310 AiO and t520 thin clients at HP Discover, June 10-12 in Las Vegas.
