Best thin client computer to use with Windows 8?

BKerr

Hey all

I'm looking to get a number of thin client computers for use with Windows 8. That's as much as I know! :P I'm really not sure what would be a reasonable price (we'd be looking to try and be as high end as possible, but there has to be a reasonable limit!) and I have no idea what brands are best, etc. If somebody could advise I'd be very grateful!!

Thanks!

srsly78

Ultrabooks are quite thin! Oh price... yeah.

What kind of remote desktop protocol are you using? The microsoft rdp one? There are loads of clients for android, and for other platforms too. Get a Nexus 10 with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse? Nexus tablets have no competition when it comes to price/features ratio.

Get a loan of one off mate and test it out beforehand naturally

BKerr

Sorry, I should have mentioned that we're looking for desktop pcs. Ummmmm - remote protocol - ummmmm - it's a citrix hosted desktop solution??? *I don't understand half of this by the way - probably fairly obvious!!!*

srsly78

In 2013 a thin client should be a tablet surely? Just add a keyboard and mouse and you should have the same functionality as a desktop. In theory...

I see lots of android apps for citrix as well, not sure how well they work tho.

What I suggest you do is evaluate various options, test them out - then present a report with your findings. Let your bosses make the decision based on price etc.

Option A: Some kind of cheapo desktop running linux?
Option B: Laptop/Ultrabook - probably expensive
Option C: Android tablet (+kb+mouse)
Option Apple tablet (not worth it I reckon)
Option E: Windows RT tablet - these are pretty new. If you can get one cheap it might be worth testing?

Torqay

Is 76mm thin enough? At PC Specialist you'll get a quad Core i5 Mini PC with 8 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD and Windows 8 for €641. The case is fanless and therefore absolutely silent and the performance of the Core i5 should be more than adequate.

Torqay

The Asrock Vison (€499 @ Komplett) is even thinner (70mm). But the processor is only a mobile Core i5 (2 cores + Hyperthreading) and not nearly as powerful as its quad core desktop counterpart in the PCS Mini-PC.

srsly78

I was joking above Torqay. Thin-client does not really refer to physical dimension. It more refers to a client with only the minimal functionality to display a remote desktop.

Cuddlesworth

BKerr wrote: »

Hey all

I'm looking to get a number of thin client computers for use with Windows 8. That's as much as I know! :P I'm really not sure what would be a reasonable price (we'd be looking to try and be as high end as possible, but there has to be a reasonable limit!) and I have no idea what brands are best, etc. If somebody could advise I'd be very grateful!!

Thanks!

A thin client is something like this, a relatively powerful x86 computer running a embedded OS that you use to talk to your remote virtual session. Cheap and cheerful.

Or something like this, which is a cheaper product more applicable to the normal user. Cheaper and less cheerful, but still more then functional for your needs.

You still run into the problem of what to do with your current desktop infrastructure and how do you effectively manage the new local clients(lock them down so they are only a RDP session)? In which case you should look a product like Thinkiosk, which is a free app that lets you convert your current desktops into thin clients and manage the new embedded thin clients your rolling out.

BKerr

srsly78 wrote: »

I was joking above Torqay. Thin-client does not really refer to physical dimension. It more refers to a client with only the minimal functionality to display a remote desktop.

Thank you. I do have some understanding of thin client, but was beginning to wonder if it had become interchangeable with small physical dimensions!! :P

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

A thin client is something like this, a relatively powerful x86 computer running a embedded OS that you use to talk to your remote virtual session. Cheap and cheerful.

Or something like this, which is a cheaper product more applicable to the normal user. Cheaper and less cheerful, but still more then functional for your needs.

You still run into the problem of what to do with your current desktop infrastructure and how do you effectively manage the new local clients(lock them down so they are only a RDP session)? In which case you should look a product like Thinkiosk, which is a free app that lets you convert your current desktops into thin clients and manage the new embedded thin clients your rolling out.

What we're looking at is an entirely new setup - whilst we'd be bringing a (fairly small) amount of data across, all of the infrastructure will be set up specifically for this project.

What's wanted is the usual desktop setup - as in, decent monitor around 23", keyboard and mouse. I'd be pushing for something more mobile, but what's desirable in this something that lives in the office that can be logged straight into (with laptops / tablets used in conjunction).

Cuddlesworth

BKerr wrote: »

What's wanted is the usual desktop setup - as in, decent monitor around 23", keyboard and mouse. I'd be pushing for something more mobile, but what's desirable in this something that lives in the office that can be logged straight into (with laptops / tablets used in conjunction).

The problem with tablets is that they tend not to work well with RDP sessions when your using the touchscreen. Windows 8 might help that, I doubt it though.

I think you should go talk to the person who is giving you the VDI. The reality is any PC or desktop can be a thin client in the connectivity sense.

BKerr

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

The problem with tablets is that they tend not to work well with RDP sessions when your using the touchscreen. Windows 8 might help that, I doubt it though.

I think you should go talk to the person who is giving you the VDI. The reality is any PC or desktop can be a thin client in the connectivity sense.

Thanks.

And, also, I really appreciate all the replies!

It's just become a bit awkward. This project has been on again and off again for quite some time and I've had service providers who have given me a lot of help, but I am reluctant to contact them at this stage until I can give them any guarantee that this will go ahead - I don't want to be taking the p/ss!

Really, for most everything (and the rest is being set up separately), we're looking at a hosted desktop solution. The people who make the decisions are telling me they want the best hardware possible that they won't need to upgrade anytime soon. I'm thinking that spending a fortune on hardware isn't that important (apart from monitors), but I want to be sure that, if I recommend something, it won't be a stupid recommendation.

Cuddlesworth

BKerr wrote: »

Really, for most everything (and the rest is being set up separately), we're looking at a hosted desktop solution. The people who make the decisions are telling me they want the best hardware possible that they won't need to upgrade anytime soon. I'm thinking that spending a fortune on hardware isn't that important (apart from monitors), but I want to be sure that, if I recommend something, it won't be a stupid recommendation.

Yep, one of the main points of a virtual desktop infrastructure is the the local hardware can be cheap, all it's doing is displaying a screen. The servers are doing the rest.

Rossin

we still have some windows xp machines running citrix, it really takes nothing to run it

srsly78

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

The problem with tablets is that they tend not to work well with RDP sessions when your using the touchscreen. Windows 8 might help that, I doubt it though.

I think you should go talk to the person who is giving you the VDI. The reality is any PC or desktop can be a thin client in the connectivity sense.

Err u can just plug a keyboard and mouse into a tablet.

Cuddlesworth

srsly78 wrote: »

Err u can just plug a keyboard and mouse into a tablet.

Or you could just buy a laptop. Since they then have to be used with a keyboard and mouse.

srsly78

A laptop is overpowered and more expensive for this situation. If a e150 Nexus tablet does the job why spend more? Tablet wins when it comes to price and portability.

The new nexus tablets have hdmi out so can be used with external monitor. The older ones lacked this feature.

OhMyGod123

If you are running a Citrix Virtual desktop env or a hosted desktop solution then have a look at the Igel zero thin devices or the Wyse (bought buy dell)

They come with a linux O/S that allows you to connect easily to your Citrix env. I wouldn't pay anymore than 300 euro for a new Igel and they should last you 5 years

Khannie

Raspberry pi seems like the obvious solution to me. Cheap as they come (under 50 euro). Thin client distro available here.

Cuddlesworth

srsly78 wrote: »

A laptop is overpowered and more expensive for this situation. If a e150 Nexus tablet does the job why spend more? Tablet wins when it comes to price and portability.

The new nexus tablets have hdmi out so can be used with external monitor. The older ones lacked this feature.

Great, so you want to be mobile then and that's why you bought a tablet. Just pack up that monitor, keyboard, mouse and tablet into your bag and off you go.

Tablets are great, but if you actually have to do some work while mobile then they become frustrating to use.

srsly78

So bring a portable bluetooth keyboard?

The only bad thing about tablets is the lack of proper desktop OS - and using a remote desktop effectively works around this.

You can still have a tablet setup similar to that of a laptop+docking station in an office.