HP Expands Thin Client Portfolio

Help for organizations on the road to desktop virtualization

Many of you probably keep hearing me say, “you can’t just buy desktop virtualization”. Unlike server virtualization where you can just buy a hypervisor and you are off to the races, desktop virtualization will impact IT architecture decisions, endpoint choice, application management and user experience.

HP just announced some interesting new solutions that extend the value of the company’s thin computing portfolio to include:

1. New thin clients
2. Virtualization solutions architectures that combine Citrix XenDesktop 4, Citrix XenApp or VMware View™ with HP ProLiant servers, storage and thin clients.
3. HP MultiSeat that takes excess computing capacity off a single PC and shares it with up to 10 simultaneous users with a single license of Microsoft Windows 7

When we speak with businesses that have deployed or are considering desktop virtualization, they all quickly come to the realization that desktop virtualization “is not a one size fits all” solution. HP is in a position of strength to provide the guidance, services, solutions and support to help customers determine who they are going to ultimately hang their hat on. I don’t see IT running out to Citrix, Microsoft and VMware for the technology like they have with server virtualization. I see companies like Dell, HP, IBM and even Wyse playing a key role in the decision making process as well as the delivery and implementation. VMware isn’t going to have it so easy with desktop virtualization nor should Citrix or Microsoft think for a moment they will dominate the market.

If I was still an IT director I would be calling up my “vendor of choice” (typically Dell, HP or IBM) and start digging into what they have in the works with desktop virtualization. The technology will certainly continue to see further innovation, but I’d get started as soon as I could to understand the massive potential impact desktop virtualization will have on the entire end-user population.

• Data Center
• Citrix
• desktop virtualization
• HP
• Microsoft
• VMware