The changing face of the desktop

What’s your next desktop going to look like?

A recent article in Network World took a look at that question and came up with some interesting answers. Companies looking to replace aging systems, some of them five or more years older, are finding broader options available from PC vendors such as Dell, HP and IBM. For example, all the vendors have introduced small desktop PCs that cut space needs dramatically. Notebook computers are becoming more powerful and less costly. Handheld devices are gaining more interest. And HP joined ClearCube and Avocent Technologies earlier this year when it introduced a Blade PC that puts the guts of the computer on blades that can be centrally managed in a data center or computer closet.

Our author (jmears@nww.com) says management tools are also a key focus. The aim is to reduce the number of system images IT has to manage, as well as to create tools that enable self-healing or remote service to reduce the IT man hours associated with keeping networked PCs up and running.

IBM, as an example, offers ThinkVantage Technologies on its PCs, providing improved security and streamlining the management and deployment of PCs. In June, HP and server and desktop management software vendor Altiris announced a connector to link Altiris’ management tools into HP’s Systems Insight Manager, giving users the ability to manage servers and desktops from a single console. Dell also partners with Altiris to provide a single view of servers and clients.

For more on this story see: https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/080204desktop.html