As we move from fixed asset PCs to cloud-based “workspaces” and multi-device access strategies, the thin client has huge potential for simplicity and cost savings. In this market we have a few leading players, such as HP and Dell, with broad product lines. But there are also some smaller players that are focusing on innovation. Use this Vendor Landscape to see which vendor and approach fits best with your desktop and application virtualization plans. Your Challenge Organizations need to decide whether thin clients should replace traditional desktop PCs and if so, which solution fits best with the needs of the organization. Users must select products based on features such as energy efficiency, security, design, etc., while balancing overall cost. Get the facts on six different vendors in Info-Tech’s Vendor Landscape: Thin Clients. Our Advice Critical Insight Thin clients save more than just hardware costs. Not only do thin clients cost less than traditional PCs, they also have lower energy costs (as much as 90%), have a longer life cycle, and much lower IT support costs. As enterprises jump on the shift towards cloud computing and virtualization for access anytime, anywhere, thin clients will be the popular choice against traditional desktops. The thin client market is becoming commoditized. While product lines are expanding and small improvements to energy usage, security, and form factor carry on, major features no longer differentiate vendors. Selecting a thin client vendor is increasingly becoming a simple choice largely based on price. Impact and Result When looking at thin clients, focus equally on the overall TCO of the solution and the features offered by specific solutions. Each vendor offers a wide range of thin client products, select the vendor that best fits the needs of your organization, then explore further for the best solution.

1. Vendor Landscape Infographic Information Needed:
VL title: Thin Clients
Tagline: Desktop PCs are a thing of the past; use thin clients to support multiple users and save money.
Key Insight:
With vendors widening their product line and smaller players focusing on product innovation, the capabilities of thin clients continues to evolve.
Timeline Information:
How did we get here?
Thin clients have come a long way since their introduction, now being utilized for complex tasks, displacing the need for traditional PCs.
As desktop virtualization technology improves, the demand for more advanced and powerful thin clients has increased.
The use of mobile devices within enterprises have driven the development of “thin technology” and access of data “anytime” from “anywhere”.
Enterprises looking for “green solutions” as well as cost savings have also turned to thin clients as some vendors offer as much as a 90% reduction in energy usage compared to traditional desktop PCs.
Understand where we are now:
Thin clients save more than just hardware costs.
Not only do thin clients cost less than traditional PC’s, they also have lower energy costs (as far as 90%), have a longer lifecycle, and much lower IT support costs.
Embrace the shift towards virtualization and the cloud.
As enterprises jump on the shift towards cloud computing and virtualization for access anytime, anywhere, thin clients will be the popular choice against traditional desktops
The thin client market is becoming commoditized
While product lines are expanding and small improvements to energy usage, security, and form factor carry on, major features no longer differentiate vendors. Selecting a thin client vendor is increasingly
becoming a simple choice largely based on price.
Know where we are going:
As thin clients become more and more commoditized, players which can establish themselves with advanced features at a lower price will find themselves as leaders.
As the technology continues to improve, the lower TCO of thin clients specifically compared to traditional PCs will drive further adoption of the thin client concept.
As consolidation occurs in the market, players who can offer full end to end solutions from desktop virtualization through to thin client deployment will be successful.
The introduction of technology allowing the conversion of old PCs to tightened down thin clients may result in an overall decrease in traditional thin client adoption.
Landscape information:
What vendors are included in this report?
Grid:
Guided Implementation:
Please list all advanced features:
The product offering supports popular remote display protocols.
Support for Display Protocols
The product offerings support enhanced security features such as encryption and card readers.
Built in Security Enhancements
Product offerings utilize low wattage and mechanisms to reduce environmental impact including Power over Ethernet.
Power Efficiency
The vendor offers thin client products which do not require an onboard operating system or local storage.
Zero Client Functionality
The physical design of the product is innovative and appealing to the end user.
Form Factor Innovations
What we looked for:
Feature