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The PC is a powerful tool that brings benefits unimaginable just 20 years ago. But is it necessarily the best way to display user interface screens? Or to allow data entry, quality control, or production monitoring?
You will find that because of the complexity of the computer and operating system there are issues that distract from its central task, costing time and money. In many instances the same tasks, using the same software and training, can be handled with a Thin Client.
A few of the reasons that companies have moved to Thin Clients are listed below - how many of them have been brought up at your company?
Most applications are stored and licensed on the PC. This distributed computing model requires that all PCs be touched each time a new version becomes available, a time consuming and expensive proposition - especially if the PC is used in production. For this reason most locations even have a few PCs that fall behind.
A Thin Client system is a centralized computing model. While the application is displayed on every client, it is only installed, licensed and updated on the server. Each client that connects to the server will present the application as if it were a PC running the program. This reduces the number of updates required by a factor of 30 or more.
With Thin Clients you can power down the desktop each night without having to close applications, and data integrity is easier to maintain because an unexpected power outage doesn't affect the Thin Client display. The program continues to run on the server, and when the client comes back online it simply re-connects to the session.
PC failure requires acquisition of a new compatible machine and the loading and activation of software, licenses and various drivers. This process becomes even more tenuous as the machine becomes older, and is very disruptive when it happens after hours.
The lack of moving parts means the Thin Client hardware is more reliable in the first place. Thin Client failure is handled by plugging in a replacement - even from a different manufacturer. The management software configures the new client to match the failed one and then reconnects the client with the still running session.
As software is updated there will come a point when the PC hardware will no longer be up to the task. When this happens it is time to purchase and configure new PCs.
Thin Clients only display the user interface, so they grow obsolete at a much slower rate. When application updates require faster hardware, or when higher performance is required for all of the user interfaces, all that needs replacing is the server.
A PC is very difficult to secure. Most PCs store information locally, so if the hardware is compromised so is the data. Security issues also come with the standard Windows OS and the ability to easily add or remove applications and data via floppy or USB.
With Thin Clients only the server must be secured. This is made much easier by the fact that it is usually in a protected environment. Thin Clients never actually have any data, nor do they have a local OS or any standard forms of removable storage.
The centralized model of a Thin Client system also makes it very quick and easy to globally change passwords and user account policies without having to visit and check each PC.
This is basically the same situation as replacing a failed PC. Equipment compatible with existing PCs must be located and configured, and additional software is required.
It is easy to see the benefits of the Thin Client model when expanding a system. A new station with all software is ready as soon as it is plugged into the network. The hardware is less expensive, and hours are saved that could otherwise be lost to PC configuration.
High availability PCs are available but are very expensive. However these PCs and their redundant parts are frequently required in situations that cannot afford the loss of a PC interface.
With Thin Clients, the redundancy is implemented at the server and all connected clients realize the benefit for a fraction of the total system cost. A single high-availability server can host 40 or more clients. For even more reliability select Thin Clients with dual Ethernet capability.
Want to discuss your own issues with us? We would be happy to do so, either via e-mail or a toll free phone call to 877-239-4282.
For more information on ACP Industrial Thin Client computers, please visit our web site at http://www.thinmanager.com
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