New HP hardware, tools address thin client concerns

From InfoWorld: Hewlett-Packard is trying to tackle concerns about the cost and complexity of thin-client computing with new products and tools announced Tuesday.

Proponents of thin clients say they can cut costs by allowing desktop programs to be deployed and maintained on a central server instead of locally for each user, and improve security because company data is stored in a datacenter instead of out in the network on PCs.

HP has won a few big customers for its thin clients, including budget airline JetBlue, but it admits that some businesses still struggle to see the benefits and are concerned about the cost and complexity of moving to a new architecture.

Thin clients aren't always cheaper than PCs to purchase. HP's new t5325 Essential Series thin client, aimed at "task workers," will start at $199 when it goes on sale next month. But its new t5700 Flexible Series thin clients, available Tuesday and designed for more graphics-intensive applications, start from $399 and $429 without a keyboard or monitor.

Businesses should consider the operational savings and other benefits rather than the up-front costs, according to Jeff Groudan, a vice president for thin client solutions in HP's Personal Systems Group. For enterprise customers, "the savings are generally going to come from lower management costs and lower energy and security costs," he said.

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