PC SUpport folks, when businesses move to thin client technology,

[Deja Q]

where do we go from here?

Thin clients w/ web-based applications are cheaper.

Of course, you need a fast backbone/LAN and a powerful server...

It's a pity, everybody deployed PC workstations that could do far more, but nobody really took advantage of the concepts. :-(

[ramapo]

1. PC workstations are overkill

Thin clients have been on the horizon for a number of years as a means of cutting costs and complexity. They haven't really caught on because the thin client wasn't all that much cheaper than a full-blown pc.

Fact is most workers don't need a PC workstation. Your average person needs a web browser, spreadsheet and word processor plus a place to store files.

The PC with the horrendous weight, complexity, and unreliablity of a Microsoft o/s has cost corporations billions.

PCs replaced "dumb" terminals. Support cost of a terminal was essentially zero. Sure you needed a bunch of people to support the mini or mainframe environment behind the scenes but that bunch grew many fold to support zillions of servers and desktops.

Now corporations want to get back to the more centralized model to reduce complexity and cut costs. The universe expanded and now wants to contract.

Sure the engineer or CAD user, artist, or other specialized workers need a full-fledged desktop computer. These are the exception, not the rule.

[matcom]

2. thin clients are NOT cheaper

and depending on your network set up can be a real pain in the ass. we just rebuilt our network (we run thin clients) and let me tell you, if you have any robuts 3rd party applications, be VERY leary of thin clients

[ramapo]

3. Yup

Thin client = lots of bandwidth and servers. I haven't seen any large shop, and I deal in the Enterprise space, make the switch. Most have looked and dropped the idea.

They would all love to get rid of the desktop headache but the thin client is not (yet?) the answer.

[Deja Q]

4. Cool

My IT department has been talking of this openly in meetings (makes me feel warm and fuzzy...) they even asked in half a mil in funds to start facilitating the upgrades. It's all a matter of time. (I've also noticed coworkers getting more and more hostile toward each other, including making baseless attacks against me. Oh well.)