From a hardware perspective, a modernized Thin Client is x86 based, offering the greatest flexibility to the rapidly changing world we live in. It is capable enough to receive remoted graphics and audio streams, as well as encode/decode video & audio streams locally. Essentially, it is capable of the remote compute, hybrid compute, and local compute discussed above – but it is lean and mean, and ideally stateless, fanless, energy efficient, and sustainable. Furthermore, the hardware is available not just in desktop or AIO (All-in-One) monitor form, but in Thin Client laptop form, offering the mobility which is needed for a modern workforce and a
modernized Thin Client. Compare that to general purpose PCs and laptops which while also x86 based, are built exclusively with local compute in mind. They offer expansive and often overkill CPUs, RAM and storage, whereas VDI & DaaS, remote apps, and browser-based apps are concerned, the bulk of the compute is performed in a data center instead or as a consumption-based model in cloud. Not only that but, PCs and laptops still mostly remain as stateful, being equipped with fans, moving parts, and lack the energy-efficiency which are featured on Thin & Zero Clients. In a world where energy prices are at an all-time high, many companies and sectors gain rewards for playing into energy-efficiency programs which are because of the Thin & Zero Clients, their names and titles, too.
From an OS/software perspective, the Thin/Zero Client story runs a vendor-optimized version of a general-purpose Linux or Windows IoT based operating system. One which is finely tuned, managed, and secure, featuring a smaller attack surface and compatibility with remote connectivity solutions, including AVD/Windows 365, Citrix, VMware/Omnissa Horizon, and more. It offers support for browsers, both general purpose and kiosk-based, allowing either the freedom to browse freely, restricted kiosk access and/or a hybrid for consuming specific web-based apps for any specific purpose. Browsers can also be used for consuming collaboration & unified communication solutions. In addition, the OS supports productivity tools to aid printing, scanning, and more. It also offers support for DEX (digital employee experience), supporting such tools for improving productivity, performance, and troubleshooting at the endpoint level. It also supports security tools, including 2FA (Two Factor Authentication), MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), Smart Card, and Security Agents.
The ‘Modernized Thin Client’ OS is significantly as important as the hardware it operates on. The OS must be flexible and adaptable to change. It must be secure and it must be minimal, or zero, touch to deploy and manage. The need for such OS is also true and beneficial to operate on other types of endpoints, including PCs, laptops, and x86 Thin Clients, where sustainability is priority. Existing vendors have left them behind or added complex and costly support subscriptions to upkeep. Having such a modernized Thin Client OS provides for a standardized UX, one which is easy to manage by being coupled together with an inclusive remote management tool.
