Thincomputing.net: The use of Server Based Computing / VDI environments is getting more and more graphically intense. Thin Clients are notorious for their poor graphical performance. Does Wyse feel that people indeed face this issue and (if yes) how does Wyse plan to address this issue?

I agree server-based computing has historically had a poor reputation in this area, but things have changed. This issue has been addressed in 3 ways: 1) Wyse has a range of clients with excellent local graphic hardware performance 2) Wyse has launched its TCX Multimedia software which delivers PC performance streaming video or audio via RDP or ICA, and 3) Citrix has introduced ICA 10 with dramatically speeds up general graphics performance.
 

Thincomputing.net: In this day and age IT departments have grown accustomed to the broad hardware support Windows has supported out of the box. This broad hardware support is (next to) nonexistent in Thin Clients. Does Wyse feel that people indeed face this issue and (if yes) how does Wyse plan to address this issue?

Firstly, "next to non-existent" is just plain wrong! Wyse has a wide range of customers running all sorts of peripherals - from wireless adapters, smart cards, PC Cards, scanners, Point of Sale devices such as cash drawers, credit card swipes, printers, also webcams, dual-monitors, touch screen devices and more; in fact peripheral support has traditionally been the principal reason for customers choosing a Windows XPe based thin client.

Thincomputing.net: Sorry, I was being unclear. I was referring to the lack of HW support in Thin Clients other than XPe. Do you still feel the same way if you leave XPe out of the equation? On a side note, I have a hard time promoting XPe Thin Clients. I think that one of the big advantages of Thin Clients today is that you barely need to manage them. This is not true for XPe Thin Clients.

For sure, XPe clients require more management, which is where Wyse Device Manager comes in, but this also brings us to Wyse's strategy & vision: "The best user experience on the thinnest possible client"

The Wyse TCX Suite is designed specifically to enrich the traditional thin client experience and deliver this best user experience. Today TCX Multi Monitor addresses limitations of RDP and ICA sessions across multiple monitors; TCX Multimedia addresses streaming media performance; but there is more to do. High on this ‘to-do' is peripheral support. "Best experience" means that - subject to your IT admin allowing it - you should be able to walk up to a Wyse thin client running Thin OS or one of the other thin client OS's, plug in a new peripheral and expect it to work as it would on a PC. Watch this space...

Thincomputing.net: Some four years ago one of the arguments in favour of using Thin Clients was pricing. A Thin Client was a lot cheaper than a regular PC. These days a Thin Client costs the same (if not more) as a A-brand low-end PC. Can you explain to me why Thin Clients need to be so expensive? Are there any plans to lower the price in the future?

A strong argument thin computing has always been cost savings - and it still is.
Thin client prices are falling as the market grows and the hardware becomes more commoditised. For example the Wyse S10 is 17% lower this year than last, and now costs just £189 / € 278 typical retail price. PC prices have also fallen, but the capital cost of a thin client is still lower due to their long working life - typically 2-3 times that of a PC.
What must be remembered though, is that the biggest savings through thin computing come after the initial capital cost. Wyse customers typically report ongoing support and maintenance savings of 50-70% - plus of course much lower power consumption.

Thincomputing.net: Do you feel that, with the current models, the graphical performance of such a Wyse S10 is equal to a typical $300 Dell PC ?

For a typical user where S10 is the right solution -yes.

This user would be running a range of applications such as Office, CRM or a line of business application from a Citrix PS, Microsoft TS or VMware VDI server. On a correctly sized server these applications will run faster than they would on a PC, startup would be much faster, and general windowing graphics performance very good.

You need to remember that its very hard to isolate graphics performance from other areas. For example, application start-up time and document opening times have very little to do with graphics, but have a big impact on user experience.

If this user has heavier graphics performance requirements including video, then S10 is not the right solution. V10L will TCX Multimedia would be a better solution

Thincomputing.net: Recently, HP has bought Wyse's biggest competitor, Neoware. How does Wyse feel about this?

We believe this move will be viewed as further validation of the thin computing market. Having a big name brand such as HP active in the market is a good thing.

Wyse has a track record of leading the thin computing market, and will continue to do so. The combination of our innovation, our ‘laser' focus on this market, and our partner's key role in delivering services creates a winning formula. Wyse already ships more Thin OS products than Neoware ships Linux, and ships more thin clients on Windows than anyone else.

Thincomputing.net: VDI is becoming more and more popular. How does Wyse view VDI?

VDI brings a new approach to delivering centralised applications which is creating a lot of interest in the market. The choice of different application server architectures does make people stop and think - and there is still a lot of education to be done - but ultimately choice drives growth with customers choosing the best combination of technologies for their own specific needs. Wyse works very closely with the 3 main application server vendors, Microsoft, Citrix and VMware, to ensure that our "best experience with the thinnest client" approach is achieved however the applications are delivered.

Thincomputing.net: How does Wyse see the market developing in the next 2-3 years (Windows 2008 Terminal Services, VDI, broader virtualization embracement)?

In two words: RAPID GROWTH Over the past 2 years we have seen more major deployments of thin clients; and new technologies from VMware, Citrix and Microsoft just accelerate that growth. To give a feel for thin client adoption: 1 in 7 desktop computers bought in 2007 in Western Europe will be a thin client.

Virtualisation as an approach makes such good sense for IT delivery and its combination with thin computing delivers cost-effective IT that can be deployed very quickly, and equally quickly changed as needs change.

There is also the Green issue. We are being asked several times a week about energy consumption and the "carbon footprint" of our clients. I don't believe organisations are buying for that reason yet, but it is certainly becoming a check box in many procurements. For the record, a deployment of Wyse S Class thin clients, with an application server back-end, reduces energy consumption - and related carbon dioxide emissions - by 90%. Or to phrase it another way: for every 13 PCs you replace with a thin client, you can save 1 tonne of Carbon Dioxide per year (UK figures).

Thincomputing.net: If you could tell me, I'd like to know the ratio in which you your OSes sell. By this I mean: which sells the most: ThinOS, WinCE of XPe ?

Thin OS is our most popular operating system, and as we add new functionality, this popularity grows. Thin OS now supports ICA & RDP, VDI Connection Brokers, wireless adaptors, smart card readers, USB mass storage (memory sticks, hard disks and CD-ROMs) and multi monitor and multimedia with Wyse TCX.

After Thin OS, OS volumes vary a bit by country with XPe popular due to its wide peripheral support, Linux for its modular approach, and Windows CE still strong but losing slightly due to more functionality being added to Thin OS.

Thincomputing.net: USB Mass storage support was a long awaited feature. Are all USB mass storage products supported or is there a list of supported hardware?

There is a supported hardware list but the feedback I get from our field engineers is that the vast majority of USB mass storage devices just work.

Just with USB memory sticks, the huge range of products out there (where the hardware and software often changes even when the product name doesn't) make it pretty much impossible to have a comprehensive list. We do have a 30 day free trial scheme that enables customers to test out our products.

Thincomputing.net: What are the current technologies / products in Wyse's portfolio that you are very excited about? What do you expect to "take off" the most?

The Wyse TCX Suite is definitely the most exciting development at present. Removing the "limitations" of a thin computing approach is just great fun - every time we demonstrate what we can do now - on the thinnest client and OS - people are pretty amazed. And we are not finished yet. There are more TCX enhancements to come.

What will take-off most? The Wyse V10L. This has great performance from the Via C7 processor, Wyse Thin OS, multi-monitor support, optional wireless and smart card, and multimedia with TCX - pretty much everything most users need!

Thincomputing.net: Does the Wyse V10L (or rather the current ThinOS) support the "new" ICA client version 10?

ICA 10 is currently available on CE, and XPe. It's in development for ThinOS and will be made available to existing customers through our software maintenance program.