The term thin clients are used in several parts of the industry with different meanings. In this thread, a thin client will typically be:
1) A Terminal Services client software. This software lets you use Windows programs like Microsoft Word, that run on a Windows 2000 Server, but not on your own computer. This way, you can use Microsoft Word 2000 from Windows CE, Windows 3.0, Linux etc.
2) Citrix software. The same as 1), but from a different vendor and has more capabilities.
3) A small hardware device, that provides desktop PC functionality, without containing the full set of hardware components, that you find in a PC. A Windows CE computer running a Terminal Services client is such one. A Linux box without a harddisk running X-Windows or Terminal Services client is also such one.
The benefits of thin clients is that 99% of all functionality is server-based instead of put onto the desktop computer. This way it is much easier to administrate. Additionally, thin client often provide a much better working environment, since the computer does not need a harddisk, a fan or anything noisy.
An HTML browser can be considered a thin client. |
