Windows 7 Thin Client Ready for Test Drive
I used to pride myself on knowing what was going on in virtual computing. After all, I helped start Virtualization Review magazine.
But Microsoft, mainly through acquisition, has so many dang tools that it's hard for me to keep track of them all.
One such tool is the new Windows Thin PC software, or WinTPC (if you want to turn a simple name into a complex one). There is now a public beta of the software that Microsoft calls a "Locked Down Version" of Windows 7 that uses VDI to serve up the thin-client experience.
Here how it works, as best as I can figure: Because the apps are actually server based, you can use legacy hardware or dedicated thin clients to offer up the Windows 7 experience. Beyond-legacy graphics, including the Aero interface, are offered up through Windows Server's RemoteFX.
If you want to buy this puppy when it ships, you best get yourself a Software Assurance license. Lesser licenses will apparently not be served.
Do you fully understand Microsoft's virtualization strategy? Tell me whether it is coherent or not at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 03/30/2011 at 1:18 PM