"Thin Computer" comeback

"Thin computer" comeback 21st century Economic report Huang Shanghai reported that people buy computers, always like to configure the higher the better, but, Bai electric technology but the opposite. As an electronic component manufacturer with 900 workers and 20 production lines, the Bai electric technology in Suzhou has recently started to adopt a new type of computer in the production line.　　Compared with the traditional PC, this "new computer" looks only 1/6 of the latter, using a Linux operating system, no hard drive, and a memory configuration far below the mainstream PC configuration.　　When the operator is operating in the previous paragraph, all data flows from the server located away from the production line, and the new data generated by each operation is returned to the server and saved on the server. "This is a network of computers called thin clients in the industry.　　Juanbaugen, manager of the Technology information Technology department, said thin client prices are much lower than the average PC, and they also save space and power.　　Juanbaugen's replacement decision comes from budget pressures from the financial crisis, and the growing popularity of cloud computing has made him realise that more and more computer operations and data-saving work can be done in the cloud. The awareness of IT managers has made computer hardware manufacturers see hope. In the spring of 2010, the manufacturers of professional thin clients such as Wyse, Igel, and traditional PC makers such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell were all active and launched a variety of "network computers" suitable for cloud computing.　　Gartner's latest report, published in March this year, predicts that, from 2009 to 2013, thin-client terminal deliveries will grow by an average of 51%, to 2010, the most late 2011, and thin clients coming into the breakout period.　　Florian Spatz, the world's third-largest thin-client manufacturer, Igel, the company's product marketing manager, predicts that although there is no mature product for individual users in the market, major manufacturers are already actively developing it. "Thin" computers from the traditional IT Industry "technology evolution" perspective, this is called thin client network computer, not at all attract attention.　　In fact, this kind of network computer is not a new technology, the concept of network computer was first in 1995 Sun Company and Oralcle, IBM Joint concept, it is a server-based computing, multiple terminals sharing computing results of the computer architecture. Compared to the current mainstream PC, first of all, this network computer hardware configuration "Surprisingly low", it does not have a hard disk, memory is usually only 512MB, looks very "low"; second, its operating interface is very simple, in some less advanced products, traditional PC computer can achieve many functions,　　For example, flash and video playback, thin client terminals can not be achieved. Nevertheless, the advantages of a network computer represented by a thin client are obvious to enterprise users. Juanbaugen for reporters: Traditional PC price is roughly 5000 yuan, life expectancy of 2-3 years, thin clientSave 1500 more than the PC, the service life is also longer. If the company replaces the existing 200 computers into thin clients, it will save 50 square meters of space, which means that a new 2 annual output value of 20 million dollars of production lines can be added.　　In addition, a thin client running Non-stop for 24 hours, can also save 20 yuan per month of electricity tariffs.　　Gartner's report also shows that using thin clients can reduce hardware and software purchase costs by 40%, 29% it operational costs, 88% downtime, and 78% it productivity. Igel CEO Gaukek said that the traditional PC used in enterprise users, there is a lot of waste, which is thin client "thin" benefits.　　It is easy to operate and unify management, can reduce the TCO of the enterprise (total cost of ownership), the application of different occasions, the cost savings for the company can reach the maximum of 70%, generally at least 25%. In addition, because the thin client must be based on the calculation of the server, all data are stored on the server, for IT managers, as long as the server does not worry about the leakage of data, because the terminal itself does not have a hard drive, there is no way to upload, of course, different occasions can open these　　So from the perspective of enterprise security, thin client is also a good choice. Cloud computing drivers at present, thin client has been in the government, finance, manufacturing, education, medical and other industries have a large number of applications. Although networked computers represented by thin clients have a good cost advantage, the thin client market is not mainstream across the PC industry.　　One important reason is that, compared with the personal consumer market, the overall market size of networked computers is still small. Data from Gartner showed that global deliveries of thin clients peaked in 2005, but as the global financial turmoil hit, thin clients also experienced a trough in 2009. 2009 Global Thin-client terminal delivery was only 3.2 million, far below the global PC nearly 300 million of the market size.　　Take HP, the world's largest thin-client enterprise, for example, in 2009, thin-client sales accounted for about 10% of the company's commercial desktop PCs.　　Affected by the financial crisis, global thin-client terminal delivery increased by 3.2% in 2009, the lowest growth rate in 10 years, but the thin-client market has shown strong resilience compared to the double-digit drop in Business desktop computers in 2009. Jeff Groudan, marketing vice president of HP information Products group's Global Desktop Solutions division, told reporters that thin clients are gradually replacing the original market of some desktop PCs.　　3 years later, global thin client sales will account for 20% to 30% of the overall desktop PC market.　　A solution to drive the sales of desktop PCs will be a trend in the future, because only in this way can desktop PCs cater to the increasingly demanding needs of users. Another exciting fact is that the popularity of cloud computing is likely to become a network of computersThe biggest driver of a comeback. Igel CEO Gaukek says the concept of "server-based computing" has been created since the birth of a networked computer. Now the difference between cloud computing and previous server-based computing is that it used to be a "private cloud" that was confined to companies, and now because the Internet has grown into a "public cloud".　　With the popularity of the "public cloud" concept, more and more enterprises and individuals will adopt "cloud services", since a large amount of data is stored on the server, which means that front-end users do not need to use more "fat" computers. After seeing the growth potential of thin clients, the BlackBerry model has increased its investment in the market this year, including HP, Wyse and Igel.　　Hewlett-Packard recently launched a mobile thin client in the industry, Wyse launched the concept of software solutions, Igel Focus on expanding channel partners to strengthen market penetration. Despite the scramble for thin client markets, there are few mainstream traditional PC makers such as Lenovo and Acer, but Gaukek that "mainstream manufacturers, including Lenovo, have no idea about the market, the problem is that they have no products." "He believes that the mainstream PC manufacturers lack of technical accumulation, within a short period of time to follow." In fact, these manufacturers to deal with the trend of cloud computing solution is to sell more PCs, of course, the PC can also achieve the function of cloud computing, the problem is that it is "fat", there are many functional waste, including power consumption, not in line with the trend of environmental protection.　　In addition, because the front end of the thin client is centrally managed, this is very different from the way traditional PCs implement functionality. However, there are also insiders believe that the mainstream PC manufacturers to take a wait-and-see attitude, in addition to the technical threshold, but also in the future of the size of the market how much doubt.　　This suspicion translates directly into a debate over whether networked computers can replace PCs to reach the consumer market in the more pervasive future of cloud computing services and applications. Opponents believe that the user habits of personal consumer computers have been formed. From the user's point of view, the future of the computer development trend should be as far as possible to meet the user more, more personalized needs.　　Moreover, the industrial chain based on traditional computers is large enough, and the interests of so many manufacturers are hard to shake. The pros believe that, when the computer front-end all the functions can be achieved through the network on the remote server, users need only have a connection to the landing network interface, "fat" computer many functions are not necessary, for example, users can store and invoke personal information on the server, download music games, Or you could write a file with a new type of software like Word from the server.　　In a way, the advent of netbooks and ipad tablets is moving in this direction. "I think it's entirely possible. Igel's product manager, Florian Spatz, said that 5 years ago, BlackBerry was also considered a product for industry customers, but today, many individual users are starting to use it, indicating that as the network environment and user habits change, the popular product shape will eventually change. However, it may be premature for individual users to choose a "thin" network computer. First, there is no mature "thin" network computer terminal for individual users. Second, "thin" computers that have lost a lot of functionality must be able to connect to the network anywhere, and this is more of an ideal state. There are fewer vendors offering cloud content services. If the lack of mature "cloud computing" network environment, "Network computer" will be unable to move.