There are three different types of Wyse thin clients, to
provide the right solution for your unique needs.
Simple
Simple thin client desktops are appliance-like devices that
access server-based Windows applications. They offer excellent
performance at a low price. In server-based Windows computing,
you normally run multi-user Windows on a centrally managed
server and use either the Citrix ICA or the Microsoft RDP
protocol to remotely display on a user's desktop what is running
on the server. On a simple appliance, everything happens on
the server. Any application you want to run, from payroll
to a browser, runs on the server. If you do plan on using
a browser, consider stepping up...
Powerful
Powerful thin clients desktops do everything simple ones do,
but they also do more! For one, powerful clients have a basic
web browser built right into them, so they run web applications
without placing an extra burden on your servers. In addition,
powerful clients support Citrix NFuse and legacy dumb terminal
emulation. Choose powerful thin clients to access simple intranet
HTML pages and as a great transitional replacement for green-screen
terminals. If you need to access the Web in general, consider
moving to...
Flexible
Flexible thin clients do everything that simple and powerful
clients do, but they have two very special added features!
For one thing, they provide the latest, greatest and richest
general Internet Web browsing. And because they are based
on operating systems like Microsoft Windows NT Embedded, XP
Embedded and Linux, they also can run applications locally
(which means right on the client, instead of on the server).
Why run an application on a thin client? There are three reasons:
1.) Some applications just don't behave in a Terminal Services
environment, 2.) For a fault-tolerant network, such as a retail
terminal that can still ring-up sales even if the WAN goes
down, and 3.) Some applications, such as graphically intensive
ones, have special needs for performance or perhaps a second
video card. Choose flexible thin clients if you want to access
complex web pages that need a full Internet Explorer browser,
with multimedia plug-in support; custom applications such
as bar-code scanner software burned into Flash memory and
running locally (like a solid-state PC); and for access to
a broad range of drivers and peripherals.
Basic
On a basic chassis, you get limited ability to hook up peripherals.
Typically, you just get USB ports. And keep in mind that your
thin client OS must support the devices you want to plug in.
There are standalone basic chassis and integrated basic chassis.
Basic standalone chassis are very small- about the size of
a piece of paper folded in half, and they can be nicely mounted
to be unobtrusive, as well. Basic integrated chassis also
just have USB ports, and come in two varieties- CRT integrated
and LCD (flat-panel) integrated. CRT integrated clients are
ideal single-button replacements for old dumb terminals. Flat-panel
integrated chassis are wonderful where space, power, consumption,
heat generation and/or sleek looks are important. (NOTE: Wyse
offers USB to parallel and USB to Serial cable adapters to
allow certain "legacy" peripherals to work with
the USB port on a basic chassis.
Standard
A standard chassis typically adds parallel and serial (legacy)
ports. Because not all popular peripherals (credit cards wipers,
bar-code scanners, receipt printers, etc.) are available in
USB versions, Wyse still designs, sells and supports a wide
variety of standard chassis. Exact chassis details (number
and types of ports) are available on the product spec sheets.
Expanded
An expanded chassis offers "something more". Some
have a PCI/ISA card slot for carder expansion. Some have CD-ROM
and floppy disk drive options. If you need the benefits and
manageability of a thin client but have expansion requirements
of a PC, then consider a thin client with an expanded chassis.
Check out the details on the specific product spec sheets.
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