Thin clients continue their rise...

July 20th saw the launch of a new thin client from HP with some very interesting specs to boast of alongside a rather elegant chassis. The t5570e is an uncommonly cool addition to HP's Thin Client Portfolio, with Windows Embedded Standard 7 and a native web browser built in.

The growth of ARM-level processing and the Cloud-driven Thin Client culture puts this kind of device at the vanguard of current technological trends, and brings the 'Windows Embedded' branch of Microsoft's operating system further out of its former niche position as a pared-down OS for Automated teller machines and Self Service Checkouts (mainly under the POSReady brand, shown below, which has been driving retail sales and various consumer devices IT for years in various forms, including the Windows CE brand underpinning Windows Mobile OS) .

One of the great benefits of an embedded OS in a Thin Client is in the area of video streaming; instead of sending choppy video down the pipe to the Thin Client, the device receives and renders the embed code locally via the embedded OS , streaming the video to the device directly from the source, and overcoming at a hardware-level one of the traditional limitations of Remote Computing. Microsoft's RemoteFX technology enables this functionality via Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, bringing the Remote Desktop video-streaming experience on par with a local desktop's capabilities

RemoteFX uses advanced codecs and virtualised graphics to bring rich media and 3D to what was once a graphically-basic desktop computing environment. According to Microsoft, "For virtual desktops deployed on top of the Hyper-V virtualisation platform in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, graphics hardware-assisted rendering of the screen content on the VDI host will ensure that even the most advanced applications today and tomorrow will 'just work'". The technology enables the smooth performance of technologies such as the Aero interface in Windows as well as Microsoft's Silverlight and Adobe Flash.

The t5570e features support for local applications as well as the latest virtualisation management and deployment solutions including VMware View 4.5, Microsoft RDP 7.1 with Remote FX and Citrix ICA 12.0, and has been designed with a desktop environment in mind. Enterprise-ready integrated Wi-Fi is an optional feature.

Aimed at the high-security requirements of business in general, and financial and government IT in particular, are the security features of the machine, including a secure USB hub, optional Smart Card security and an Enhanced Write Filter.

As regards Green Computing, the t5570e is an eco-friendly ENERGY STAR® qualified device made of over 30% recycled plastic. Kobi Elbaz, Director at the Client Solutions Business Unit commented: "The addition of the HP t5570e Thin Client to HP's complete portfolio of desktop-to-data centre virtualisation hardware, software and services provides a more affordable, PC-like experience for remote desktop environments."

The T5570e specs: