Wyse, Microsoft: Cheap Zero Clients for Schools
Wyse Technology, one of the leaders in thin and zero client computing, has joined forces with Microsoft. The result? A sub-$100 zero client that works with Microsoft MultiPoint Server 2010. Aimed at the education market and keeping costs low, education resellers and VARs may want to listen up.
Christened the “Wyse E01 Zero Client,” it’ll be working exclusively with Windows MultiPoint Server 2010. The server can be as basic as a regular PC in the classroom. It’ll allow up to 10 users to simultaneously access that single computer. (The E01 is not depicted above, but thought to be similar to other Wyse’s zero clients pictured.)
Since it’s low-cost, very easily-managed and contains all the correct licensing for the ‘Windows 7 experience,’ computer classrooms can blossom — assuming the solution lives up to Microsoft and Wyse claims.
MultiPoint Server 2010 is a new Microsoft product and it looks like Microsoft is happy to show it off with Wyse. Wyse and Microsoft have aimed to make this pretty straight forward: Wyse zero client simply plugs into the main computer, automatically configures, and enables a student to work immediately.
That’s pretty cool. Plus, it’ll cut down on maintenance and downtime, since technically there’s only one computer to manage per classroom — or at least, per every 10 computers. And then of course, there’s the inevitable ‘green’ spin, but in truth, it’s more energy efficient for sure.
Wyse’s E01 Zero Clients have been custom tailored to work with the MultiPoint Server and they’re coming March 2010 specifically for education customers. The price point? A comfortable $99 (and international pricing available shortly.) Some more interesting tid-bits: the E01 is capable of using USB peripherals like your standard keyboard and mouse, but also webcams, USB flash drives, too.
Any takers?
When I read this article the first thing I thought about was, “Isn’t this what Ncomputing does?”
Turns out that they are also partnering with Microsoft.
http://ncomputing.com/NComputingandWindowsMultipointServer2010.aspx
This is a pretty neat idea. I wonder there is a product that provides a single point of management for hundreds of these virtual computers? This is a requirement for the technology to scale up to large computer labs.
What’s also cool is that when NComputing announced their WMS support, they said that they’ll support it with their full line not just the USB line and that besides MultiPoint server they also support all of the other flavors.
We test ncomputing and the product seemed subpar to hp equipment we normally sell. They did have very need lcd mounting. We sent the units back.
Wyse would interest me more.
Matt
Tristan, David, Matt: The VAR Guy has heard good things about NComputing over the years, and our resident blogger has spoken with a few IT directors in schools that use (and recommend…) the NComputing systems. But The VAR Guy must concede… he’s not sure if there’s money to be made for solutions providers in this particular market… …
-TVG
Dear Purchasing manager,
Glad to learn that you are engaged in thin client with good reputation.
We are very professional in exporting ultra thin client products. With the strength of legal copyright and certificates like CE, FCC etc, sincerely to deal with you!
It can save more than 95% TCO. We will keep posted of our new model with VDI solution,which video quality is better than Wyse.
Please contact me for the further details, thank you!
Kind regards
Angie