March 12, 2010

‘Thin clients’ can benefit small businesses

by Jan Harris

New research by Igel Technology shows that small businesses can make substantial savings by switching from PC-based systems, with locally-installed software, to ‘thin client’ computer systems.

Using thin clients, which run off a central data server, could save £200 each year for each standard PC replaced, according to Igel.

Part of this saving comes because thin client software is run centrally and can therefore be maintained much more efficiently.

In addition, the thin clients themselves last longer than PCs and use less power than traditional systems.

While savings mount up over the longer term, Igel estimates that a thin client solution will cost a business £150 more in its first year of use because of buying and installing the equipment.

In year two and onwards, however, annual operating costs are 43% less than for a PC system, meaning that this initial outlay will soon be recouped.

Dr. Frank Lampe, Marketing Director at IGEL, said: “Thin clients only have to be set up once.

“After that, with the exception of intermittent firmware updates, which take just a few minutes, they can keep on running without interruption.

“In the unlikely event that a thin client fails, a replacement unit is easily hooked up.

“Once connected, it gets its particular configuration automatically from the server.”

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‘Thin clients’ can benefit small businesses

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