CLI Unveils New Linux-Based Thin Client

Published: March 21, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Computer Lab International last week unveiled a new Linux edition of its MT1500 thin client family. The MT1500t features an embedded version of Mandriva's Mandrake Linux, an AMD Geode GX 466 processor, 128 MB flash and DRAM memory, and a price tag starting at $395.

Like all members of the MT1500 family, the MT1500t is a compact little device, barely bigger than the palm of your hand, and weighing just over a pound. It doesn't have any moving parts, which lends itself to greater reliability, and it can be mounted practically anywhere, such as under a desk or behind an LCD monitor. The MT1500t comes with a generous assortment of serial, parallel, Ethernet, audio, and USB ports, although it doesn't support the high-speed USB 2.0 standard (it is offered on other CLI thin clients). A keyboard and a mouse are included in the price.

On the software side, the MT1500t comes with nearly every emulation imaginable, including TN5250e, TN3270e, four types of Unix connectivity, X Server, Microsoft RDP 5.0, Citrix ICA 8.0, and even emulations from competitor Wyse. The device comes preloaded with a Java virtual machine, Firefox Web browser, PDF viewer, and Flash and Shockwave players, while administrators can further refine and configure each MT1500t device, or a collection of devices, using the CLI SNMP Administrator software.

The MT1500t carries an MSRP under $400, and customers will be sacrificing some features to get that low price tag, including support for languages other than English, and the capability to add features like wireless LAN support or smart readers. However, CLI does offer these features in the slightly pricier Windows CE5- and Windows XP SP2 Embedded-based members of the MT1500 family.