BOSaNOVA and Wyse Look to the High End of Thin Clients

by Alex Woodie

Two of the players in the thin client market have recently introduced new thin clients that feature processors running 1 GHz or more, which is faster than what has typically been found in these PC alternatives. BOSaNOVA touts the capability of its new 1000 Series to run Java applications, while Wyse Technology says that its new Winterm V and S series thin clients will excel in graphics-intensive environments.

BOSaNOVA started shipping a new line of thin clients in August that are specifically designed for handling Java applications. The new high-end BOSaNOVA 1000 Series includes the Linux-based LTC 1000 and the Windows XP Embedded-based XTC 1000 line of computers, both of which feature 1-GHz, X86-based Via Technologies processors, PCMCIA and smart card readers, and a full complement of terminal emulators and productivity software.

LTC 1000 users will be happy to find the OpenOffice suite of productivity software preloaded on their computer, says BOSaNOVA president Martin Pladgeman. "One major benefit of this new series is the performance boost to users who take advantage of the OpenOffice suite," he says. "Any Java-based product will also benefit from the exceptional performance offered by this new unit."

BOSaNOVA's Windows-based XTC line of thin clients ships with Microsoft productivity applications, including Outlook Express, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Viewers. The 1 GHz processors should provide a noticeable boost to these applications as well.

At the Citrix Forum conference in Orlando, Florida, last week, Wyse announced its new Winterm V and Winterm S line of thin client computers. Wyse says that its Winterm S class thin clients are about the size of a video tape cassette and will be ideal for attaching to a wall, desk, or LCD monitor. The Winterm S class thin clients, which will be equipped with Advanced Micro Devices' X86-based Geode GX processors with clock speeds ranging from 333 MHz to 400 MHz, as well as integrated video chipsets, will feature excellent video performance, Wyse says, and will start shipping in November.

The new Winterm V class of thin clients is Wyse's new high-end thin client. It is notable in that it will incorporate Transmeta's X86-based Crusoe processors, running at 800 MHz to 1.1 GHz, and will support a number of different operating systems. The Crusoe processors and Transmeta's LongRun technology are being hailed for their economical design and efficient use of power, and are being used in notebook computers from IBM, among other manufacturers. But the fan-less design and efficient energy use are also important factors in the thin client market, and Wyse has high hopes for its new Winterm V line, which should ship before the end of the year.

"The new S and V classes of products are addressing the needs of customers for thin clients that need small or zero footprint, yet feature optimized processing capabilities and functionality," says Mike DeNeffe, senior director of the Winterm business line.

In addition to its next-generation thin clients, Wyse released two new classic versions of thin client devices running on the Microsoft Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded operating systems, the Windows CE-based Winterm 3150SE, which starts at $399, and the Windows XP Embedded-based Winterm 9150SE, which starts at $499. Wyse also announced a new release of its Rapport device management software. Wyse says Rapport Version 4.4 offers easier license activation, faster installation, integration of the Wyse Imaging System, improved device discovery, and more extensive user documentation. The software is used to manage and control a range of devices, from local desktops to remote thin client stations, Palm and Pocket PC PDAS, scanners, and other mobile devices.