Pano Logic Launches Pano System 3.0

Recently Pano Logic launched an update to their Zero Client solution, Pano System 3.0. Their goal, of course, is persuading mainstream organizations that they could reduce their overall costs of computing by replacing individual personal computers, laptops, thin clients and the like with Pano Logic's "no moving parts" Zero Clients.

What Pano Logic had to say about Pano System 3.0

Pano Logic, the leader in zero client desktop virtualization, today announced Pano System 3.0, a major product release with support for the Windows 7 operating system and closer integration with VMware View™.  Pano System 3.0 also enhances the end user computing experience by providing new user controls over virtual desktops, and further simplifies centralized administration for IT managers. The newest release from Pano Logic meets a growing demand within organizations of all sizes for a true zero client alternative to costly PCs and thin clients, particularly as they plan their migration to the Windows 7 operating system and begin overdue replacements of desktop infrastructures.

Deeper VMware View™ Integration

Closer integration with VMware View Manager in Pano System 3.0 will extend Pano Logic’s zero client value propositions by making it even easier to manage a heterogeneous desktop environment. IT administrators can now use a single seamless and comprehensive console through VMware View for managing small to large-scale virtual desktop deployments or infrastructures comprising a mix of both Pano Logic virtual desktops and PCs or thin clients.

Pano Logic solves major challenges inherent in the current PC-based, client-server computing model, while providing end users with the same, familiar PC-like Windows experience. Its technology radically reduces computing total cost of ownership by as much as 80 percent by completely eliminating endpoint device management, support and obsolescence. Instead, end users connect to their virtual machine with a zero client that contains no processor, no operating system, no memory, no drivers, no software and no moving parts. This represents a major shift from highly complex and costly PC and thin client computing solutions.

Windows 7 Migration Path Simplified

With Pano System 3.0, companies migrating onto the new Windows 7 operating system now have the option of deploying the zero client hardware and software platform that was purpose-built for desktop virtualization. The Pano Logic platform now supports Windows 7 Enterprise, Professional and Ultimate editions with no change in price. To ease the transition for end users, the Pano System 3.0 enables individuals to maintain both a Windows 7 and an XP desktop.

Snapshot analysis

Centralizing desktop computing infrastructure while still offering distributed access to those desktop applications and data has offered the promise of overall cost reduction (largely due to reduces administrative and operational costs not due to decreases in overall hardware costs). Suppliers have offered approaches to providing this capability based upon access virtualization, application virtualization, processing virtualization and many interesting permutations and combinations of those different types of virtualization technology.

We've also seen offerings of low cost PCs, netbooks, thin clients and devices such as those offered by Pano Logic.

Pano Logic has been on my radar screen for quite some time (see Pano Logic Another Take on the Virtualized Desktop, Pano Logic Virtual Desktop Solution 2.0 and Pano Logic adds remote access in version 2.6 for background information.) It's combination of clever, small, easy to install and manage hardware combined with its access virtualization technology and virtual machine technology from several suppliers offered simplicity and performance. Its ability to support many different operating systems offered a simpler strategy for evolution from one operating system to another.

That being said, this is still not the mainstream approach to offering desktop or mobile productivity tools throughout the industry.

A key question is why.

In this case, it appears that unless there is a very strong reason (often related to regulatory compliance or need for heightened levels of security) to move to this sort of solution, decision makers have followed the golden rules of IT and continued to use individual desktop systems, laptops and netbooks rather than adopting a hardware-oriented desktop virtualization solution, such as that offered by Pano Logic.

Unasked for, shoot from the hip advice

Pano Logic, I believe that your technology is not as well known as it might be. If more decision makers understood the benefits of the approach you are offering, more would consider it. Some, seeing that your approach was a better fit to their organization's requirements, would select it.

Have you considered the following:

• Offering a "try Pano System 3.0 for free" program to introduce organizations to your products.
• Persuading a major news organization to move from their on-air laptops to a clearly marked set of Zero Clients?
• Persuading a major software supplier, such as Oracle for example, to create complete hardware/software solutions that included your devices and and management software.