Thin is in at HP

HP has re-jigged its market-leading thin client portfolio, adding three new products plus updates to others to run the embedded version of the Microsoft Windows 7 OS.

The new models make up what HP call the t5500 family (the 't' stands for 'thin'), sharing a common hardware spec that starts with the same 64-bit processor (a 1GHz VIA Nano u3500) plus 1GB of DDR-3 memory. All have dual-monitor support, with the video managed by an integrated VIA ChromotionHD 2.0 controller, plus a bunch of legacy connectors, six USB ports and a Gigabit Ethernet interface for network attachment. Wi-Fi is an option on all models.

Visually very similar, the main differences are in the amount of flash memory each has plus the OS employed. To this end the range is kicked off by the t5550 with a modest 512MB of flash and Windows Embedded CE 6.0, with 1GB flash and HP's own Linux-based ThinPro OS on the t5565. The top of the range t5570, meanwhile, sports 2GB of flash and Windows Embedded Standard (WES) 2009.

'Responsibly' designed to be energy efficient and highly recyclable, all three can be hung off the back of a monitor and come with HP's Easy Tools to simplify setup and help keep the software up to date. Also included is a tool to configure connectivity to common services such as XenDesktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and VMware View.

The latest thin client plug-ins from both Microsoft and Citrix are, similarly, included, with HP recently announcing its intention to support Citrix XenDesktop 5 across its whole thin client range.

And then there are the new WES 7 products, HP playing catch-up here following the launch of WES 7 products from arch-rival Wyse back in September. Two products are included in the makeover, including the notebook-style 4320t Mobile. However, it's the more conventional t5740e desktop that stands out with its 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280 processor, 2GB of upgradeable DDR-3 RAM and 4GB of flash. An Intel GL40 controller handles the graphics on the t5470e, with support for dual monitors. Enabling the package as a whole to deliver what HP claims to be a "PC-like experience"

Available direct as well as from resellers, prices for t5500 thin clients start at £289.50 (ex. VAT), while prices for the t5740e have yet to be released.

Alan Stevens