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Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30

By | May 2, 2011, 12:21pm PDT

Summary: On May 2, Microsoft made the Release Candidate (RC) test build of its Windows Thin PC available for download by testers. Windows Thin PC (Win TPC) is the successor to Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP). It is a version of Windows 7 that allows customers to repurpose existing PCs as thin clients.

On May 2, Microsoft made the Release Candidate (RC) test build of its Windows Thin PC available for download by testers.

Windows Thin PC (Win TPC) is the successor to Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP). It is a version of Windows 7 that allows customers to repurpose existing PCs as thin clients. Win TPC doesn’t require the VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) license to access VDI desktops. The product is built on top of Windows Embedded Standard 7 Service Pack 1, and supports RemoteFX and enterprise management via System Center Configuration Manager.

The final Win TPC product will be available to Software Assurance volume licensees only, but the test builds are available to the general public. According to a May 2 blog post, Microsoft is planning to deliver the final version of Win TPC some time on or before June 30.

Microsoft made a first Community Technology Preview (CTP) test build of Win TPC available in late March. The RC of Win TPC is available for download today from the Microsoft Connect site, officials said.

Microsoft is promoting the product as a way that IT managers can help reduce costs.

(Thanks to WinRumors for the heads up on today’s Win TPC RC.)

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PC, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows, Desktops, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Mary Jo Foley

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Disclosure

Mary-Jo Foley

Freelance journalist/blogger Mary Jo Foley has nothing to disclose. WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). I do not own Microsoft stock or stock in any of its partners or competitors. I have no business ventures that are sponsored by/funded by Microsoft or any of its partners or competitors.

Biography

Mary-Jo Foley

Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 25 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNet, eWeek and Baseline. She has kept close tabs on Microsoft strategy, products and technologies for the past 10 years. In the late 1990s, she penned the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet, and more recently the Microsoft Watch blog for Ziff Davis.

Got a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.

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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
dsfwrryd2701-24353666362584055827984983065980 10th Nov
kafqmd,good post!
View in thread
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It does amaze
pmfjoe 2nd May 2011
The CTP runs amazingly fast on my Compaq Armada E500 with an 800Mhz P3 and 512MB RAM.
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Fully functional
jparr 2nd May 2011
@pmfjoe, your Armada, when new, probably ran Win 98 or maybe Win2k, both of which have the same access to VDI components as W7 Express or whatever they want to call it now.

So just for my education, what is the advantage of upgrading to W7E / W7TPC?
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
pmfjoe 3rd May 2011
@jparr

No real reason just for testing, can't say the machine is actually usable with any of today's software or operating systems.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
tmsbrdrs 3rd May 2011
@pmfjoe
you could run the same machine with quite a few fully modern linux distros.
I only mention it since you said "can't say the machine is actually usable with any of today's software or operating systems."
Put puppy linux on it, the machine will run faster now than it did when brand new.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Karston1234 Updated - 15th Sep
The product is built on top of Windows Embedded Standard 7 Service Pack 1, and supports RemoteFX and enterprise management via System Center Configuration Manager. high school diploma online
homeschool online
ged test
online high school
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
JonathanTrott 17th Sep
prior learning assessment
Prior Learning
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
JonathanTrott 17th Sep
logo Design Pros
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
prolanguage1 18th Oct
@jparr your Armada, when new, probably ran Win 98 or maybe Win2k, both of which have the same access to VDI components as W7 Express or whatever they want to call it now. Uebersetzungsagentur Dolmetscher Uebersetzungs
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If you need this product, it's time to upgrade . . .
CobraA1 2nd May 2011
If you need this product, it's time to upgrade to, say, a netbook. Unless you're totally unemployed, you should be able to save up for one.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Nadaphanboi 2nd May 2011
@CobraA1 You are obviously missing the point, or just a dumba$$.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Vexxarr 2nd May 2011
@CobraA1 This product is aimed at companies that have technology and vendors tied to aging platforms. It has little to do with budget or upgrading. If you have a box on your end tied to a service or client on the other that you do not own or control, you simply have to make it compatible on your end no matter what.
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love it
banned from zdnet 2nd May 2011
@CobraA1
"upgrading to a netbook". great stuff.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
macaction 2nd May 2011
@ Cobra... Its more important for struggling companies & schools vs a single end user. Dozens/hundreds of machines means a lot more saving to upgrade.

"Microsoft is promoting the product as a way that IT managers can help reduce costs."
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
INGOTIAN 3rd May 2011
@macaction best way to reduce such costs is not to get locked into monopoly supply chains in the first place.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
macaction 3rd May 2011
@INGOTIAN Hindsight
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Socratesfoot Updated - 3rd May 2011
@macaction True, but if we need a client server setup to make this work anyway...what I'd really like to see is an Android tablet running a compatible client, and a Windows server running the legacy Windows applications. Something that could probably be done now on any Windows OS with 3rd party software. This would remove the need to upgrade a server that is only providing legacy support anyway. I bet it could even be isolated to it's own private network that way for security purposes.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
tmsbrdrs 3rd May 2011
@Socratesfoot
It wouldn't be terribly difficult to simply put rdesktop onto an installation of, say, puppy linux, get faster speeds from the aging hardware and not sacrifice the hardware. rdesktop allows remote desktop functionality with Windows systems. It's also possible to use VNC for the same purposes or a myriad of other solutions, all of which wouldn't cost any money at all. Microsoft needs a more compelling product than this "thin" client.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
tmsbrdrs 3rd May 2011
@macaction
It's more important for Microsoft, not the Schools or companies.
When using aging hardware, Linux is always there for free. This is actually geared towards those IT managers too lazy to look for a solution outside Microsoft.
Since this is a thin client solution, there's nothing compelling enough with it that Linux wouldn't be a better solution in most of the usage cases for this product.
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With a proper touch UI, this could be a wPad OS.
BillDem 2nd May 2011
Layer a good touch UI over this kernel and we might see a Windows compatible OS for tablets worth considering. Nah, probably not.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
tjomball 3rd May 2011
@BillDem If they layer a touch UI over this it will more than likely require better hardware requirements and at the same time compete with existing MS software.
I just can't see MS doing this at it would affect their sales of W7.
Just my 2 cents on the subject. But would have been nice though.. happy
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
dachba 2nd May 2011
I'm an engineer but have been retired for some time so am not as up on this stuff as you guys. Is this a way of upgrading a legacy PC with XP, 2000 or whatever to Win 7? If so, what functionality do you lose. If not so, just ignore my question.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
pethers 2nd May 2011
@dachba You can install Windows 7 onto older PC's to replace 2000 or XP, and it would run ok. However, drivers is the real issue with older hardware - it's worth a try but might not perform as fast as an old Win 2000 OS with proper drivers. Win 7 does have default drivers which will work and it will do the job - worth a test install to try it out.
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This is a version on Win 7 so it is an upgrade.
alvin.padayachee@... Updated - 2nd May 2011
ba
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Gis Bun 3rd May 2011
@alvin.padayachee@... : Huh? Upgrade?
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Socratesfoot 3rd May 2011
@dachba No, this is a client/server setup using a thin XP client to run Windows 7 virtual machines from a Microsoft server. But there are better ways to do this right now that don't lock the user into another generation of Microsoft dependency. A Linux server and client setup for example can already run Windows 7 virtual machines and push them to a Linux client. This will look just like Windows 7, have all the functionality, and the client is both more secure and has less overhead than XP. It's a nice try by Microsoft though and will probably have some sort of wizard that makes this method easier slightly.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
cwallen19803@... 3rd May 2011
@dachba
The other issues are 1) Windows 7 from XP or previous versions is a clean install. You have to reinstall any applications and data (remember to back that up first).
2) Not all software from the XP or older period runs under Windows 7. Much of it does, but there are applications that run under XP that don't run under Windows 7.
3) Hardware support. Make sure it is worth the effort. Run the upgrade advisor before commiting. http://windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
wpeckham@... 2nd May 2011
Dacha: I wish! This is not a way to leverage individual legacy PC hardware, rather a way to re-purpose a FARM of XP or earlier pc clients incapable of running Win7 to run remote or virtual desktops to a central Windows server or cluster to maintain legacy workcenter operations without replacing all of the workstations.

Not that it could not be USED for an individual PC, but they are not licensing it for that.

Once again, feeding the criminals while punishing all of us law-abiding customers.
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In what sense?
Mister Spock 2nd May 2011
@wpeckham@...
Once again, feeding the criminals while punishing all of us law-abiding customers

Pleas explain your thought process.
plain
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the name game
saneblane 2nd May 2011
Microsoft takes the prize in my book, for the most names for the same product, followed by nvidia and apple in close second.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
jt59 2nd May 2011
what microsoft is saleing a unsave computers with windows from microsoft o'boy more of the mess again
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Gis Bun 3rd May 2011
@jt59 : You make no sense....
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Graham Ellison 2nd May 2011
"Windows Thin PC, (Win TPC), Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, (WinFLP), thin clients, VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) license, VDI desktops, Windows Embedded Standard 7 Service Pack 1, RemoteFX, enterprise management, System Center Configuration Manager."

Oh my god!! This is a veritable blizzard of acronyms, abbreviations and management speak. Do people really use these terms? It's a vision of hell painted in the suicide blood of morons.

We should perhaps be most afraid of this phrase: "The product is built on top of..." as it morbidly reflects the catalogue of behaviour of this awful company towards OS development over the past 30 years.

NO! No more of this building more garbage on top of old garbage - please. The gas and the stench coming off this pile of excrement is already nauseating beyond endurance.

Microsoft, do one of two things: Take your time and design one decent operating system for desktops and one for portable devices. Make them FULLY compatible and naturally integrating. Simple.

I know it's already been done. And yes of course if you knew Apple was going to do something this smart you'd have started this project almost immediately. But you didn't because Steve Jobs doesn't bleat on endlessly pontificating his predictions - he just gets on with doing them.

And now it's probably too late for you guys, because the cloud will be the thing by the time you get anywhere near to completion. So do the second thing, have a Charles Manson party and just shoot yourselves - all of you, and rid us of this endless nonsense.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
bodangly Updated - 2nd May 2011
@Graham Ellison You are apparently completely missing the point of this operating system. Its basically a more advanced LogMeIn or GotoMyPC for corporations. It isn't designed to be an OS for smartphones, tablets, or anything of that nature. It has absolutely nothing to do with Apple, who does not compete with Microsoft in the target industry. Its purely a way for companies to turn ancient computers into usable workstations. Think old-school computing, the old terminal/server model. This is a rehash of that.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
tmsbrdrs 3rd May 2011
@bodonagly
This is simply Microsoft realizing, finally, that older machines exist. Linux does this better, cheaper (i.e. free) and more efficiently while giving more choices of how to do so.
Compare the performance of this thin client with Puppy Linux on the same hardware and you'll go with Puppy. Since this is a thin client, there aren't even any compelling reasons to use it over any other platform in the first place so, why not go with free.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Graham Ellison 4th May 2011
@bodangly Well I agree with you on one point, this is indeed old-school but it's barely a rehash. This is Microsoft finding another way to charge the same customers for the same functionality yet again.

And when the developer and provider of the OS makes more than the maker of the hardware, some may say that's clever, but I'd say it's disgusting.

But by all means celebrate this thing. It was obviously designed for you.
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Haven't you heard? Microsoft is also doing "cloud" computing, and,
adornoe@... 2nd May 2011
it might be you that's a little behind on the news.

But, whatever Microsoft is doing, you don't have to like it and there are other players in the field which might suit you better. So. stop your griping and move on.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
mnemennth 2nd May 2011
@Graham Ellison
I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.

mnem
Seriously. Seek counseling.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Graham Ellison 4th May 2011
@mnemennth Responding to your level of wit is well below my pay grade.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
oriorda 2nd May 2011
@Graham Ellison It amazes me the number of people who LOVE this stuff! Try criticizing Windows 'as layers on top of MS-DOS and isn't it about time the old stuff was binned?' and see the hate mail you get.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
j-mccurdy@... 2nd May 2011
@Graham Ellison Who is a moron? It sounds like the guy who spends his time reading an article and commenting on something that he doesn't like. That doesn't sound too smart. actually it sounds pretty stupid. most of us are at least smart enough to stick with the subject matter that we might be interested in using.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Graham Ellison 4th May 2011
@j-mccurdy@... By that do you mean you're wearing those blinkers willingly?

Your apparent inability to recognise that Microsoft - the company you let into your life when you bought a Windows PC, are inventing new ways to screw you, is actually very sad.

And your qualifications to comment on my smarts, when I equipped my own company with 99% Macs, would seem to be rather more seriously in question.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Home Grown IT 2nd May 2011
rofl
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Gis Bun 3rd May 2011
@Home Grown IT : Not to smart. Try ROTFL.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
pmshah@... 2nd May 2011
There are a lot of situations where you DO NOT need the high end graphics to be transmitted over the network or high levels of processing power. On-line trading and airline ticketing are just 2 of the examples. In these situations you have only text being transferred. Perfect situation for keeping your costs low. This stems from hanging on to older hardware and a whole lot less power consumed and heat generated by fancy graphic cards.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
dockc 2nd May 2011
There's too much junk out there, both in hardware and software. This is just one more example. I have to (mostly) agree with Graham Ellison's comments. Microsoft has done a great job of emulating IBM in the development and use of gibberish. Software should be self-healing and easy to use to the maximum extent. I have struggled recently--and a number of times since 2001--to get Internet connections to function properly. It often takes hours. Why is there not good, built-in software that detects and fixes connection issues. The built-in Wizards are too narrowly focused to help in any but the simplest situations. That's just one example--albeit an extremely annoying one.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Graham Ellison 4th May 2011
@dockc I thank you for your lone voice of sanity here. I can also concur with you on the connection issue. I regularly attend meetings where the tech manager has to be called to sort out a lost internet connection for a room full of provided Dell laptops - it's nearly always Dells.

When the man in suit trousers and a smartish shirt turns up, I know the first thing he's going to ask is for everyone lo log off and reboot our laptops. I comply of course. But what I don't now bother to tell these overpaid fools is that my Mac hasn't lost its connection - so I don't reboot the Mac.

Only afterwards do I let him know the issue is in the configuration between his own suite of often quite new Dell laptops and the router. "How do you know that?" he asks. Because my Mac stayed connected all the time." I reply. Then the bugger often tries to blame me and my Mac for causing the issue!

The result: 20-30 minutes downtime in an expensive day - all because of Microsoft. One day, I'm going to add up all my MS caused downtime and bill the fools in Redmond.

Oh, and total Mac downtime since the start of the year? Less than an hour. That may not mean much to many of you. But it means a hell of a lot to me, both in terms of cold hard cash and peace of mind.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Mgamerz 2nd May 2011
Easy to understand version: Microsoft is releasing the WinFLP software that is installed on older machines that do not run very modern OS's (or not very well). They connect to servers (most times local) and run a virtual machine from there (cloud computing). MS licences the server licences for the machines, and possibly WinFLP. It saves money instead of buying 200 new machines, just buy 200 licences and a server the cost of 40 machines.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
tmsbrdrs 3rd May 2011
@Mgamerz
Or, put Puppy Linux on all 200 machines. They'll run faster, no need for the Server in this situation and it's free. If you need the server, you've still saved yourself the 200 Licenses, use VNC or SSH into the server, get what you need and you're set. If you want a better interface than Puppy affords, there are a myriad other distros which will run quite happily on the same specs this "thin" client can, without sacrificing performance and while giving you a full installation as well.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
Gis Bun 3rd May 2011
@tmsbrdrs : And who cares about Linux? You ask 100 non-computer people what is Linux asnd they won't know. The typical user [who will use Thin PC] know Windows.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
alvin.padayachee@... 2nd May 2011
Response to: dachba
This is a version on Win 7 so it is an upgrade.
With regards to functionality - I don't think you will
lose any - but that depends on what OS you are using now.
I suppose if you are upgrading to this version of Windows
it would be good to check whats the minimum hardware
requirements.
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RE: Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30
dsfwrryd2701-24353666362584055827984983065980 10th Nov
kafqmd,good post!

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