HP Thin Client Launches Thin Clients and Desktop Virtualization Software

Tad Bodeman of HP’s remote client solutions group dropped by (telephonically at least) to bring me up to speed on some new Thin Clients and enhancements to HP's portfolio of desktop virtualization software. As with my last two posts on this topic (HP Client Virtualization Announcement and HP and Desktop Virtualization) there’s simply too much here for me to address each portion of the announcement separately.

Here's what HP says

HP today introduced an affordable new mobile thin client, as well as hardware and software portfolio enhancements to its thin client portfolio, to help companies improve security and productivity while reducing resource consumption.

The company also announced HP desktop thin clients that meet the new version 5.0 ENERGY STAR® specifications – an industry first. Select HP thin clients include the HP   t5145, HP t5540, HP t5545, HP t5630 and HP t5630w models and offer customers a range of performance options and choice of Windows® CE, Windows Embedded Standard and Linux operating systems.

The newly designed HP 4410t Mobile Thin Client provides enhanced security access to server-based computing and reduces IT workloads while still providing the mobility of a reliable notebook.

More information on HP Remote Graphics Software, HP Image Manager or any of HP’s client management solutions is available through HP and authorized resellers. Additional information about HP client virtualization is available at www.hp.com/go/clientvirtualization.

Snapshot analysis

HP is one of a very small list of companies that offers technology in every category of the Kusnetzy Group Model. So, one could see thin client devices and the related access virtualization, application virtualization and processing virtualization technology as being the window either into an organization's IT infrastructure, in-house cloud or, in some cases, external computing resources.

The key challenge HP and other suppliers of competitive technology face is to help IT decision makers and an organization's staff to understand that this approach to accessing needed applications and data offers similar performance to working on a dedicated personal computer in any but the most demanding of environments.  This approach also provides the benefits of improved management, better security and, possibly, greater levels of reliability and availability.

Another key challege HP faces is trying to instill a sense of enthusiasm in the minds of potential customers. HP's product naming convention and complex portfolio of products makes nearly every discussion into long one.

Unasked for, shoot-from-the-hip advice

HP you've got a very, very comprehensive set of offerings (hardware, software and professional services). You also have an equally comprehensive list of parters and alliances. It creates a simply overwhelming backdrop which overshadows individual products. It isn't a simple task for a decision maker to uncover what HP is offering, what each product or service could do for the decision maker's organization, or build some sort of model to determine pricing, return on investment and the like.  It would be wise to develop example use cases, lists of the appropriate products for those environents and a simple pricing model. Dare I say it again? Yes, I will! HP your product naming conventions obscure what your products are, what they do and make it very difficult for decision makers to understand what HP is actually offering.  What differentiates a t5540 from a C5140 from a 6310v? How can someone get enthusiastic about what a t5540 will do for their organization? Every sale, at the end, is an emotional sale.