Published on: March 29th, 2010
3 possible client strategies companies deploying remote desktops can adopt.
Buy a new low cost low power (green) PC with a Windows OEM license,
buy a new linux based thin client (TC5D), or
reuse an existing PC.
Let’s look at the 3 possible client strategies companies deploying remote desktops can adopt:
- buy a new low cost low power (green) PC with a Windows OEM license. these PCs are fast enough to use as a thin client but are less reliable, will need to be patched and managed, and use more electricity. The upside is there is no VDA cost, but there is a need for SA and additional software stacks for patching (in my comparison i use SCCM whic is $41/device/year list)
- buy a new linux based thin client (TC5D) which will perform just as well as the PC above but cost less, use less electricity, be more reliable, come with management software and won’t need to be patched or to run 3rd party software like antivirus.
- reuse their existing PC, blast Windows off with VDI Blaster: upside is no hardware acquisition or installation costs, low TCO (management software is included). Downside is electricity use remains high. Reliability is not good but it is not a downside as the PC can be swapped with a thin client when it dies. Interestingly if the PC was amortized over 3 years and re-purposing it allows amortizing over 5 years, the customer frees up anywhere between $150 and $300 in their budget! If we take this into account VDI Blaster has a 0 day ROI!
| Low cost green PC with Microsoft OS | TC5D | VDI Blaster | |
| Upfront cost, street price, >500 units | 300 | 250 | $20 (actually it’s $-180 arguably because it allows migrating the depreciation from 3 years to 5 years and so for a $500 PC it creates 200 dollars in the books) |
| Power consumption 365/24/7 | $50 | $10 | $80 |
| Annual subscription | $50 for Software Assurance | $100 for VDA | $100 for VDA |
| Management cost year 1 | Need SCCM or something to patch for $41 ($88 for Core CAL which most customers buy) | $0 (Echo is included in upfront cost) | $0 (Echo is included in upfront cost) |
| Management cost after first year | same | DeTOS maintenance (TBD ~ $20) | VDI Blaster maintenance (TBD ~ $10) |
| Total for 3 years | 723 | 580+3*20 = 640 | 560 + 3* 10 = 590 (arguably 410) |
| Total for 5 years | 723 +282 =1005 | 640 + 220 =860 | 590 +360 =950 (arguably 770) |
So VDI Blaster is the lowest cost solution over 3 years for people who already have a PC. TC5D is the lowest over 5 years.
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March 30, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Nice entry Stephane!
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