Adoption of NCs on Thin Ice

Dave Andrews

Concerns over bandwidth, lack of applications, and the basic fact that network computers (NCs) are not PCs may stymie corporate acceptance of thin clients. In a recent survey of 137 senior-level IT decision makers at large, medium, and small U.S. enterprises, just 15 percent of respondents said they plan to deploy thin-client architectures in the next three years.

The survey also shows that those who plan to deploy thin-client architectures cite total cost of ownership and ease of administration as the leading factors affecting their purchase decisions. Clerical personnel, receptionists, administrative assistants, low-level managers, and supervisors are most likely to be the user s of thin clients, according to the survey, which was conducted by Zona Research (Redwood City, CA), which provides Internet-related market research and advice.

The number 1 reason cited by those not planning to deploy thin clients (which include Windows-based terminals, NetPCs, Java-based network computers, Windows CE devices, and information appliances) is that the devices are not PCs ( see the chart for more information).

"With so much hype surrounding thin clients, there may be a backlash against them," says Peter van de Graaf, director of product management for Lotus Components, a unit of IBM that was expected to release its first Java-based suite of productivity applications (code-named Kona) in November. "This backlash may be because people haven't seen enough full-featured Java applications yet."

Greg Blatnik, vice president at Zona Research, agrees the lack of Office-type applications may be the cause of some thin-client skepticism by managers, but he notes that of those in the survey planning to deploy thin clients, more than 70 p ercent want them to be able to access Windows applications running on the server. Says Blatnik: "That indicates that the goal of coming up with a non-Windows product that kicks Microsoft off the desktop is a futile effort."

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Reasons for Not Deploying Thin Clients

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