HP Readies Two Secured Thin Clients For Release

Hewlett-Packard is preparing to launch two thin clients, namely the HP t510 and HP t610.

Each comes standard with dual-core CPU, a graphics core that offloads computing from the server to the chipset, support for multiple monitors and remote connections, and 2GB of RAM, which is double the minimum previously shipped on HP thin clients.

Security conscious

Intended for highly security-conscious industries, such as healthcare and financial services, each client includes a number of security software options, as well as hard-identification security. The t610 is the industry’s first thin client to feature both a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) that protects access to networks and BIOS (basic input, output system) which complies with National Institute of Standards and Technology recommendations, says HP.

The HP t610 features a dual-core Advanced Micro Devices G-series processor with discrete AMD Radeon graphics. At 1.65GHz, it’s said to offer “ample power for the most rigorous remote business graphics needs.”

The t610’s low-power CPU and discrete-level GPU are a single, integrated unit, capable of supporting high-performance multimedia content and DirectX11 for 3D visuals and accelerated graphics. Passively cooled, it also keeps quiet, while HP Active Thermal Management software prevents the device from shutting down from overheating.

The t610 comes in two configurations, Standard or Plus – the latter of which includes additional legacy ports, quad-head display graphics capabilities and connectivity options for supporting enterprise-grade wireless and fiber network interface cards.

Thin client OS software is supported, including Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard and HP’s ThinPro solution for Linux, and the t610 can be configured for zero-touch management. It also meets Energy Star standards and uses more than 20 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.

The more affordable t510 runs a Via Eden X2 U4200 1GHz dual-core CPU. Both versions can be managed with Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Device Manger and are compatible with virtualisation software include Citrix Systems Xen App, Microsoft RDP 7 and VMWare View.

“The HP t510 and t610 flexible series thin clients provide the performance and security enterprise users are looking for along with increased manageability for the system administrator,” John Doyle, Microsoft’s director of Product Management, Windows Embedded, said in a statement. “In particular, the plug-in for Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 enables IT professionals to manage embedded devices in a similar manner to PCs and servers through a single integrated solution, simplifying embedded device integration and management.”

April availability

Both thin clients will be available worldwide in April, after a March rollout in Asia. The HPt510 starts at $259 (£165), while the t610 Flexible Series starts at $399 (£255).

Thin clients’ appealing pricing and energy efficiency, paired with a growing reliance on the cloud, are making them increasingly attractive to enterprises. They are also helping to drive the adoption of virtual desktops, which Gartner has forecast will reach 20 million by 2014.

More-robust thin clients, while slimmed down, are also giving way to “zero clients”, which are stripped of a local operating system for even greater security, leaving little to be attacked – and further improving power consumption.