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What is a Smart Client?
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A Smart Client is a device that has been designed to fill the gap between the
functionality of a thin client device and a full desktop PC when used in a
Server Based Computing (SBC) environment. |
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Thin Clients are used in SBC environments because they are relatively low cost,
easy to configure, require little maintenance and are viewed as secure devices.
However they are very limited in functionality such as the use of local
applications and peripherals that can be supported. For example it is generally
not possible to use a digital camera, scanner, bar code reader or PDA with a
thin client device. This means that in most cases they do not fulfil all of the
needs of the end user. |
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On the other hand PCs offer almost unlimited flexibility in terms of
applications that can be installed and peripherals that can be attached locally
to the computer. They are however open and can be much less secure. A large part
of the cost of ownership of the PC is involved in the preparation before
delivery to the end user and the ongoing management, maintenance, administration
and security. These factors make PCs in a SBC environment relatively high
maintenance high cost devices. |
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A Smart Client device delivers the rich functionality of the PC such as locally
attached peripherals and the use of local, remote and even virtualised
applications. Together with complete native embedded Control, Management and
Administration. Most importantly Cranberry Smart Client devices have security
features that are not available on desktop PCs such as disk write protection in
addition to Cranberry’s FreshBoot™ and FreshDeploy™ technology. |
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What does this mean?
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Total integration of RES Wisdom™ into the Smart Client XP Embedded Operating
System delivers complete Management, Control and Administration. This means that
a Smart Client device can be delivered directly to the end user without the need
for any preparation. The Smart Client is provisioned with all the of
requirements of the user, at the point of delivery and without any end user
interaction. For the first time it is possible to have a computer that is always
properly managed and maintained regardless of its location without the need for
local IT support staff thus greatly reducing the cost of ownership compared to
that of a PC when used in a SBC environment. |
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The Greener Challenge
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The Cranberry SC20 Smart Client utilises the AMD Geode LX Chipset which includes
the world’s most efficient i386 based processor. The SC20 uses approximately 10
watts of power which is about 10% of the power taken by most desktop PCs. The
physical footprint of the SC20 is also the fraction of that of a conventional
PC, it weighs less than a kilogram and is aluminum for easy recycling. The SC20
also complies with WEEE and RoHS environmental requirements. |
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