Thin client computing, thanks to an increase in the companies' interests to reduce electrical power consumption while consolidating the hardware platforms, receives a new life and gains some popularity. One of the computer hardware manufacturing companies that are focused on the thin client business is Wyse, a firm that strives to make the existing thin clients even thinner.

While most people are using either a laptop or a desktop computer system, switching to the thin client approach poses a series of advantages like an unified hardware platform, less energy intensive hardware and cheaper end user workstations. Wyse announced the launch of several thin client oriented pieces of hardware along side two fully fledged notebooks and a software suite designed for virtual desktop environments.

The new thin client from Wyse is named the V class LE thin computer and it is based on software solutions from VMware VDI, Citrix or Microsoft. On the hardware side, the whole machine is optimized for a reduced power consumption and low cost as it comes equipped with a VIA Eden C7 processor running at 1.2GHz. The VIA ULV, ultra low voltage, central processing unit is able to operate without the need of an active cooling solution, so there is no noise, while the energy footprint of the thin client computer is also reduced. The system comes with almost all the features of a desktop system like dual video output, audio, USB2, PS/2, Serial, and parallel ports. Users may also choose to add a number of extra features like Smart Card, PCMCIA and even a wireless networking card. There are two main versions of this system and they include a zero client configuration for use with Wyse provisioning software, or the RAM enabled thin client which offers support for Windows CE, Windows XP embedded or Linux.

Wyse also announced the launch of two portable thin client solutions, the X90e and X90 Thin Notebooks, which come without a local hard disk drive, while having the same class of central processing unit as the desktop version. Unlike the desktop model, the Eden processor found in the thin notebooks is a slower one, running at a standard core frequency of only 1.2GHz. Coming with a screed of 12.1 inch which supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800, Wyse's thin notebooks offer a battery lifetime of about 5 hours, according to the news site theregister. The manufacturing company claims that the two mobile computers will work just about anywhere there is an internet connection. The two notebooks come with wireless networking, integrated video solutions as well as USB2 and Express slots. The X90e model also comes with Smart Card and Bluetooth 2.0. The devices are zero client compatible, but have Windows XP embedded for disconnected use, when a virtualization server is not available.