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September 02, 2005
Low-Cost Terminals from $149
Devon IT Inc. has embedded an "optimized" version of Red Hat Linux in a line of low-cost thin-client terminals ranging from the entry-level Ntavo NTA 6010A priced at $149, to the $599 NTA 6015L that boasts an integrated 15-inch, 1024x668 TFT LCD screen. The company has avoided the common practice of maximizing features and charging high prices, in favor of offering the most "cost-effective thin-client alternative to desktop PCs," it says.
The no frills -- and no-moving-parts -- low-end 6010A is powered by a Via Eden 4000 433 MHz processor. It comes equipped with 64MB of socketed DIMM DRAM and 64MB of CompactFlash memory, and a display controller that supports CRT and LCD monitors at up to 1280x1024 pixels in 24-bit color. Expansion ports include: three USB ports; serial, parallel, and PS/2 keyboard/mouse "legacy" ports; audio in/out ports; and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet interface.
The NTA 6010A offers an "easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) based on [a] Windows XP theme," according to Devon, and it comes with built-in support for RDP (remote desktop protocol), ICA, and X client protocols, enabling its use as a terminal running remotely served Windows, Linux, or UNIX software applications, whether on a LAN or over the Internet.
The device's embedded software also includes QVW Windows Manager and the Mozilla Firefox Web browser, as well as a client-side version of the company's ThinManage configuration software. Thanks to the presence of Firefox, the device can be used out-of-the-box as a Web appliance, according to Devon vice president of marketing Paul Mancini.
As noted, the NTA 6010A and its higher-priced siblings include USB ports as well as a single internal PCI slot, which can be used for system expansion. The internal PCI slot is typically used to add a WiFi wireless card, Mancini says.
Users can also add external hard drives and CD-ROMs by means of the USB ports. Additionally, the device's DRAM consists of a socketed DIMM module, and its Flash memory is implemented with a CompactFlash card, so it should be easy to upgrade the unit's DRAM memory and Flash storage. It also seems likely that the CompactFlash memory card can be replaced with a CompactFlash "Microdrive" hard drive, or even a 2.5-inch, laptop-style hard drive.
To date, all of Devon's products have been based on Linux, Mancini says. However, "we will be announcing a Windows XPe thin client terminal soon, based on customer demand," he adds.
At $149, the NTA 6010A appears to be one of the lowest priced Linux thin clients currently on the market. "We are not aware of any terminals at this price point," says Mancini. "The specs on our 6010A terminals at $149 compare to Wyse and Neoware terminals that are nearly $400 (list price)," he adds.
The NTA 6010A is currently available from Devon IT.
Posted by editor at 02:15 PM
Rugged Thin Client From Neoware
This is one rugged unit. The e900 can operate from -22 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius), and its enclosure was awarded 4x and IP56 ratings for corrosion and water resistance from NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturer's Association). It can operate in 95 percent non-condensing humidity, Neoware claims, and supports 2G of vibration or 24G of shock tolerance, when installed on a mounting bracket.
Neoware is shipping a ruggedized thin client designed to support industrial applications such as retail distribution centers, transportation hubs, and manufacturing shop floors. The e900 comes stock with a Neoware's custom embedded Linux OS, but can be modified to run other OSes, the company says.
The e900 is Neoware's first rugged thin-client design, and the company calls the product "ground-breaking." Neoware says the e900 is suitable for use in freezers, open warehouses, tractor-trailers, and dusty outdoor lots. A variety of mounting options, including VESA 100 x 100mm, allow it to be mounted on forklifts or warehouse poles, it says. The device was "designed to sustain falls and be exposed to moisture without being damaged," according to the company, and will not die if "left out in the rain or dropped from a platform."
Additional e900 features include:
* Disk-less architecture, for greater reliability and security
* 12-inch, SVGA (800 x 600) TFT active LCD analog-resistive touchscreen supporting 8-bit color
o A physical brightness adjustment on the front bezel can be adjusted for visibility in bright sunlight, Neoware says.
* 802.11b wireless network interface
o Dual-diversity RF antenna supports operation in "remote warehouse corners," Neoware says
* Support for handheld barcode scanners
* 104dB audible beeper
Neoware says the e900 is compatible with its other thin client products, and can be centrally managed using standard Neoware management software, such as the Image Manager product released last month. A copy of Neoware's EzRemote Manager comes bundled with the e900; EzRemote Manager is based on open standards, and can interoperate with IBM Tivoli, Microsoft SMS, and Altiris Deployment Solution systems, Neoware says.
What's under the hood?
The e900 is based on an AMD GX1, a low-power, embedded-oriented, x86-compatible processor available at 200 and 333MHz. The GX1 is part of a two-chip chipset design that also includes AMD's CS5530A. The chipset provides a full range of PC interfaces, including PCI, ISA, USB, audio, and a display controller.
The e900 comes stock with 64MB of Flash, and 128MB of RAM.
I/O ports include one USB port, PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, RJ45 Ethernet port, two serial ports, and one parallel port.
A wide-range onboard DC-DC converter supports input voltages from 9- to 60-Volts. Typical power draw is 20 Watts, or 35 Watts with internal heater in use, Neoware says.
The device measures 12.7 x 12 x 4.2 inches, and weighs 15.5 pounds, or 30 pounds with the keyboard (!).
On the software side, the e900 comes with Neoware's customizable Linux-based thin-client OS, which the company says can be built to support protocols required by the customer. Options include:
* Citrix ICA
o NFuse web interface
o Program Neighborhood
o PN Agent
o Secure Gateway
* RDP (Microsoft "remote desktop protocol")
* Host access
o Teem Talk host access
* Web browser
* Java/JVM
* VNC shadowing
* EZConnect connection manager
* PPP/dial-up
* X11R6/XDM
* Thinprint
Availability
The Neoware e900 is shipping now, with prices starting at $3,999, depending on configuration.
Posted by editor at 02:07 PM