Thin Client

The offerings include:

· HP gt7720 Performance Series and HP t5730w and HP t5630w Flexible Series Thin Clients, which enhance the core features of Microsoft Windows® Embedded Standard, the next generation of Windows XP Embedded, by providing additional rich multimedia, deployment and management functionality to businesses running Windows-based remote computing architectures.

· Availability of HP Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Enhancements software to provide easy, out-of-the-box multimedia and USB device redirection.

· Collaboration between HP and VMware to allow HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) to deliver a rich multimedia and collaborative VMware virtual desktop experience.

· HP Client Automation support for HP thin clients, an enterprise-wide client management solution that helps administrators set alerts to identify potential issues before they happen or to automatically update administrative requirements, which keeps devices up to date without additional labor.

“The combination of HP software and thin client hardware ensures the enhanced productivity and superior user experience needed to deploy remote client virtualization to all levels of users across the entire enterprise,” said Jeff Groudan, vice president, Thin Clients and Virtualization Solutions, HP. “As the client virtualization market evolves, HP continues to provide innovative solutions, offering even more options to its customers to provide a robust personalized desktop experience.”

Robust performance and flexible integration

HP Thin Clients with Windows Embedded Standard are powerful access devices for any remote client virtualization infrastructure. Featuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11 and the ability to run applications locally, they also include Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1, which enables devices to connect and take advantage of the latest security and enterprise management technologies from Windows Server 2008.

“Microsoft is proud to be working with HP to help drive the next generation of smart, connected, service-oriented thin client devices,” said Irena Andonova, director, Product Management, Embedded Windows and Enterprise Devices, Microsoft. “Combining HP’s innovative technology with the power, familiarity and reliability of Windows Embedded Standard offers an unparalleled user experience and a secure, easy-to-manage environment for sophisticated devices with visually compelling user experiences.”

To avoid frame skipping and audio or video synchronization issues, HP has incorporated HP RDP Enhancements multimedia and USB redirection into its Windows Embedded thin clients to enable users to easily run web applications, videos and other files within a virtual desktop environment. HP RDP Enhancements downloads the processing directly to the thin client, creating an enhanced multimedia experience while lowering the load on the server, which results in increased server scalability.

HP RDP Enhancements now available on HP Thin Clients with Windows XP Embedded create a near-desktop experience for VMware View environments, including support for the latest VMware View Manager 3 broker. The software works seamlessly with any VMware View environment, with no need for additional employee training. Users simply log in on the thin client to take advantage of its multimedia features, such as training videos, and USB device support.

HP and VMware also are working together to enable VMware View Manager’s universal access feature to leverage HP RGS for remote desktop sessions. HP RGS will deliver a rich multimedia and collaborative VMware virtual desktop experience.

HP RGS is designed for customers requiring secure, high-performance, collaborative remote desktop access to advanced multimedia streaming and workstation-class applications. The software includes expanded, real-time collaboration features to allow multiple professionals working from remote locations to see and share content-rich visualizations, including 2-D design, 3-D solid modeling, rendering, simulation, full-motion video, heavy flash animation and intense Web 2.0 pages.

“We are working with HP to provide customers with a more robust virtual desktop experience through the seamless integration and use of HP’s Remote Graphics Software,” said Jerry Chen, senior director, Desktop Virtualization, VMware. “As virtual desktop technology continues to mature, we strive to continually deliver the best user experience to our customers to fulfill our vision of the universal desktop – desktops that follow users to any end point while providing a personalized experience that is secure, cost-effective and easy for IT to manage.”

Simple yet powerful thin client management

HP has strengthened its broad portfolio of client management options to include HP Client Automation, now preloaded on new Windows Embedded Standard-based thin clients. This enterprise-wide client management solution – now including thin clients as well as PCs and client virtualization infrastructure – allows customers to manage both physical and virtual clients with a single solution and a common methodology, reducing management complexities that can complicate thin client-based solutions.

HP Client Automation is one of four choices in HP’s industry-leading portfolio of thin client management options, which also includes HP ThinState tools and HP Device Manager for homogeneous thin client environments, as well as the option of Altiris Deployment Manager for mixed enterprise environments.

Pricing and availability(1)

Expected to be available in early May, the new HP Thin Clients with Windows Embedded Standard will be priced starting at:

· HP gt7720 Performance Series Thin Client: $799

· HP t5630w Flexible Series Thin Client: $499

· HP t5730w Flexible Series Thin Clients: $550

More information on HP Remote Graphics Software, HP Image Manager or any of HP’s client management solutions is available through HP or authorized resellers. Additional information about HP client virtualization is available at www.hp.com/go/virtualization.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.

(1) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.