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        VXL fires thin client fusillade

        Jonathan Angel | Date: May 13, 2010 | Comments: 1


        VXL announced more than a dozen new thin clients, most running either Windows CE 6.0, Windows XP Embedded, or Windows Embedded Standard. The Itona TC14xx, TC15xx, Cxx, Cxxs, Dxxs, and Exxs devices all use Via Geode LX600 or C7 processors and offer low power consumption, the company says.

        VXL's entry-level TC14xx series includes the TC1440 (right), which uses a 366MHz AMD Geode LX600 processor, and runs Windows CE 6.0 via 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash storage. The device has clients for RDP (remote desktop protocol) 6.0 and Citrix ICA (independent computing architecture) 10.xx, the company says.

        Said to use six Watts, the TC1440 has a gigabit Ethernet port with wake-on-LAN functionality, a microphone input, line output, and four USB 2.0 ports (two front, two rear). The device has a VGA output that can support resolutions up to 1680 x 1200 pixels, says VXL.

        According to VXL, the TC1440 measures 7.48 x 5.59 x 1.43 inches (190 x 142 x 36.5mm). Further specifications may be found on the company's website, here.

        Mid-range

        VXL says its mid-range lineup includes both the TC15xx series and Cxx series. The former (right) uses Via's C7-M (clocked at 1GHz) and companion chip, while the latter uses a 1GHz C7 processor and CN896 companion chip, giving it dual-display support and graphics acceleration.

        According to VXL, the TC15xx comes in four different versions:

        • The TC1536, running Linux with 512MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage
        • The 1540, running Windows CE 6.0 with 512MB of RAM and 128MB of flash storage
        • The 1520, running Windows XP Embedded with from 512MB to 2GB of RAM and 512MB to 2GB of flash
        • The 1526, running Windows Embedded Standard with 1GB or 2GB of RAM and 1GB or 2GB of flash

        The TC15xx devices all have DVI-I video outputs, five USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet ports, plus mic and line jacks. Software is more varied than on the entry-level models: For example, the 1520 is said to have RDP 7.x and ICA 11.x clients, among others, plus a local Internet Explorer 7.0 installation.

        According to VXL, the TC15xx has "low" power consumption, though we didn't see a figure mentioned, and again measures 7.48 x 5.59 x 1.43 inches (190 x 142 x 36.5mm). Further specifications may be found on the company's website, here.

        VXL's Cxx devices (right) still employ the 1GHz C7, but they provide both DVI-I and VGA video outputs, supporting resolutions up to 1920 x 1440 pixels. Power usage averages 18.2 Watts including an externally connected monitor, the company claims.

        According to VXL, the Cxx comes in five different versions, as follows:

        • The C32 and C35 run Linux, with 512MB of RAM apiece and 128MB or 512MB of flash storage, respectively
        • The C42 runs Windows CE 6.0, with 512MB of RAM and 128MB of flash storage
        • The C21 runs Windows XP Embedded, with from 512MB to 2GB of RAM and 512MB to 2GB of flash
        • The C23 runs Windows Embedded Standard, with 1GB or 2GB of RAM and 1GB or 2GB of flash
        Sharing the more sophisticated software bundle of the TC15xx devices, the Cxx systems have two serial ports, one parallel port, four USB 2.0 ports, two PS/2 ports, plus wireless networking and smart card reader options. They measure 9.01 x 8.89 x 1.96 inches (229 x 226 x 50mm), according to VXL. Additional specifications may be found on the company's website, here.

        High performance

        VXL's new "high performance" thin clients include the Cxxs series, the Dxxs series, and the Exxs series. We'll pass over the Cxxs quickly since its members -- the Linux-powered C35s, Windows XP Embedded-powered C21s, and Windows Embedded Standard-powered C23s -- are the same as the C models covered earlier except that they get clock speed bumps to 1.6GHz, according to VXL.

        The Dxxs models (right) also use 1.6GHz C7 CPUs but move to Via's VX800, gaining better multimedia performance and a faster front side bus. According to VXL, they feature two serial ports with an optional third, four USB 2.0 ports, two PS/2 ports, VGA and DVI video outputs (up to 1920 x 1200 pixels), plus optional wireless networking and smartcard readers.

        Again, there are multiple Dxxs models, as follows:

        • The D51s and D35s run Linux, the former with 1GB of RAM and 1GB of flash, and the latter with 512MB of RAM and 512MB of flash
        • The D42s runs Windows CE 6.0, with 512MB of RAM and 128MB of flash
        • The D21s runs Windows XP Embedded, with 1GB or 2GB or RAM and 1GB or 2GB of flash
        • The D23s runs Windows Embedded Standard, with 1GB or 2GB or RAM and 1GB or 2GB of flash
        According to VXL, the Dxxs devices have an average power consumption of just 10.3 Watts and measure 9.01 x 8.89 x 1.96 inches (229 x 226 x 50mm). More information may be found on the company's website, here.

        Finally, the Exxs devices retain the C7/VX800 internals and physical dimensions of the Dxxs series, but they permit internal PCI or PCI Express expansion via an optional riser card, says VXL. Apart from gigabit Ethernet ports, the devices also include one serial port, four USB 2.0 ports, one PS/2 port, VGA and DVI-I video outputs, plus microphone inputs and line outputs, the company adds.

        There are three Exxs models, as follows:

        • The E35s runs Linux, with 512MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage
        • The E21s runs Windows XP Embedded, with 1GB or 2GB of RAM and 1GB or 2GB of flash
        • The E23s runs Windows Embedded Standard, with 1GB or 2GB of RAM and 1GB or 2GB of flash
        More information on the Exxs devices may be found on VXL's website, here.

        Further information

        VXL did not release pricing or availability information for its new thin clients, but all appear to be available now.

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