| "Powerful" thin client supports dual displays, expansion |
Oct. 22, 2007
 Wyse has announced what it is touting as "the industry's most powerful thin computer." The G90, based on a 1.2GHz Via C7 processor, includes dual-monitor support and runs Windows XP Embedded, according to the company.
(Click here for a larger view of the Wyse G90)
In many ways, the G90 blurs the lines between what is expected in a thin client and a standard desktop PC. This is because the device includes such features as a PCI expansion slot, plus bays that can accept both an optional CD/DVD-ROM drive and a hard drive.
Wyse has for some months promoted dual-monitor support in its thin clients. The V-Class L (formerly V Class Dual-Video) devices, for example, support dual screens via a special cable that splits the devices' DVI-I port into one DVI-D port and one VGA port.
According to the company, the new G90 continues that capability, but can support up to four additional displays (for a total of six) when a third-party graphics adapter is installed in its PCI slot. The unit's resident capabilities are supplied by Via's UniChrome Pro AGP graphics with MPEG-2 decoder, said to deliver resolution up to 1680 x 1050 pixels per screen.
The G90 is based on Via's C7 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz. Its standard memory complement is 512 MB of RAM and 512 MB of flash, which, as per Wyse's previous thin clients, can likely be expanded, although the product's data sheet provided no information about this point.
Key features and specifications cited by Wyse for the G90 include:- Processor -- Via C7, clocked at 1.2 GHz
- Memory -- 512 MB RAM; 512 MB flash
- Video:
- Display resolutions up to WUXGA (1920 x 1080)
- One DVI-I port
- One VGA (DB-15) port
- Dual-video support with optional DVI-I to DVI-D plus VGA-monitor splitter cable (sold separately)
- VESA monitor support with Display Data Control (DDC) for automatic setting of resolution and refresh rate
- Single Monitor at 24-bit/16.7M colors:
- Up to 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz via VGA port
- Up to 1680 x 1050 @ 85 Hz via DVI
- Dual Monitors used simultaneously (requires optional monitor splitter cable) at 24-bit/16.7M colors:
- Up to 1680 x 1050 @ 85 Hz
- Audio:
- 16-bit stereo audio out on 1/8-inch mini jack
- 8-bit audio input on 1/8-inch mini jack
- I/O ports:
- 1 x serial port
- 1 x parallel port
- USB 2.0 (2 front-mounted ports)
- 10/100 Base-T Fast Ethernet twisted pair (RJ-45)
- 2 x PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse (both included with unit)
- Optional internal/external USB 802.11b/g wireless adapter
- Dimensions -- 11.9 x 11.4 x 2.7 inches (300 x 290 x 68 mm)
In a related announcement, Wyse said that its thin clients will now support and integrate with third-party management tools including Citrix's Access Management Console, Altiris's Deployment Solution, CA's Unicenter, IBM's Tivoli, and Microsoft's SMS (Systems Management Server).
Chris Fleck, VP of platform development for Citrix, said in a statement, "By offering integration with our Citrix Access Management Console, Wyse is eliminating one of the few remaining barriers to broad thin client adoption." He added that administrators can now "manage Wyse thin clients as secure access devices without the burden of additional device management consoles and training."
Wyse's own Device Manager software is said to provide administrators with sophisticated asset tracking that gives information about each hardware device, including the software that is deployed on that device. New compatibility with Citrix Access Management Console, CA Unicenter and IBM Tivoli gives this power with far less training and education than is required with alternative solutions, Wyse claims.
Wyse expects the G90 to ship this quarter, with widespread availability scheduled for January 2008. Pricing was not disclosed.
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