Download New Windows 7 Version, Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) in Q1, 2011

[Crispy]

By the end of March 2011 Microsoft will offer the first taste of a new version of Windows 7 tailored to the needs of customers with virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments.

Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) will make its debut into a broader testing phase no later than next month, with Gavriella Schuster, the General Manager for the Windows Commercial business, revealing that the bits will be served through Microsoft Connect.

​

At this point in time, the Redmond company did not provide a specific availability deadline for Windows Thin PC, but Schuster promised that downloads of the new Windows 7 SKU will go live in later in the first quarter of 2011 (Q1 2011).

“WinTPC is a smaller footprint, locked down version of Windows 7, designed to allow customers to repurpose their existing PCs as thin clients.

“PCs with WinTPC will not require the VDA license that regular thin clients will need to access VDI desktops,” Schuster added.

The software giant also did not announce a price tag for Windows Thin PC, and the reason for this is rather simple. WinTPC will be a SA benefit.

This means that customers with Software Assurance license agreements with Microsoft will not have to pay for extra licenses in order to leverage WinTPC with their PCs/thin clients.

SA customers already don’t have to pay extra for separate licenses designed to enable them to access Windows in a VDI environment as of July 1, 2010.

According to Schuster, WinTPC is just the icing on the VDI cake for enterprises:

“A while back, we lowered VDI licensing costs by making desktop access rights a Software Assurance (SA) benefit,” she said.

“When we released our application virtualization solution, App-V 4.6, we also reduced storage costs for VDI, making it possible to store a single copy of virtual applications on a SAN while deploying them to multiple virtual machines.

“Now, with SP1, we are working to lower the operational expenses of VDI by optimizing VM density through the new Dynamic Memory functionality in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.”

Source: Download New Windows 7 Version, Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) in Q1, 2011 - Softpedia

 

[JMH]

Microsoft readies locked-down Windows 7 Thin PCs

Microsoft is planning to make available to its Software Assurance volume licensing customers a smaller footprint, locked-down version of Windows 7 that functions as a thin client.

Microsoft officials announced the coming Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) SKU on February 9, simultaneous with the company’s announcement that it had released to manufacturing the first Service Pack (SP) for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

According to the company, WinTPC will “allow customers to repurpose their existing PCs as thin clients” once it is available for download from the Microsoft Connect test site later in the first calendar quarter of 2011. (I am thinking this will be a beta/test version of WinTPC, given it will be on Connect. I’ve asked Microsoft to clarify. Update: Yes, this will be a public beta of WinTPC on Connect, officials said on February 10.)

Microsoft readies locked-down Windows 7 Thin PCs | ZDNet

Microsoft announces Windows Thin PC

Microsoft said on Wednesday that it plans to offer a new version of Windows 7 designed specifically for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) customers.

Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) will be released as a beta version on Microsoft’s Connect site according to the company. The first version is expected to be available by the end of March.

Microsoft announces Windows Thin PC | WinRumors

 

[timofort]

WinTPC is somehow a Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs successor, isn't it ?

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all
can anybody translate into PLAIN English what exactly MS is offering here-- It seems to be some sort of mini W7 possibly even lighter than W7 Starter for cheaper multi volume licenses.

However in businesses and offices I've tended to work in its quite common for people to want to be able to run quite a few CONCURRENT applications at a time some quite heavy like large spreadsheets or imaging software as well as possibly having 5 or 6 (or many more if they are developers) SAP sessions etc.

Not sure that a really "Thin" client would do the job here.

People have been talking about "Thin Clients" and "Diskless" workstations for DONKEYS YEARS but these have never proved popular and for most people the idea is dead.

Actually businesses are coming more round to the idea of providing a secure infrastructure and allowing / encouraging users to use THEIR OWN laptops. It's difficult to manage the security etc but this proves REALLY popular at places where its implemented.

For instance we have some real MAC fan boys who love the fact that they can run Virtual software on their own machines to load up W7 or XP and logon to corporate VPN's / servers.

It's often a very frustrating User experience to find you have a real sooper dooper computer at home and then go back to using "Dinosaur Technology" at work.

Provided the security elements can be arranged and various other company policies this seems the obvious way to proceed -- also saves the company from having to purchase / upgrade workstations every few years too.

I can't see the MS offering competing with the chance of using YOUR own computer in the workplace where possible.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Kit]

WinTPC is somehow a Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs successor, isn't it ?

That's what I'm thinking, I hear the word "Thin" associated with an OS and I think "Removed features in order to be run on older hardware." The previous posts though don't say that. in fact it seems like they don't even say what this is supposed to do, besides "Turns users PCs into 'Thin Clients". What is a thin client? Will this be like the aforementioned WFLPC or will it be something totally new?

 

[alphanumeric]

Its not the same thing as Fundamentals. When using a thin client all or most of the computing is done on a central server. The client just displays the results. The thin client is useless without the central server that is actually running the OS and apps. Windows Fundamentals is a stand alone OS optimized for older PCs that are low on performance. Fundamentals is more like 7's Starter edition.

Thin client - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[jimbo45]

Its not the same thing as Fundamentals. When using a thin client all or most of the computing is done on a central server. The client just displays the results. The thin client is useless without the central server that is actually running the OS and apps. Windows Fundamentals is a stand alone OS optimized for older PCs that are low on performance. Fundamentals is more like 7's Starter edition.

Thin client - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hi there
as I said before this stuff is really harking back to the 1980's and even then it wasn't popular.

With things like NETBOOKS available for around 200 USD (probably less on a huge discount corporation volume) why would you want to tie people on to a central server so they are stuck when not connected to it.

"This Clients" are essentially DEAD these days --I've also mentioned the trend towards the END USER providing HIS / HER OWN workstation / laptop and using the corporate network / VPN. -- This needs to be managed carefully - especially with regard to security and it will require quite a change in IT management / IT Ops but it CAN be done and is very popular in places where it's been implemented.

We shouldn't be talking about "Stone age" hardware in the 21st century.

I certainly wouldn't relish working on a "Thin Client" and being dependent on a central server.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[alphanumeric]

I'm sure they have there uses. It just depends on what the end user is tasked with doing. They probably work great in say an auto repair shop floor. The mechanic doesn't necessarily need a full PC just to run some diagnostic or look up parts. A grocery store would be another good use. No need for a full PC at every cash register. In a hazardous environment there is less to break down or be replaced if it does get damaged. Kiosks would be another good spot I would think. The other big advantage is no data is stored on the thin client, its all on the server. If somebody steals the thine client they don't get much for there trouble. All the data is safely stored on the server. I bet some of them don't even have a hard drive in them. I see XP embedded being run on cash registers, they boot up in seconds as the OS is loaded from flash memory. They're probably a lot easier to lock down from a security stand point too. Like you though I have no use for one, but I'm sure some people/companies make use of them.

 

[alphanumeric]

I guess I should have read a little more of the articles linked to before I posted.
It looks like it lets you turn an old PC into a thin client rather than actually running on a thin client. Maybe it does both I can't really tell from what I read so far. That, I would think, would negate some of the advantages I listed above. Looks like its closer to Windows Fundamentals than I originally thought. I likely will never get to play with it so I'll have to wait for someone else to comment on it.

 

[Crispy]

New Windows 7 Release, Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) CTP Available for D/L

Microsoft is now offering developers the first taste of what the company calls a smaller footprint version of Windows 7, dubbed Windows Thin PC or WinTPC for short.

Early adopters interested in testing this new Windows 7 spin-off can head over to Microsoft Connect, sign up and download the Community Technology Preview of Windows Thin PC.

Some customers might already be familiar with another operating system similar in nature to WinTPC, namely WinFLP.

In this regard, Windows Thin PC is the successor of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, which was based on Windows XP Embedded.

Customers that make their way to Connect will see that WinTPC is being served through the Windows Embedded Standard 7 Directory.

This is not a coincidence, since Windows Thin PC is also an embedded Windows 7 spin-off, just as Windows Embedded Standard 7.

“Windows Thin PC (…) is a locked down version of Windows 7 designed to help repurpose existing PCs as thin clients extending the life of existing hardware,” revealed Microsoft’s Karri Alexion-Tiernan.

Source: New Windows 7 Release, Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) CTP Available for Download - Softpedia

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

This simply looks like another re-incarnation of "Thin Clients" or Diskless (or USELESS as we used to call them) workstations which people have been g (totally against the wishes of the USERS) trying to foist on the IT community since around 1975.

They weren't popular then and will be even less popular now -- even a small cheap netbook can run a FULL w7 version without any serious problems at all so what sort of "legacy" devices are we talking about here.

Tis type of application *might* be suited for Cloud Computing -- but implementation of that other than for basic email / banking type services is still a long way off (and might even be in "Cloud Cuckoo Land").

In any case a lot of companies are finally leeting USERS use their OWN hardware and find it's much better and cheaper to secure the NETWORK and allow users access to their own hardware.

I'm sure a user with a nice fast laptop at home won't want a dinosaur "tiny" diskless workstation to use at work. Also a lot of people take work home and / or work remotely too.

I think a lot will pass on this application as this definitely seems like "Yesterday's Technology Tomorrow" --long live Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Ciara]

I'm sure a user with a nice fast laptop at home won't want a dinosaur "tiny" diskless workstation to use at work. Also a lot of people take work home and / or work remotely too.

Agree, I work from home two days a week (today being one of them) and Windows 7 pro build 7601 SP1 works just fine, never had a problem connecting and I can do personal stuff (like be here) at the same time

 

[Graemzy]

i think thin clients are a good idea!

the place i just finished work experience just got one in to test it out. they run win xp. every user in the building was logged onto the main server using citrix. so really most of them apart from the few that needed some extra apps on there own machine, ie. apps for doin wages, where only using there own machine to log onto the server.

there was no need for there machine at all. all apps, drivers and files are on the server.

now i have only seen a small bit about the thin clients so i cant really say much but from what i seen it looked good. for that situation anyway.

 

[1994F7PT]

for the cost of a thin client tho its worth investing in a small form pc, as the extra computing power is always a benefit no matter what.

in fact the acer veriton's i now use in place of the old thin clients that were installed at work years ago are cheaper than the replacement WYSE thin client units and a hell of a lot more versatile. i simply use remote apps to jump the users onto the server apps they require or mapped network drives to grab excel files etc to the local machine to edit/update etc

 

[jimbo45]

i think thin clients are a good idea!

the place i just finished work experience just got one in to test it out. they run win xp. every user in the building was logged onto the main server using citrix. so really most of them apart from the few that needed some extra apps on there own machine, ie. apps for doin wages, where only using there own machine to log onto the server.

there was no need for there machine at all. all apps, drivers and files are on the server.

now i have only seen a small bit about the thin clients so i cant really say much but from what i seen it looked good. for that situation anyway.

Hi there

I think this is probably a special case -- most companies that now use a lot of computing power are either issuing people with Laptops (a lot are moving totally away from the "fixed" Workstation type of idea) or allowing people access to their Network using peoples OWN computers --still issues such as security needed but trend is going in the right direction.

Dont forget a lot of people who travel a lot and work remotely a huge amount of stuff such as presentations etc can be done on a LOCAL machine without any Network access required once the data has been downloaded from the central server.

Larger companies also have outsourced a lot of work to consultancy type companies too such as Accenture, PWC etc etc -- and these people need to access their OWN companies servers too mandating the use of a Laptop in most cases.

If a central network is down for maintenance / malicious attack, civil unrest or whatever and you only have diskless workstations and thin clients you are TOTALLY hosed up.

With people relocating central servers to cheaper and cheaper places - even INDIA is becoming too expensive for some companies as they try and save every last cent regardless of whether its worthwhile or not while they look for CHEAPER alternatives - the quality and robustness of the remote servers could be called into question quite considerably too.


Incidentally while people ARE looking for cheaper places to install IT infrstructure remember places like Bangladesh while looking a cheap alternative remember the downside that in these sort of countries irrespective of the quality and willingness of the local labour force to perform high quality work you are stuck with very real possibilities of significant outages due to Natural Causes -- floods, Tsunamis, Earthquakes etc.

The recent problems in Japan showed that if a sophisticated WEALTHY 1st world Country has problems with these types of events poorer countries such as Bangladesh would have ZERO chance of maintaining the infrastructure if these natural disasters occur and they will become increasingly likely in future too - global warming, sea levels rising etc etc.

Cheers

jimbo

 

[Buzzy]

This does exactly what you would expect really well.

Seems mad that it won't be available to authorised refurbishers to put on refurbished PC's - after all the sort of equipment being reused in the third world is exactly the hardware this is aimed at.

Odd decision as Microsoft (and Bill) have been pretty generous in the past with Office and XP licencing in these circumstances.

(only gripe is why include media player in the build if the codecs are excluded !!)

 

[fafhrd]

I loaded ThinPC onto a Virtualbox VM, allocating 1GB RAM and onto Virtual PC2007 on a netbook allocating 440MB.

It's not thin -an overweight footprint of 2.4GB for a new install without any downloaded extras, and the pagefile is turned off by default. So around 3-3.5GB total. 7 automatic updates for windows embedded came down the line plus IE9, no problem.

Sound, networks, internet, installing apps, setting up user accounts, applying a desktop theme, creating a VHD, activating by slmgr /ato all work fine, and once the UAC was reduced a notch it didn't feel like Vista resurrected.

F8 menu, Safe mode with networking, net user administrator /active:yes worked as expected -it was difficult to tell that this was built up out of the Windows 7 modular embedded building blocks.

Overall a slightly more pleasant experience than starter - but I've never run starter in 1440x795 before either.

But there are bugs - sharing a folder does not create a shared overlay for the icon for the folder. Action center tells you to get some protection, but after downloading MSE, it cannot install due to an unsupported OS. What else doesn't work - Windows Defender has nothing in control panel, and when you try to add Windows components and features - they have been disabled by some absentee administrator. Technet suggested 3rd party antimalware apps.

There are other deficiencies - In the start menu programs there is a system restore item which leads you to the missing system protection tab in the system properties, so there is no way to turn on system restore. There is no backup and restore in systems maintenance nor the link to create a system repair disk. Again, there are no apparent means to turn these features on.

Still there are more things available that you cannot do in starter - gpedit.msc, and rsop.msc are present, you can create a homegroup password, but I couldn't get this to work any further; and you can join a domain, manage users and groups. I did map shares in and out of the VM so networks were definitely working. Not so much locked down as locked out of the kitchen with no way to get to the pantry.

So overall not a bad experience, considering this is typical of the public beta testing that Microsoft likes to do - I am a ThinPC and this was My Idea! - but nowhere near ready to release to businesses yet unless they want to be overrun with malware.

I still think it is a cunning ploy to get users as far away from XP as possible, maybe so they go home from working at their ThinPCs and look at their old systems and decide to upgrade or buy new kit.