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Thin-client notebook computers for home PC portability
Posted 11 months ago by eric in Computers | Submit idea in this category
Cloud computing has become a huge ordeal in the IT industry. Some companies are now investing in "thin-clients" they give to their staff, which are basically input/output devices like monitors, keyboards and mice. The actual "computers" are virtualized on servers in another room or off-site.

I think they should make laptops that come equipped with just a screen, keyboard, USB ports for mice and peripherals, and a stripped down version of a motherboard / CPU. The theory is the notebook can ONLY be used for Remote Desktop connections. Then it'd need software on the "host" computer that could accept multiple connections without logging off one particular user.

My desktop computer at home would have to be "remote connection" capable. Then I'd just use this bare bones laptop to remotely connect to my PC wherever in the world I am through typical wireless or wired connections.

The advantage is it would be light as hell, being that it'd need a bare minimum of hardware / software to run. Being that it has less working parts, you would be able to squeeze exponentially more time out of the battery. Finally, like cloud-computing, all your files are now centrally located on one home PC instead of duplicating software / files between one's laptop and desktop.
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(6) Comments and Suggestions
Posted by sarossell
7 months ago
Sadly, until we get an inexpensive universal high-speed communications system, this "cloud" computing idea isn't going anywhere...reliably. We need to get At&T and Sprint to stop arguing over ridiculous maps and start taking wireless communications seriously. Other countries have entire infrastructures working paid for by the tax-payers. I do like where the tablets are going though. Apple should be releasing a very nice design later in 2010 that basically looks like a seven inch iPhone but works like a computer similar to what you described.

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sarossell (7 months ago): There's also an application that turns one computer into two separate functional accounts using the S-Video connection as a second monitor. I don't recall the name of it though.
sarossell (7 months ago): Actually there is a registry hack that allows you to have multiple concurrent Remote Desktop connections without forcing other accounts to log out. I use it all the time.
eric (7 months ago): Well looks like Windows Home Server was exactly what I was talking about. As much as Home Server solves the problems of multiple hard disks at home, the cloud computing you're speaking of definitely would solve the problem of computer portability.

Although I guess simple Remote Desktop Connections already offer that capability, they don't solve the problem of concurrent users since currently they knock off any logged in home user.
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Posted by suzzyruns
8 months ago
Good start! Making use of the technology available today, we could redesign and update the global community for the next step in the history of evolution. :) Good work. I like the concept. I've always wondered why it wasn't already there. Huge demand.

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eric (8 months ago): Thanks, I just think it's real silly to have multiple computers per household when everyone's pretty much doing the same things. 1 central computer with different user accts, and lightweight wireless access points would be awesome
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