Specifications

Imagine the money you’d save if you could
run a whole office or computer lab from
one PC. In this scheme, each workstation
would have nothing more than a moni-
tor, keyboard, mouse, and small box that
clones the host computer. A few compa-
nies are making that vision possible with
desktop virtualization.
Unlike thin clients of the past, which
were slower and shoddier than traditional
PCs, “the [virtual desktop] user experience
is no different from having a full-fledged
PC,” says Michael Rose, an analyst with the
research fi rm IDC.
One company, Pano Logic, has created a
sleek, palm-size device that, with no CPU,
memory, OS, or software, clones Micro-
soft Windows XP or Vista systems from
a server to workstations. And NComput-
ing, has a system that harnesses one PC’s
untapped power and deploys its resources.
Desktop virtualization can also provide
companies with tighter data security by
restricting USB privileges and storing all
data and software on a server. If someone
steals a virtualization device, no informa-
tion is lost. Virtual desktops offer another
benefi t for our eco-conscious times: They
consume a fraction of the energy used by a
traditional PC lab. And because they have
less hardware, fewer parts will go to the
e-waste graveyard.
NComputing has already deployed
more than 500,000 workstations in 70
countries. In the U.S., North Carolina’s
McDowell School District purchased
NComputing technology last year to
upgrade its computers at a cost of $250
to $350 per workstation. Barry Pace, the
district’s tech director, admits that vir-
tual desktops are not problem-free: If one
computer freezes, all the workstations
freeze with it. But overall, Pace says, he
is pleased with the solution. “We were
able to eliminate 900 to 1,000 legacy desk-
tops in one school year, and we wouldn’t
have been able to do so otherwise.”
—Heather Eng
18 PC MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 6, 2007
GEARLOG
A Superior Gaming Mouse
At the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft unveiled its Side-
Winder gaming mouse ($79.95) to fi ll the void in gaming hardware custom-
ization. It’s designed to be more ergonomic, with its two vertical side buttons,
a wide metal scroll wheel, and four balanced weights. Its Quick Turn capabil-
ity, which lets gamers check their position wherever they are in the game,
requires just a click of a button. For more gaming customization, the Side-
Winder offers changeable feet for different glide preferences, a cable anchor
(which doubles as the weight tray), and three DPI switches. Perhaps the most
innovative feature is the gaming mouse’s LCD (yes, it has an LCD!). It’s meant
to make it easy to keep track of key gaming actions—including DPI and steps
for recording macros.—Jennifer L. DeLeo
For more gear, show reports, and product news, visit Gearlog
at www.gearlog.com
Computer Labs on a Budget
Desktop virtualization promises dramatic cost and energy savings for businesses and schools.
FRONTSIDE
BUDGET LEARNING A school in North Car-
olina using NComputing’s virtualization lab.
User 1
User 2 User 3 User 4
User 5 User 6 User 7
PCI Card
Host
Computer
In NComputing's X-Series desktop virtualization scheme, each workstation connects to the host computer via a terminal box, which
links with the host system via PCI Card. The host computer's resources are divided among the terminals while giving each worksta-
tion its own independent experience.
Desktop Virtualization: How it Works