Strategic Systems has been selling CLI products and services since our inception in 1992. CLI has been in the i-Series and Mainframe business for over 25 years designing a plug compatible terminal that provided i-Series and Mainframe customers an alternative to IBM. The products were so successful that IBM attempted to remarket them in the 1990s. Why is this important to thin client users today? The microcode and emulation products that are integrated in the CLI thin clients are the mature industry leading code that has impressed IBM and customers for years. If you process on an IBM System i or System p, then you owe it to yourself to try a CLI thin client. The reliability and compatibility is outstanding. Because of the CLI code embedded in both WIN XPe and WIN CE OS, the product is generally faster and more reliable than the competition. If you are a Citrix ICA user, you will recognize the same great compatibility that our i-Series customers have experienced for years.
CLI Thin Clients at a Glance:
- The compact design, integrated wireless and embedded, secure, locked-down operating system provide the perfect combination of security and ease of use both our IT department and end users' demand.
- Flexible mounting options, its very small size, no fan or moving parts, and very low power usage allow you to place the device in the most demanding locations. The integrated VESA mounting capability allows you to a wide number of mounting and placement options.
- The physical device is intrinsically secure because no data is stored on it, ensuring regulatory compliance and simplified device maintenance.
- CLI Device Management gives you great flexibility and lower costs. Every CLI thin client comes bundled with CLI SNMP Administrator, an intuitive, easy to use, powerful thin client management tool. You can configure, clone, shadow, update and inventory all your CLI thin client terminals from the CLI management console.
Some of the products our customers have purchased include:
No matter the thin client application, CLI has a device for you! Call us at 919-567-0202 for your "no strings attached" demonstration unit.
Why Select Thin Clients for the Desktop When Choosing an IT Model?
Companies are constantly evaluating and re-evaluating their IT models. Having the right IT model in place can be the difference between success and failure in the marketplace. But many times, companies are faced with what appear to be conflicting wants and needs when upgrading their current IT models.
The IT "Challenge"
When evaluating IT models, users typically want things such as simplicity and ease of use, access to all their old data and applications, and higher performance. IT managers want flexibility, easy administration and management, reduced failure rates, "bulletproof" security, compatibility with future environments, and scalability. And "corporate" needs competitive advantage, increased productivity, better return on investment, and lower Total Cost of Ownership. These sometimes conflicting wants and needs create a daunting "challenge" for IT managers.
Total Cost of Ownership
Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO, is a concept used to better understand the cost drivers of deployment of a particular IT model. Sometimes only the up-front procurement costs are considered when comparing IT models. But TCO takes into account not only the procurement costs, but also the back-end and ongoing administrative, management and usage costs of IT models over their useful lifetimes. The choice of IT model can greatly impact many drivers of TCO.
Deciding on The Right IT Model to Use
There are several different IT models to choose from:
Distributed Computing Using PCs for the Desktops
One typical IT model is distributed computing, or sometimes called stand-alone computing. The server is used to interconnect and coordinate the various desktop computers, data, network resources, etc. On the user desktop, all applications are deployed, supported, and executed. All primary data is stored on the desktop, and the desktop device is a PC. Databases, print jobs, etc., travel across the network (or the Internet.).
Using distributed computing with PCs has a number of pros, including the ability to display high-resolution / color graphics, access to thousands of off-the-shelf Windows applications, ability to run multiple sessions / windows, flexibility, and broad connectivity.
However, it also brings a number of cons, including higher acquisition price, costly administration, difficult to manage, lower reliability / useful life, high power consumption, and tough to secure. It also has a very high TCO. Estimates put TCO, including staff costs, between $6k and $13k per year per PC.
Server-based Computing Using Text Terminals for the Desktops
Another typical IT model is server-based computing, or sometimes called server-centric, centralized, or application server. All applications are deployed, supported, and executed on the server, not on the user desktop. And all data is stored on the server. On the user desktop, applications are only displayed, not executed. And the desktop device is a text terminal. Only keystrokes and screen images travel across the network (or the Internet).
Using server-based computing with text terminals has a number of pros, including low acquisition price, easy administration and management, high reliability / long useful life, low power consumption, high security, and extreme simplicity.
However, it also brings a number of cons, including no graphics display, no access to Windows applications, single session only, inflexibility, and limited connectivity.
Server-based Computing Using CLI Thin Clients for Desktops
CLI thin clients are simple devices that are used for information display. CLI thin clients do not "run" applications, but can display any application containing graphics or text information.
Using server-based computing with CLI thin clients for the desktop device combines all the pros of server-based computing, PCs, and text terminals. The pros are the ability to display high resolution / color graphics, access to thousands of off-the-shelf Windows applications, ability to run multiple sessions, flexibility, broad connectivity, low acquisition price, easy administration and management, high reliability / long useful life, low power consumption, high security, extreme simplicity, and above all else, very low TCO. In fact, estimates put TCO between 20% and 75% less than that of PCs.
