Windows Thin PC set to transform old PCs into thin clients

Microsoft has announced a release candidate version of its forthcoming Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) software, designed to turn an organisation's existing PCs into thin clients. Release to manufacturing will follow later this quarter.

Microsoft describes the product as a "low footprint, locked down version of Windows 7 that enables organisations to repurpose existing PCs as thin clients, thereby reducing the need for new thin client hardware".

The WinTPC Community Technology Preview programme kicked off on 28 March and has already generated thousands of downloads of the software, said Karri Alexion-Tiernan, director of product management for Microsoft Desktop Virtualisation, in a blog post.

"Customers like the reduced footprint of WinTPC - the machines they will likely use it on often have less disk space than brand new machines and WinTPC helps to ensure they will have adequate space," she said.

"They also like the write filters which are helping customers to secure the device running WinTPC by preventing them from saving data or installing applications locally, and they're also pleased they can leverage their existing System Center products for management and deployment."

Those customers not signed up to the Community Technology Preview programme will not have too much longer to wait to get their hands on the software, however, with a release to manufacturing date set for later this quarter, she explained.

"Windows Thin PC will be made available as a Software Assurance benefit, and customers with active Software Assurance or Windows Virtual Desktop Access on their Windows PCs will be able to deploy WinTPC to their environments after release to manufacturing," said Alexion-Tiernan.