HP updates client and virtualisation lines

HP has rolled out an update for its thin client and virtualisation platforms, adding three new devices to its Smart Client and Thin Client brands.

The "zero client" T5335z and T5565z systems support workstation virtualisation platforms from VMware, Citrix and Microsoft.

The systems also support repurposing, allowing them to be reused to function as clients for different platforms.

HP believes that making the hardware independent of the client platform allows the Smart Client line to be more flexible and better able to handle migration plans.

The company has also added to its Thin Client mobile line designed for remote workers. The 6360t sports a 13.3in screen and runs Microsoft Windows Embedded.

Thin clients remain a small part of the desktop computing market, but companies have shown growing interest in the cost and security advantages of running end-user systems as virtualised instances on a server.

The new releases from HP come as much of the industry is focusing on the virtualisation and client markets at the Citrix Synergy conference in San Francisco. Citrix has used the conference to push its virtualisation and cloud computing platforms such as Project Olympus.

HP also gave a nod to Citrix in announcing its new client hardware noting that, although the zero client systems will be platform-neutral, they have been optimised for the Citrix XenDesktop platform to add features such as 1080p video support.

"Only HP, the worldwide market share leader in thin clients, has the depth of expertise and global scale to meet customer requirements from the datacentre to the end point in client virtualisation and cloud computing deployments," said HP director of commercial desktop and thin client marketing Jeff Groudan.

"With industry-leading flexibility and performance at the lowest price points, these new offerings reinforce our leadership in this market and commitment to delivering the best possible experiences in Citrix environments."

The company is also planning to release a reference architecture for companies looking to install a client computing platform. HP said that the architecture provides a blueprint for server, client and networking hardware and software which could support Citrix XenDesktop or Microsoft Hyper-V.