Windows Thin PC Trial Software Now Available

Microsoft announced today that it has rolled out a public test version of its Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) software technology.

WinTPC is described by Microsoft as a "locked down version of Windows 7" that's designed to allow organizations to reuse their PCs, including older equipment, as thin clients. It's the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) successor to Microsoft's Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs solution, which is based on Windows XP Service Pack 3.

The WinTPC solution will be available to customers with the Software Assurance licensing option in place. Software Assurance is an added licensing cost that provides educational resources and no-cost software upgrades within the specific contract interval. However, even though users must have Software Assurance to use WinTPC, the community technology preview (CTP), announced today, will be open to all to try.

The public CTP of WinTPC is currently available at the Microsoft Connect portal here (requires Windows Live ID sign-up). At that page, look for the Windows Embedded Standard product, and there will be a link to join the WinTPC trial.



Microsoft Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) enables customers to repurpose existing PCs as thin clients by providing a smaller footprint; a locked down version of Windows 7. This provides IT with significant cost savings for their thin client computing model since WinTPC is a benefit of Software Assurance (SA) and does not require the Windows VDA license that other thin clients would need to access VDI desktops.

WinTPC empowers enterprises to maximize their end point hardware investments to access virtual desktops that are delivered using VDI or sessions. Windows Thin PC improves security and compliance on the device, by preventing data writes to disk. Leverage your existing management strategy and tools such as System Center to centrally manage Windows Thin PCs through accelerated role based deployment of applications, security patches, updates, and data. Windows Thin PC also provides IT with the flexibility to revert back to PCs if necessary, in case the thin client computing model does not provide the benefits they were after.

Microsoft recommends that customers begin their journey to thin clients by first repurposing existing PCs as thin clients with WinTPC and evaluate the benefits they would get with this architecture. Once WinTPC device hardware get decommissioned, customers can then purchase new Windows Embedded Thin Clients from our OEM partners without having to make changes to their existing management and security policies.

Click here to get a pre-release beta version of Windows Thin PC. We encourage you to evaluate the beta product, and provide us with feedback.

Rs 15,000-tablet PC from HCL

HCL Infosystems is all set to launch its range of made-in-India tablet PCs, with prices starting from about Rs 15,000. A formal announcement is expected this week, a source familiar with the development said.

"The Android-based HCL ME Tablets will be available in 7-inch and 10-inch screen sizes and three price points" Rs 14,990, Rs 25,790, and Rs 32,990.

HCL ME AE7-A1 Android Tablet Specifications:

• 7 inch" (800×480 pixels) Resistive Touch Display Screen
• Wireless 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• EVDO
• Bluetooth v2.0
• ARM 11, 800MHz Processor
• 256MB DDR2 RAM
• 2GB Internal memory+Micro SD Card Slot
• VGA Camera
• GPS
• SD/MMC Card Slot, USB 2.0
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Stereo Speakers
• Li-Po 2400mAH Battery
• Dimensions: 205.4 x 110.92 x 14mm
• Weight: 400gm

HTC FLYER Pictures and Specifications

HTC finally unveiled the HTC Flyer, the first Android tablet to be produced by the company. Announced on February 14, 2011, during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011, a quick look over the HTC Flyer Specs reveal that the tablet will run Android 2.3 OS and will be housing the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (1.5 GHz), combined with HSPA + technology. The HTC Flyer also features a 7” capacitive TFT, multi-touch screen display with a brilliant resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, 1GB RAM to handle multi-task apps, a rear-facing 5 MP auto-focus camera with LED flash, and a 1.3 Mp front-facing camera for video calls.

HTC Flyer Detailed Specs List

• OS: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
• Processor: 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with HSPA + technology
• Display: 7" capacitive multi-touch, TFT screen having resolution of 1024 X 600 pixels
• Network: HSPA/WCDMA: 900/AWS/2100 MHz Upload speed of up to 5.76 Mbps and download speed of up to 14.4 Mbps Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Memory: 1 GB of RAM , Micro SD memory card support, and 32 GB internal storage
• Battery: 4000 mAh capacity with Standby time up to 8-14 hrs (Video Playback max 4 hrs)
• Video Playback: 3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv (Windows Media Video 9), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3), .xvid (MP4 ASP and MP3) For Recording; .3gp
• Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP for wireless stereo headsets, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, 3.5 mm stereo audio jack, micro USB 2.0
• Audio Playback: aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9) For Recording; .amr, .aac
• Camera: 5 Mp rear-facing camera with auto focus and LED flash; & 1.3 Mp front-facing camera
• Weight: Around 415 grams with battery
• Dimensions (LxWxT): 195.4 x 122 x 13.2 mm
• Other Features: Internal GPS antenna with navigation system, GPS Sensors, Ambient light sensor, G-Sensor Digital compass, Accelerometer.

Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch (2011)

The combination of Intel’s latest Core i7 with the Sandy Bridge architecture and AMD’s potent new Radeon HD 6750 make the 17-inch MacBook Pro a capable workhorse, whether you’re piling up dozens of tabs researching or dabbling in video editing. Around the desktop, 4GB of RAM and a quad-core processor gives the MacBook plenty of headroom for multitasking, which is fortunate considering the 17-inch screen.

Despite packing a full-power Radeon HD 6750 inside, the MacBook actually retains onboard Intel HD graphics as well, and reverts to that chip to save battery when you’re not doing any heavy lifting. The transition is seamless: no warning, no black screen, no hiccups. The only indication we ever got that the Radeon was finally at work was a fan faintly whirring when we finally undertook some gaming.

And game it does. Though titles are hard to come by on OS X, what games you can play run marvelously. We were able to play Half Life 2 at native 1920 x 1200 resolution with every setting cranked to high, and frame rates never dropped below 90 fps.