Over the last decade or so, corporate developers and enterprise software vendors have swung from a technology paradigm focussed on building and delivering client-server applications to that of building on the Internet, and in particular the Web. Now, as we move into the era of software-as-a-service, cloud-computing, and desktop virtualisation, the role of the PC looks set to change yet again, as the concept of “the network is the computer” gains momentum.

Despite the change in application delivery architectures, software runtime environments, and end user computing devices, organisations continue to stick with what they know best: the Windows-based PC. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt may well inhibit many organisations from deploying alternatives to the traditional ‘Wintel’ desktop, but IT managers are duty-bound to consider the options before them. The challenge, therefore, is to identify which of these options is viable given the technical, operational, and budgetary constraints of the organisation.

Starting at the hardware level, a great deal of time and effort can be saved by deploying the right ‘piece of kit’ to the end user. This could be anything from a traditional ‘hot device’, such as a desktop PC or a laptop, to a ‘cool’ terminal or display-only device. Indeed, with smart phones and netbooks gaining in popularity, the concept of a ‘corporate computing device’ is being stretched considerably.

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