SoThin's Blog - www.sothin.net

SoThin stands among giants...

2010-08-23T07:57:00.001-07:00

...in this years PC Pro’s Editorial Awards for Environmental Innovator of the year, competing directly with Google, Intel, Samsung, VMWare and AMD to name but a few!

PC Pro have just announced the finalists in it’s editorial and reader-voted Reliability & Service Awards 2010

The Awards are the most prestigious in the IT industry for good reason. These awards aren’t judged by the number of "votes" (all that does is rewards the company with the largest client base) but on the quality of service and products.

SoThin are very proud to announce they have made it through to the final 10 for the editorial award for Environmental Innovator of the Year, an award and category that seeks innovations in IT policies or products that improve, or have the potential to improve, environmental well being.

SoThin's MD invited to partake in expert panel

2010-08-23T07:56:00.001-07:00

In the July issue of PCR Magazine, SoThin'sMmanaging Director James Dempsey, along with other panelists, was invited to give his thoughts on the role of IT in the business world at this, the "recovery" point of the global recession.

To quote James:

"We've gone through a recession and if it hasn't taught us to prepare for a rainy day, then the business doesn't deserve to be there." "Even after the recession - if we can be so bold as to put it that way - companies still need to maximise their resources, whether its people, time or money.

"I think it's more about the whole centralised computing model, whether it's our Thin Client, virtualisation, cloud based; they're all the same thing, it's just a different name for a different back-end.

"Companies will start to make big moves towards virtualisation and cloud computing"

See the whole article on pages 69 to 74 of PCR:

SoThin nominated in the Green IT Awards 2010

2010-08-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

SoThin have been nominated for one to watch product and company at this years Green IT Awards

1. Increse the lifecycle of a PC
2. Reduce power consumed
3. Reduce the support journeys
4. Encourage remote working, reduce those journeys to work

The SoThin Suite - please vote for us at www.greenitawards.com

SoThin ThinPackage Review

2010-08-10T04:29:00.000-07:00

In Julys PcPRO 2010 Magazine, SoThin's ThinPackage is reviewed and recieves an overall rating of 5/6! http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews

SoThin features in the latest PCR Magazine March 2O1O Edition - Issue 78.

2010-03-10T08:13:00.000-08:00

PCR is a leading IT Hardware & Software Resellers/Distributors publication. Please review SoThin ThinPackage - Remote Working! on page 58, Hardware - Networking and page 64 for the annual PCR Awards finalists listing. SoThin is in good company amongst the likes of Dell, Microsoft, Symantec, Acer and other leading organisations.

Remote Working - made simple

2010-03-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

SoThin Ltd: Sales Director speaks about Remote Working at Insight UK’s Public Sector Rally on the 4th of March 2010. See our new website: http

Today we reveal Thin Package Remote Working

2010-02-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

Making remote working simple, easy and affordable -go look –
http://www.sothin.net/thinpackage

SoThin announced 2010 Finalist for the PCR Award

2010-01-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Shortlist of the finalist for the PCR Awards has been announced. The award, which acknowledges frontline distributors and venders are sponsored by Symantec, Intera, Kingston, Interactive Ideas, Sapphire, EntaTech,AMD, Ingram Micro, Gem. SoThin will be in the Specialist vendor’s category along side: Entanet, Billion, Kingston Technology, StarTech Hannspree.

BYOPC, what’s it all about?

2009-12-22T06:12:00.001-08:00

Who has considered the “Bring Your Own PC” (BYOPC) concept other than organisations like us, the vendors of the “BYOPC-Enablers?” It all sounds good on paper but what does it bring to the green arena that has not already been thought of, and is it just marketing or does it hold its own when scrutinised?
Let’s look at what it actually means first:
In layman’s terms, users get to bring their own devices (laptops or PC’s), ones which they provide and are used to working on – this gives them satisfaction but can it increase workflow and productivity?
Does it decrease the demand for hardware and therefore scoring carbon brownie points for the organisation?
In today’s move towards centralised computing is this decentralising it again?
And what about data security and virus risks, will it create more management overheads for the IT Support Teams or empower users to self support their own devices?
What about the impacts it has on decommissioning the user’s current devices – recycling tin, deleting data form the hard drives, the WEEE directive, not to mention the time and space this all requires!
So who can benefit then?
Well mobile workers and “hot deskateers” are already in the mind set, and don’t they seem to be happy bunnies?
And show me an FD who’s not thinking about the bottom line and wouldn’t welcome the cost savings of a skipped hardware refresh?
So, taking it at face value, who should consider a BYOPC network?
In our opinion, everything in moderation; the next time you find yourselves reviewing IT policies, give it some thought, it may suit an office, a department or even just a team but one thing is certain, any organisation that doesn’t purchase hardware will save time, save money and reduce their carbon foot print.
Let’s see how it all pans out!

Replacing a PC, what does it really cost?

2009-12-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

When was the last time your organisation took a complete look at the real, hidden and inconsequential costs of replacing a PC? What do we typically consider the purchase price only? The time it takes to un-box, build and hand it over to the end user? Are there any other costs, really?

What's in a PC?
Material
Proportion
Plastic
23%
Ferrous metals
32%
Non-ferrous metals
18%
Electronic boards
12%
Glass
15%

A single computer can contain up to 2kg of
lead, and the complex mixture of materials
make PCs very difficult to recycle
What about the green costs, such as the production of packaging – cardboard, polystyrene, plastics; and then there’s the disposal of the very same materials, probably only ever in your possession for a day, or a week? What about the other parts?

Do you ever consider the manufacturing costs on the environment, and how about distribution, from the component to the warehouse to the shipping and on to the chugging diesel van just pulled up outside with your new delivery – have you just made your very own contribution to global warming?

Should we take a leaf out of the post war veterans – make do or mend? Well the Government seem to think so; they’ve gone as far as replacing the three R’s…

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

So the next time you face a hardware refresh consider the alternatives, or at the very least donate to a charity, they’ll be glad to expand the usable lifecycle beyond the standard three years!

Repurposing your old devices

2009-10-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Disposing of aging devices and replacing them with new devices has always been a sore point for many organisations, due to the associated costs, not to mention the environmental impact. The recession however has made many organisations re-evaluate their IT policies, with the view to significantly cutting costs. This has lead to a growing interest in the repurposing and recycling of aging devices.

Understandably there is a huge buzz around technologies like Thin Client computing, Virtual Computing, Application Streaming and Cloud computing. What all of these technologies share is a common principle of server based computing. This is a principle SoThin have been advocating for many years, producing a range of software focusing on the conversion of desktops to work as enablers for server based computing technologies. This article highlights the benefits of using SoThin Thin Client in conjunction with these technologies.

Some of the many benefits of server based computing include:

· Reduced management costs as fewer devices require day to day support
· Patch management is significantly reduced as the clients require fewer updates
· Flexibility – Server based computing allows for remote access to data and applications
· Back end processing – processing on the desktop is significantly reduced as the servers now carry out the processing tasks, resulting in prolonged useable life cycle of desktops
· Reduced TCO due to the useable life cycle of the desktops being extended
· Roaming workers – Workers can move between desks and offices with no downtime
· Supports and is ready for BYOPC

What should you consider?

Whilst a lot of modern applications are designed to make the transition from the desktop to the server, there are a number of organisations still utilising older applications which are not supported on the server side. This can often lead to apprehension in the uptake of new technologies. SoThin addresses this by allowing local applications to continue to be utilised in addition to the server or streaming application connections.

So, what next?

SoThin Thin Client

SoThin Thin Client converts your PC’s and Laptops into Thin or Slim Clients and allows connections to local or remotely hosted Terminal, Citrix, Virtual and other servers as well as cloud based applications, local applications and local drives.

So what are the benefits?

· Convert any Windows desktop or laptop into a Thin Client (95 to XP – Plus Windows 7)
· Continue to use your required local applications
· Extend the useable lifecycle of your devices and lower the TCO
· Keep your existing devices, no need to purchase new devices
· Switch back to a Windows Desktop whenever you desire
· Centrally manage and update your devices from a Management Console
· Lock down your devices to use only specified connections and applications

>> Find out more about SoThin Thin Client and download a free trial at www.sothin.net/thinclient