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thin client

Alternative to desktop PC's. Often with no moving parts (eg hard drive, fans) - low power in terms of processor speed and electrical consumption. Relies on server infrastructure to run applications and process data. In fact, these products come in a range of thin-ness from thin to tubby - depending on how reduced the processing and storage capability is compared to a "fat" PC. Extreme thin clients are sometimes called "Zero Clients" - and may have extremely low power consumption (say 4 Watts) - and can even be designed within a form factor which resides within an enclosure resembling an electrical wall socket but with keyboard, screen and mouse connectors in the place of a mains connector.

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Wikipedia: thin client
2DeCipher: thin client

Thin Client

Thin Client is a term which refers to an alternative to a traditional PC which boasts a smaller footprint on the desk (sometimes none!), far less power consumption, no moving parts so lasts longer, highly secure because no software can be installed by the user - and is far less to purchase than a PC. But this is not the complete picture ...

Terminology Made Simple: 

Desktop Virtualisation

If you have visited the Server Virtualisation page, you will know that a server consists of Hardware, Operating System and Software Applications. This is equally true of a PC - not surprisingly when you consider Industry Standard Servers evolved from PC's. So in exactly the same way that a server can be virtualised by encapsulating the Operating System and Software Applications into a Virtual Machine - so can a PC.

PC Virtualised

Terminology Made Simple: