NComputing is a company specializing in thin clients, which are low power computers that run code from one or more powerful servers, so for example you could edit photos in Photoshop running in Windows 10 using a Raspberry Pi 3 board connected to an HDMI display. That’s exactly what the company had done with RX300 “cloud-ready” thin client based on the Raspberry Pi 3, and optimized specifically for the company’s vSpace Pro desktop virtualization solution for Linux and Windows.
Ncomputing RX300 hardware specifications:
- Based on Raspberry Pi 3 model B board powered by Broadcom BCM2837 quad core Cortex A53 processor
- System Memory – 1GB RAM
- Storage – 8GB micro SD pre-loaded with software
- Video Output – 1x HDMI 1.4 port
- Audio – Via HDMI, 1x speaker jack (16bit/22kHz high quality audio)
- Connectivity – 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1
- USB – 4x USB 2.0 host ports with full USB redirection support (2 required for mouse and keyboard)
- Misc – Kensington security port, sleep mode button to disable display output for power saving mode
- Power Supply – 5.1V via micro USB port
The thin client supports virtual desktops from 9 Windows operating systems: Windows 10 / 8.1 / 7, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 U1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, and Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 / 2011. vSpace Pro 10 also supports VMWare & Citrix virtualization, so I assume this is how you could enable access to Linux distributions. Alternatively, the IT admin can also switch to “Raspbian Linux Mode” to use RX300 like any other Raspberry Pi 3 board.
RX300 thin client also supports 1920×1200 full screen video playback thanks to vCAST direct streaming technology, transparent USB redirection – meaning the server can access the local USB ports on RX300 -, and dual display configuration via an optional NComputing USB dongle (VGA or DVI). RX300 can also be mounted on the back of the monitor using a VESA mount kit.
NComputing solution are designed for small & medium businesses, schools and universities with IT admins managing a “fleet” of thin clients. If you want to do something similar at home, you can also use VNC with tools like TightVNC or DirectVNC. Performance may not be quite as optimized however, and you’ll lack all managements tools, which should not be needed at home anyway.
NComputing RX300 will start selling for $99 in March with one-year connection subscription to vSpace Pro 10 and a 6-month trial of vCAST streaming technology. After one year you’ll need to renew the license. Further details can be found on NComputing RX Series product’s page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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