Simple
Simple thin client desktops are appliance-like devices that access server-based Windows applications. They offer excellent performance at a low price. In server-based Windows computing, you normally run multi-user Windows on a centrally managed server and use either the Citrix ICA or the Microsoft RDP protocol to remotely display on a user's desktop what is running on the server. On a simple appliance, everything happens on the server. Any application you want to run, from payroll to a browser, runs on the server. If you do plan on using a browser, consider stepping up...

Powerful
Powerful thin clients desktops do everything simple ones do, but they also do more! For one, powerful clients have a basic web browser built right into them, so they run web applications without placing an extra burden on your servers. In addition, powerful clients support Citrix NFuse and legacy dumb terminal emulation. Choose powerful thin clients to access simple intranet HTML pages and as a great transitional replacement for green-screen terminals. If you need to access the Web in general, consider moving to...

Flexible
Flexible thin clients do everything that simple and powerful clients do, but they have two very special added features! For one thing, they provide the latest, greatest and richest general Internet Web browsing. And because they are based on operating systems like Microsoft Windows NT Embedded, XP Embedded and Linux, they also can run applications locally (which means right on the client, instead of on the server). Why run an application on a thin client? There are three reasons: 1.) Some applications just don't behave in a Terminal Services environment, 2.) For a fault-tolerant network, such as a retail terminal that can still ring-up sales even if the WAN goes down, and 3.) Some applications, such as graphically intensive ones, have special needs for performance or perhaps a second video card. Choose flexible thin clients if you want to access complex web pages that need a full Internet Explorer browser, with multimedia plug-in support; custom applications such as bar-code scanner software burned into Flash memory and running locally (like a solid-state PC); and for access to a broad range of drivers and peripherals.

Basic
On a basic chassis, you get limited ability to hook up peripherals. Typically, you just get USB ports. And keep in mind that your thin client OS must support the devices you want to plug in. There are standalone basic chassis and integrated basic chassis. Basic standalone chassis are very small- about the size of a piece of paper folded in half, and they can be nicely mounted to be unobtrusive, as well. Basic integrated chassis also just have USB ports, and come in two varieties- CRT integrated and LCD (flat-panel) integrated. CRT integrated clients are ideal single-button replacements for old dumb terminals. Flat-panel integrated chassis are wonderful where space, power, consumption, heat generation and/or sleek looks are important. (NOTE: Wyse offers USB to parallel and USB to Serial cable adapters to allow certain "legacy" peripherals to work with the USB port on a basic chassis.

Standard
A standard chassis typically adds parallel and serial (legacy) ports. Because not all popular peripherals (credit cards wipers, bar-code scanners, receipt printers, etc.) are available in USB versions, Wyse still designs, sells and supports a wide variety of standard chassis. Exact chassis details (number and types of ports) are available on the product spec sheets.

Expanded
An expanded chassis offers "something more". Some have a PCI/ISA card slot for carder expansion. Some have CD-ROM and floppy disk drive options. If you need the benefits and manageability of a thin client but have expansion requirements of a PC, then consider a thin client with an expanded chassis. Check out the details on the specific product spec sheets.