New Release: Microsoft Windows Thin PC

Microsoft has released Windows Thin PC (WinTPC), a new Windows 7 version tailored for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) access, making it Generally Available (GA) at July 1st this year for customers who use Microsoft Software Assurance (SA).

Windows Thin PC, which was announcedin January this year is a smaller footprint, locked down version of Windows 7, which enables customers to install this windows version on existing PCs repurposing them as thin clients which can be used to access Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) environments. PCs with WinTPC installed do not require a Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) license, in contradiction to regular clients who want to access a VDI environment. WinTPC is comparable with Windows XP Fundamentals, which was revealed in 2005.

Compared to the public Community Technology Preview, which was released in March this year, Microsoft included some new features for this RTM Release:

• Keyboard Filter, providing the ability to lock certain keyboard key combinations.
• International Input Method Editor Support, allowing support for international keyboards
• Key Management Server (KMS)/Multiple Activation Key(MAK) activation mechanism support

Microsoft is also planning to add Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) support to WinTPC in the Q3 of 2011. Also the Citrix Receiver will be made available for WinTPC, so that XenApp and XenDesktop can be made available. For management System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), and Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 can be used.