In use
For everyday applications, the X300 works remarkably well. We completed most of our workload test -- a mixture of word processing, spreadsheet creation and web browsing -- on four seats (three X300 terminals plus the host) without any noticeable performance problems. However, the final part of the test, which involved playing a YouTube video, did max out the 2.8GHz Pentium 4 processor on our testbed host PC, causing many dropped frames.
Starting a YouTube video on one, two, three and then four X300 stations progressively loads the CPU until it reaches 100 percent, whereupon performance degrades noticeably.
Another drawback with the X300 is that the display resolution on the access terminals is limited to a maximum of XGA (1,024 by 768) at 16-bit colour depth. For best image quality, the displays used should have the same native 1,024 by 768 resolution.
Power consumption
Because the power consumption of the X300 hardware itself is less than 5 Watts, the power drawn by a complete installation is determined largely by the displays and host PC used. Using a typical desktop host PC such as our 2.8GHz Pentium 4 system and four 15in. XGA-resolution LCD monitors, this might add up to around 120W on average, giving each user a 30W power requirement.
In our workload test, which involved typing a short (187-word) document, creating a small spreadsheet with a graph, browsing a couple of web sites and playing a You Tube video, we measured an average power draw of 29.2W per user and a peak of 40.2W. The monitor used to calculate these figures was a 15in. XGA-resolution NEC AccuSync LCD52VM, which draws 15W with the brightness set to 50 percent.
Conclusion
If you can handle its limitations on cable length, video resolution and high-end application performance, NComputing's X300 has a lot to offer in terms of purchase and running cost, power consumption, manageability and security. Apart from anything else, a host PC and three access terminals takes up considerably less physical space than four typical desktop PCs, which could be an important consideration in many organisations.
The NComputing X300 is available in Australia through Ingram Micro.
13%
1%
This is being used in Schools around the world, most recently 180,000 seats in Europe. Imagine how the Digital Education Revolution policy could work at $100 a seat !
The good: Less structured cabling, very low upfront and ongoing costs, 99% less power consumption.
The bad: Resolution - max 17" monitor