HP's New Line of Thin Clients Look to Add VAR Value

Aiming to increase its profile in the thin client space, HP is replacing its current line of thin clients with new, upgraded devices designed to increase the value proposition for its channel partners. So what’s included in the T5500 series, and how can VARs benefit from the new technology? Tad Bodeman, HP Americas’ thin client solutions manager, offered some details:

“We’re focusing on continuing to make thin client computing easier for the VARs and resellers to deploy. We’re improving the end-user experience [and] continuing to push the envelope,” and working to make thin clients more affordable by pricing them at $249 a seat to start, he said.

HP’s thin clients stand apart from its peers because of its performance, Bodeman said, which can create multiple opportunities for the reseller community.

“We’re significantly improving performance, driving our end-user experience,” he noted. “[We’re] making sure that [the thin clients] are going to support high-performance protocols like Citrix, HDX and real multimedia experiences.”

VARs and resellers working with HP have a chance to differentiate themselves from those who just sell a Windows 7 PC, he said, especially since the HP thin clients work out of the box with Citrix, VMware, Microsoft and web-based virutalization solutions.

HP thin clients also come equipped with “HP Easy Tools” that make it simple for the reseller to deploy and thereby lowering the expertise needed to sell the solution. What’s more, the technology is platform-agnostic. “We’re not driving customers to lock into one thing,” Bodeman said.

The new T5500 series (HP T5550, T5565, T5570) features the following tech specs:

Although HP isn’t launching any specific VAR incentives around the thin clients, Bodeman noted the company is planning on creating aggressive programs based around the thin client portfolios to attract resellers. Bodeman also cited an IDC report that lists HP as the top thin-client market share leader — a position it has held since 2007. Those are some interesting figures, so we’ll be sure to keep our eyes and ears open on HP’s thin client solutions and see how they stack up against other 2011 competitors.

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