Citrix XenDesktop 4 vs VMWare

Citrix pioneered desktop and application delivery over 20 years ago, and in recent years, they have been rapidly innovating with their industry leading XenDesktop product line. Since the initial launch of XenDesktop in 2008, Citrix has delivered three major product releases, offering unmatched capabilities, such as HDX and FlexCast delivery technology.

In contrast, competitive products such as VMware View have remained relatively static in terms of innovation and new functionality. Only Citrix XenDesktop 4 delivers:

• The best type of virtual desktop for every user in your enterprise

• A high definition user experience, assuring performance over LAN and WAN connections

• Instant and secure access to desktops from any device, anytime, anywhere without any compromises

• The ability to manage fewer desktop images and reduce management costs with on-demand apps by XenApp

• The best data security and access control with rich set of policies

• An open architecture, ensuring support for any hypervisor, storage or network devices

Read the whitepaper “Citrix XenDesktop 4: The clear choice for desktop virtualization”

Check out the XenDesktop vs VMWare comparison report

ThinPrint .print 8.0 – new features and functions

ThinPrint .print Version 8.0 includes new, significant enhancements to the .print Application Server Engine for your application and/or terminal servers, as well as the .print Server Engine for use with dedicated print servers. Both products enable you to manage your printing environment more easily and clearly. Your users benefit from a much higher degree of user-friendliness. Here is an overview of the new features:

Simplified administration

• Installation via MSI
• Roll-out ThinPrint automatically throughout your company. The Unattended Installation option reduces your installation effort to a minimum.
• Install admin tools separately
• Simply install the .print admin tools on your administration computer and you can remotely configure .print throughout your company.
• Windows Server 2008 R2 server core support
• Use ThinPrint .print on very powerful servers equipped with Windows Server 2008 R2 Core.
• Use AutoConnect as a Group Policy (GPO)
• Simplified use of printer templates and network sharing in the Dynamic Printer Matrix
• Session-in-Session support

Improved user-friendliness

• Live updating of locally connected printers
• Turbo-mapping accelerates your session start
• Automatic transfer of local printing options
• Free configuration of the print option transfer
• Printing options in 15 languages

Gain and maintain an overview

• Completely revised user interface and MMC snap-in
• Customized installation scale
• Hints and tips right where you need them
• An even better overview of your printer landscape
• AutoConnect now even better
• AutoConnect Diagnostics
• Enhanced .print Tracking Service

Thanks to the new .print 8.0 user interface, AutoConnect is now even more user-friendly. Configuration changes, checks and error searches are considerably easier. And with the help of the new AutoConnect diagnostics interface, administrators can recognize problems before a user even notices them.

Summary of the most important AutoConnect features:

• .print AutoConnect Diagnostics allows effective printer mapping control.
• Instant Search in the dynamic printer matrix and the map additional printers table enable easy configuration checks and error searches.
• The Dynamic Printer Matrix templates or network paths can be entered easily via a drop down menu or via the Active Directory search.
• When setting-up the standard printer the administrator can choose if he wants to give preference to the client's standard printer or the server.
• Group Policies (GPO) simplify the printer mappings administration.

Citrix Synergy 2010

Where virtualization, networking and cloud computing meet

Citrix Synergy is the industry’s only conference focused on the growing convergence between virtualization, networking and cloud computing and how it can solve real business problems. It’s an open exchange of ideas, technology innovations and real-world experiences on how to deliver just about any desktop, application, media or service to any user, anywhere. As a result, Synergy provides the best value for your conference dollar by pulling together the foremost experts in virtualization, networking and cloud computing all in one event. You’ll return to the office knowing specifically how to build a simpler and more cost-efficient computing environment that will put your organization at the forefront of the coming on-demand IT services era.

Synergy 2010 is a global conference featuring a two-event structure to cover North America in spring and Europe in fall. The spring event will take place May 12-14 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, California, a cosmopolitan city offering a wealth of cultural and recreational attractions.

We invite you to explore the complete Synergy site to learn more about the San Francisco event, including, agenda, session content, venue and special activities, awards, environmental initiatives, and money-saving offers and promotions.

If you can only attend one conference in 2010, Synergy is the one. Position your business to succeed in a rapidly changing world, and join us at Synergy.

For more information, or to register, go to http://www.citrixsynergy.com/

Introducing Citrix XenApp 6

Citrix is pleased to announce that Citrix XenApp 6 for Windows Server 2008 R2 will be available for electronic download March 24, 2010!

With more than 230,000 customers and over 100 million users worldwide, Citrix XenApp is the de facto standard in on-demand application delivery to both virtual and physical desktops. It is the most cost-effective and secure way to manage and deliver applications, while providing users personalized, self-service access to applications from any device.

Purpose-built for Windows Server 2008 R2, XenApp 6 introduces exciting new features and enhancements for advanced management and scalability, a rich multi-media experience over any network and self-service applications and universal device support from PC to Mac to smartphone.

Key Features of XenApp 6


Enterprise-class scalability

• Built for Windows Server 2008 R2 - Increase scalability of your XenApp farm with up to 15% more users per server and take advantage of the enhancements and optimizations made to the newest Microsoft operating system.
• Simple, fast product installation - Install XenApp in half the time with role-based setup wizards and simplified server deployment.
• AppCenter - Simplify application management with a single, more intuitive console to perform management tasks.
• Seamless integration with Microsoft management tools - Streamline application management using familiar Active Directory group policies and automate management workflows using PowerShell.

High definition user experience

• HDX RealTime collaboration - Enable real-time audio and video collaboration using Microsoft Office Communicator and VoIP softphones.
• HDX RealTime audio - Ensure CD quality audio while using 90% less bandwidth.
• HDX Plug-n-Play for Windows portable USB devices - Ensure a seamless user experience with expanded USB support for POS interfaces, webcams, microphones, scanners, digital cameras and more.

Self-service apps

• Self-service app storefront - Deliver self-service access to the applications users need with Citrix Dazzle, the first self-service storefront for enterprise applications.
• App-V integration - Manage and deliver both Citrix and Microsoft virtual applications on demand from a single point with Microsoft App-V.

Any device, anywhere

• Citrix Receiver for Windows, Mac & Linux - Deliver applications on demand to Windows, Mac and Linux desktops using a single, auto-updating client.
• Expanded plug-in support for Citrix Receiver - Ensure high performance access to more applications and services than ever before with new Receiver plug-ins for WAN acceleration, Single sign-on, and EasyCall voice communications.
• Citrix Receiver for iPhone and Android - Give users ultimate mobility with access to corporate applications from the palm of your hand with popular smartphones, including iPhone, Windows Mobile, and now Android.

Hear why XenApp 6 is the de facto standard in application delivery to any desktop.

Reasons to Virtualize Your Workplace

Saves Money- Rented office space costs an average of $33 per square foot (per year). According to InnoVisions Canada, companies can eliminate one office for every three telecommuters. AT&T reduced its office-space costs by 50% by virtualizing their office, and Merrill Lynch saves $6,000 per year for each office they eliminate!


Increases Productivity- Telecommuters are more productive. According to a 2008 survey by CompTIA, 67% of respondents said their organizations were more productive thanks to part-time and full-time commuting. Also, American Express claims their telecommuters produce 43% more business than office workers!


Increases Employee Retention- In CompTIA's 2008 survey, 37% of respondents said telecommuting improves employee retention. Another 39% said they have access to more qualified personnel, who don't always live within commuting distance, thanks to telecommuting. Furthermore, Telecommuting, at least part-time, can reduce stress and keep key people from leaving your organization. That kind of give and take has the added bonus of building company loyalty.


It’s Green- A study commissioned by the US Consumer Electronics Association reported that telecommuting saves 9 to 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year- the equivalent of one million U.S. households. That means energy savings for your company. The study also estimated that 3.9 million telecommuters reduce fuel consumption by about 840 million gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 14 million tons. (Information gathered from TechRepublic)

ThinPrint .print Engine 8.0 Release

The new ThinPrint .print Version 8.0, which will be available in the beginning of 2010, blazes new trails in the area of "cutting costs." It simplifies your entire print management, saving valuable work time for your customers' system administration and users and also provides comprehensive cost transparency with respect to the printing behavior in their company.


Both the system administration and users will save valuable work time with respect to printing and print management:
• Improved ThinPrint .print snap-in for Microsoft Management Console: All important print management status functions at a glance
• Even faster with .print AutoConnect: Configuration, adjustment and operation now extremely simple
• Printer mapping now also on the basis of Group Policies
• Control over all active printer mappings at all times with new AutoConnect Diagnostics
• Automatic use of local printing options: Even in a remote session or in the case of access on a virtualized desktop
• Session-in-Session support, including in scenarios with distributed or virtualized applications - without additional configuration expense or unfamiliar printer names
• Expanded possibilities of the .print Tracking Service

Check out the complete feature overview and first screenshots at http://www.thinprint.com/Default.aspx?alias=www.thinprint.com/8-0