Microsoft has announced the Release Candidate (RC) for Windows Thin PC (WinTPC), available for download from the
WinTPC RC site.
Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) will be made available as an Microsoft Software
Assurance (SA) benefit, and Microsoft's customers with active SA or Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) on their Windows PCs will be able to deploy Windows Thin PC to their environments after RTM.
Windows Thin PC provides a low footprint, locked down
version of Windows 7 that enables organizations to repurpose existing
PCs as thin clients, thereby reducing the need for new thin client
hardware. And since these PCs retain their existing SA coverage, they
do not need any additional Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA)
licensing for Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Suites.
WinTPC offers a thin client experience by locking down
the PC through write filters, while still providing users with a remote desktop experience through RemoteFX support. IT can
deploy and manage WinTPC images for multiple PCs using System
Center Configuration Manager, and push updates to these PCs using
Windows Update or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
Additionally, WinTPC leverages Windows Enterprise features such
as BitLocker and AppLocker to further secure the endpoint.
The company launched the Windows Thin PC Community Technology Preview (CTP) program on March 28.
Microsoft also plans to released WinTPC to Manufacturing (RTM) within this quarter (Q2 CY2011).