The Windows Thin PC (hereinafter referred to as WTPC), which was officially released on July 1 (US time), has a slightly different OS from the previously released Windows 7.That's because the WTPC is designed as a client OS for accessing VDI.
This time, I would like to tell you the features and usability of this WTPC.
As mentioned above, WTPC is a client OS for accessing VDI.For this reason, the WTPC base OS uses Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1, which is called Windows 7 for embedded.
The Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1 is the same as Windows 7 in the OS kernel, but it is characterized by the fact that each system application is composed to form an OS that is perfect for embedded devices for specific applications.Of course, by deleting unnecessary components, the footprint of the OS can be reduced.
The WTPC is based on Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1, mainly composed of VDI access.In other words, it is possible to install WTCP on a slightly old PC that Windows XP/Vista is running and reuse it to a VDI client.
In the past, there is an OS called Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCS (Windows FLP), which was developed based on Windows XP Embedded, and WTPC has succeeded.Windows FLP was also made with the same concept as WTPC, aiming to reuse old PCs as thin clients.In a way, WTPC is a Windows FLP based on the latest Windows 7 base.
The reason why WTPC is not attracting much attention is the format.WTPC, unlike general Windows 7, is not sold in packages or bundled on a PC.Microsoft's license agreement (Software Asculance: SA) allows you to download it.
However, recently, the SA contract is provided in a set of security management cloud services, Windows Intune, so it is possible to obtain a Thin PC if you are a Windows Intune user.
[Apology and correction] At the first time, the WTPC was described as the benefits of MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack), but it was a SA benefit correctly.We apologize and correct.
The requirements for WTPC are 1 CPU.X86 (32-bit)/X64 (64-bit) with 0GHz or more, 1GB memory, 16GB HDD, CD/DVD-ROM, and graphic devices that support Direct X9 or higher.This is almost the same as Windows 7 operation requirements.
In an old PC that has operated the OS before Windows XP, graphic devices may be a problem, but if the PC that operated Windows Vista was operating, the graphic device is DirectX9, so it is operated by WTPC.Is no problem.
The WTPC is a 90 -day trial version on the Microsoft site.If you want to try it, please download it from a US site.
The installation of the WTPC itself is OK if you start the WTPC image from the burned DVD.By the way, Windows 7 USB DVD download tool (Microsoft), which writes the image of Windows 7 into a USB memory, could not copy the Bootable image of WTPC properly to the USB memory.If you use the tools of other companies that copy the ISO image to USB memory, you may be able to install WTPC from USB memory, but I haven't tried it this time.
The PC that installed the WTPC this time is Intel's DQ57TM motherboard, the CPU is the first generation Core i5-660, 4GB memory, and 500GB HDD.Although it does not go to the Windows Vista generation, it can be said that it is a PC specification that was the mainstream last year.
The installation itself, like Windows 7, had no trouble at all.However, drivers that were not in the Windows 7 package needed to be installed manually after restarting.This time, on the PC that installed the WTPC, I installed chipset INF drivers, graphic drivers, network drivers, sound drivers, etc.
| WTPCのインストールは英語で行われる。LanguageをJapanにすれば、日本語キーボード対応、IME2010、日本語フォントなどがインストールされる | インストール中の画面を見ると、Windows 7の画面ではなく、Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1の画面だ |
If you install the drivers on the WTPC and restart them, you can use them with the same user interface using Windows 7.If you install the graphic driver, you can display the 1920 × 1080 HD resolution screen, and a Windows 7 -specific Aero (the window frame is translucent) is also displayed.
| Intelのグラフィックドライバをインストールしようとした。すると、グラフィックの設定を行うプログラムが.NET Frameworkを使用しているため、.NET Frameworkが入っていないWTPCにはインストールされないと警告が表示された | Intelのグラフィックドライバ自体はインストールされたが、Intel HDグラフィックスの管理アプリケーションはインストールされなかった |
| グラフィックドライバをインストールして、再起動するとHD画面に対応した大きな画面になる。Windowsのエディションとしては、Windows Embedded Standardとなっている | WTPCをインストール後、Windows Updateを実行。WTPCでも、きちんとセキュリティパッチが提供されている。ちなみにOS環境としては英語になるため、テキストはすべて英語だ |
| ログイン画面もWindows Thin PCと表示される。日本語環境をインストールしたので、IME2010がインストールされているのがわかる |
The WTPC currently provided has a Windows menu in English.However, since Japanese fonts and Office IME2010 are installed, there is no problem with Japanese display and input.The Japanese application also worked.
In order to make the English version of the Windows OS into Japanese, a language pack etc. will be introduced, but WTPC will not be able to install a language pack.For this reason, it can only be used in the English menu.
The current version of WTPC does not seem to have a Japanese language plan.However, since MDOP itself is also provided in Japan, I would like to expect Japanese language in the future.
| ヘルプでバージョン情報を表示すると、Windows Thin PCと表示されている。詳細バージョンは、Windows 7 SP1と同じだ | WTPCを日本語環境に変更しようとしたが、エラーが出て、変更できない。これは、システムで変更できなくしているからだ |
| 環境設定を見ると、フォーマットはJapaneseになっている。このため、日時や曜日などの表示は、日本語になっている | WTPCには、日本語フォントが入っているため、IEを起動すれば、日本語のWebサイトも表示できる |
| メニューにプログラムをすべて表示させてもこれだけしかない |
Since WTPC is based on Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1, it also supports Remote FX added in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.For this reason, VDI can use applications that use GPUs such as IE9.
When you actually install WTPC, there are very few applications registered in the start menu, as unnecessary applications have been deleted from Windows 7.It may be simple and easy to use because there is no unnecessary application to use in a company.
WTPC is developed as an OS for VDI clients, but has some functions as Windows 7.Therefore, it is possible to install and move various applications.
However, since it is not exactly the same environment as Windows 7, some applications do not work.Furthermore, because it is assumed that an old PC is used, an application with a high load is not suitable for running with WTPC.WTPCs are also restricted by the license clause as an operating platform for remote desktops and web browsers.
This time, in order to check the compatibility with Windows7, I installed Adobe Readerx in Adobe, Office 2010 Standard (Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word), and Hidemaru of text editor.As a result, all could be installed without any problems.
When I started each application, there was no particular trouble.However, I haven't used it for a long time, so I can't say that it works completely.For WTPC.Note that codecs such as Net Framework and MPEG2 are not supported and that applications that can be operated are limited in license.
| リモートデスクトップ接続で、ほかのPCに接続してみた。Windows 7と変わらず、違和感なく使用できる | PowerPoint2010で日本語の文書を表示してみた。インストールに問題は起こらなかった |
| Adobe Readerをインストールして、日本語のPDFファイルを表示してみた。まったく問題なく表示できる | IME2010を使って、テキスト入力をしてみた。これも問題なく使えた。 |
The WTPC is exactly the same as Windows 7, but has some unique functions.The WTPC has two functions, Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) and Keyboard Filter.
EWF is a function to limit writing to the OS runtime image stored on a local HDD.The EWF not only prohibits writing to a runtime image, but also provides a mechanism to protect the OS runtime image by redirecting writing to memory and other media.For this reason, if the memory is used as a writing media in the EWF, all changes will be deleted when the PC is restarted, and it can be used again in the environment before the change.
These functions are very convenient when used as a thin client.EWF itself was installed from Windows XP Embedded.EWF is also supported in Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1, the successor to Windows XP Embedded.For this reason, EWF can be used on WTPC based on Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1.
On the other hand, Keyboard Filter does not accept combinations of specific functions such as Ctrl + Alt + Delete that Windows has as standard.As a result, even in Windows 7 -based WTPC, the user will launch a task manager with Ctrl + Alt + Delete key, etc. to prevent hacking.
What surprised me when I installed WTPC is that the footprint is very small.Even if you put various drivers or install applications such as Acrobat Reader X and Office 2010 Standard, 7.I only used about 2GB.Compared to the standard Windows 7, it's incredibly compact.
Personally, I thought that WTPC would be perfect for installing a low -end laptop.Also, since the system drive does not require much capacity, it is one way to use a low -capacity SSD.If you use EWF, there is no unnecessary writing on the system drive, so it is also suitable for using SSDs.
Unfortunately, the desktop is not Japanese.The application can be used properly, so if you get used to it, there is no problem.
In order to use it as a remote desktop client PC such as VDI, WTPC is based on Windows 7 OS, so you can use Citrix Receiver.In this area, the response is fast because it is not a dedicated hardware.
WTPC is not only used as a rescue OS that makes old PCs a VDI client, but can also be used as a terminal that moves web browsers.It should be considered as a PC that can do simple work.
[Apology and correction] At the first time, there was a part that mentioned how to use the license clause, so we corrected it.We apologize and correct.