Desktop Virtualization: Jump on the bandwagon
Desktop virtualization isn't a trend. It won't be here one minute and gone the next. Desktop virtualization is more like a movement, a revolution if you will, yeah that may seem a little extreme but it's the truth. Desktop virtualization is snowballing into being a widespread business application. Desktop virtualization or virtual desktop allows a business and all of their employees to work more efficiently and freely.
Desktop virtualization by definition is "a concept", separates a personal computer desktop environment from a physical machine using a client-server model of computing. The client-server model of computing is a distributed application structure that partitions tasks or workloads between the providers of a resource or service.
Whew! Tired of the technical talk, yet? I am. So let me give you a real world example. The Acme company is a small company with 5 employees-Tim, Betty, Carl, Sharon and the owner Tonya.Everyone lives in a different state and the company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with the owner Tonya. Without virtual desktops, each employee would either login to their vpn and work remotely going thru the server or use a program like LogMeIn or Go-to-My PC to access a remote computer in the main office. Neither is very efficient because if they lose connection with their desktop computer because someone turned it off also, having to deal with a VPN can sometimes be difficult if the system isn't properly protected because you are now putting someone's home computer on the company network...
With a virtual desktop you can access your desktop from anywhere you have an internet connection, on any computer. If there is an issue with your computer you can go back in time and restore it instantly to a previous snapshot that was taken 15 minutes prior. The best part is with desktop virtualization, no one is bound by their computer type. Using the example above Tim is on his Windows 7 laptop, Betty on her Macbook, Carl is on his Windows Vista Pro laptop, Sharon is on Windows XP Home desktop, and Tonya switches between a desktop in the office running Windows XP Professional, and her new Windows 7 Professional laptop. Since they are virtual they can work in a Windows XP enviroment not be tied down to any hardware issues.
See? Now do you understand why so many businesses are adopting desktop virtualization technology? It's steadily becoming a common business practice for good reason. It eliminates the need to be in the office to access your "office files". It eliminates the worry of trying to get your VPN to work properly and it eliminates the hassle of making sure that everyone is using the same operating system. Even macbooks are welcome to the party! If you really want to be productive and access your files whenever and wherever, try out Dropbox.
Beware employers, your employees can present a good argument for not being at their desk!