Centralized computing is back

There is a distinct trend among these teleworker products - the sleekest among them harken back to the mainframe.

We're returning to the centralized computing paradigm because it makes sense. Mainframes could handle things back in the days when all they did was crunch a few numbers and maintain simple records. With the advent of graphic user interface (GUI), that has changed. The throughput required to pass GUI information back and forth required the processing power on the desktop, where it remained, with few exceptions. Now that processing power, throughput and security have exceeded that required for a centralized GUI environment, we're returning to the centralized computing paradigm, but on a global basis. Now your server can be in Cincinnati while your browser terminal is in Zurich.

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Citrix MetaFrame is the king of centralized processing. It's been around for a while, but is limited to use within the corporate environment, with its high bandwidth. With Netilla's ability to globally distribute the centralized computing standard securely via an ordinary browser, those limitations vanish. MetaFrame will remain a viable solution for centralized processing in the corporate environment, but must now compete with Netilla, and the latter also works outside the corporate environment.

More corporations aren't taking the centralized computing route because they first look long and hard at initial costs, but fail to correctly estimate long-term support costs, including configuring workstations and laptops, upgrading and replacing them. Second, it requires a definite change in mindset, one that's long overdue. Because the support costs for remote workers can be higher than for in-house workers, it makes sense for corporate executives to rethink their options, particularly with respect to Netilla.

While processing and storage requirements will continue to grow, if corporations switch back to centralized computing, their bandwidth needs will slow down, resulting in lower costs. Centralized computing significantly reduces the costs of upgrades. IT staffers normally install software applications on everyone's desktop. If those apps are on a centralized server, IT only has to install and upgrade them once. Finally, although apps continue to grow in size, browsers can run on slim machines with ease. When the only app a client has to use is a browser, that extends the client machine's useful life by several years.

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