LG Electronics and NComputing, a provider of virtual desktops, have announced a strategic partnership to produce a new category of LCD monitors that integrates NComputing’s virtual desktop technology.
LG Electronics will bring its scale and global distribution network to the alliance, while NComputing will contribute its hardware and vSpace virtualisation software. The sub-$200 computing solution will further drive the acceleration towards desktop virtualisation and ‘cloud computing’ in which computing is centralised and done over the Web.
“The NComputing-LG partnership will significantly cut the high cost of computing for businesses, schools and governments,” said Stephen Dukker, chairman and CEO of NComputing.
Customers are increasingly turning to desktop virtualisation, Software as a Service (SaaS), and Web-hosted applications to lower their IT costs. NComputing estimates that customers for LG SmartVine N-series monitors with embedded NComputing desktop virtualisation technology can lower their computer hardware costs by 60 percent, maintenance costs by 70 percent, and electricity costs by 90 percent. The LG monitors work with both Windows and Linux computers.
LG Electronics will be embedding NComputing virtualisation circuitry inside the new SmartVine N-series monitors. Users can connect their keyboards and mice directly to the monitor, which then connects to the host PC via a standard cable. An NComputing X550 PCI Card Kit with vSpace software then enables the host PC to connect to five additional monitors. With two kits, a total of 11 users can share one PC.