Special Feature (5 pages) Les Echos of May 4, 2006
This issue attempts to draw a picture of this that will be the desktops in the coming years, with the issues involved in the function entry point into the information system of companies, competing operating systems and applications-oriented client, and volume of posts to be renewed regularly.
1 / first observation user influence on the development workstation enterprise is becoming increasingly urgent. Accustomed to using tools for extended functionality to their home, professional computer users increasingly expect to find the same services when they are at their desks.
equipment manufacturers and software vendors all have understood the interest to offer new technologies as a priority market for the general public. And WiFi, VoIP, USB keys, etc.. were initially seduced by the individual before winning in the workplace. With all the difficulties that accompany this trend: for example, setting up a WLAN company can in no way inspired by what everyone installs low-cost housing in its staff.
2 / Another topic of interest: the evolution Windows Vista promises with . Microsoft still plans to deliver its new operating system to January 2007. Even if otherwise, Gartner believes that this confidence is exaggerated comtpe Given the complexity of the system and the rate at which the publisher has accustomed us between beta versions, the versions "candidates" and the operational launch. Gartner estimates that Vista should be available in operational before May-June 2007.
Obervations All agree in all cases to consider that Vista will only work on machines "tough", even if only because of changes in the interface user fond of 3D effects and transparency.
One challenge for Microsoft is to ensure that Vista will be compatible with the greatest possible number of existing applciations.
At the same time as Vista, the workstation will have Office 2007, new version of Microsoft Office. With the risk taken by the publisher to shake the habits of users, by radically transforming the interface to its applications, starting with the standard menu bar, replaced by a context bar. Trainers should start rubbing their hands ...
For migration, it becomes clear that be wise to wait 12 to 18 months after the official release of Vista, before mass migration.
3 / the side of the Open Source , manufacturers believe that the golden age of free software is increasingly coming soon. The
Cigref believes that Linux is now heuteur the expectations of even the largest, but there is so far largely confined to specific populations ds for trades positions.
The fact remains that the changing habits of users is still a major obstacle to the adoption of Linux, let alone difficulties with document compatibility between platforms. The transition from Windows / Office to the free world seems to be cheaper, but they are not yet sufficient to convince. Probably because qu'elels are offset by adjustment costs still too high.
According to Gartner, the share of Linux in the Enterprise eétait 2% in 2005, 2.3% in 2006 and should rise to 3% in 2008 and 2009. At that time, Windows should represent 95.2% (including 47.9% for Vista). Not enough to cause a revolution!
4 / is probably in the field of applications that the disruption may be most important in years to come. The gradual emergence
and without fuss concepts of Web 2.0 will inevitably impose itself on the workstation. These technologies allow a workstation with a browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox ...) to connect to a remote application and download items from windows, to assemble them on the screen as if was a classic local application, have not finished revolutionize our work environment.
Companies can probably see the promise of long term savings in the investments: who said browser also called "thin client" more muscular configurations need to "turn" business applications: just access to the Internet with a standard browser, with the additional advantage of a single interface regardless of the application.
5 / But let there be no mistake: the publishers' interest is in reducing our cost of investment. It is mostly in a radical transformation concepts software licenses.
thin client technology can offer the user billing may vary depending on actual usage. Instead of buying a license giving rights to all software functions, we will only pay what we eat.
access to the basic software should gradually be trivialized and even free. By cons, access to essential services will pay off, and as needed. Probably a model similar to that of the telephone: a basic package for commoditized functions (local and national), and payment volume for the "extras" (international communications, value-added services).
question is whether this model is actually intended to produce savings to the consumer, or rather to ensure steady revenue for the publisher. After limited success of its Software Assurance Microsoft would have much interest in pushing this new system ensures greater continuity of sales.
This trend is in the air for several years and the developments that we live seem to confirm predictions that the analysts were already there are five or six years.
6 / last major trend of workstations: late single workstation. Computers office in vain to make smaller and smaller, we can not escape the proliferation of equipment. Farewell, then the dream of a computer to do everything, suitable for all regardless of need. First
laptops will grow at a rapid pace. Manufacturers are already planning to sell as many phones as fixed in the next few months. The "thin client" should also take off, reaching 10% of the park in 2008, even 20% in 2010. This acceleration is obviously not unrelated to the development of distributed applications on the Internet (see above).
More importantly, we must prepare to have to manage multiple jobs per person: dja some employees have a PDA and / or a "smartphone" that he'll have to take into account the business park. With a new challenge for lesentreprises: offering employees the same working environment regardless of the terminal, PC, PDA or phone.
