Major improvements include up to 44% better performance, greater efficiency and shorter boot-up times when accessing VDI and cloud services.

Reading, UK, March 1, 2011: IGEL Technology today unveiled its new generation of entry-level and general-service thin client devices, the IGEL UD2 and UD3. Thanks to their new VIA® processors, these Universal Desktop (UD) thin clients now deliver an improved performance of up to 44% over the previous models.


IGEL UD3The latest IGEL UD3 with its new VIA NanoTM processor uses even less power and supports Gigabit LAN system networks with 1 Gigabit Ethernet. Its new motherboard consists of a VIA® VX 855 chipset with a VIA NanoTM E-Series processor. This chipset provides enhanced multimedia processing. The new, lower power consuming 800 MHz processor has increased performance of the UD3 by up to 44% and delivers 53% more performance than comparable 1 Ghz competitor devices (values based on "CrystalMark" benchmarking). Power consumption has been cut to only 10W in idle mode (formerly 12W) and 1W (formerly 2W) in standby mode.

For optimum video reproduction, the IGEL UD3 comes with a DVI-Integrated (DVI-I) connector supporting a maximum screen resolution of 1920x1200. A second VGA monitor can be connected using an optional Y-cable. For connecting peripheral devices, the IGEL UD3 has a total of five USB 2.0 ports, one PS2 and one serial port as well as audio-in and audio-out sockets.

"The IGEL UD3 is our first device featuring a member of the new processor generation from VIA®, which significantly improves performance at moderate megahertz ratings, whilst keeping power consumption low," notes Florian Spatz, Product Marketing Manager at IGEL Technology. "With it, we're offering our customers optimum efficiency, user experience and future-readiness, especially when accessing environmentally sustainable green IT and virtual desktops."

The new IGEL UD2 has been improved by means of a Via EdenTM 500 MHz processor (previously 400 MHz), resulting in a better overall system performance and shorter boot-up times.

Both models are available with different operating systems and firmware packages, which enables them to economically access different centralized IT environments. The Linux-based models also support the new Microsoft® RemoteFXTM(1) protocol extension for Microsoft® VDI.

Both devices still come with the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) as standard. This management solution allows standardized remote management of IGEL Universal Desktops as well as PCs and selected thin clients from other manufacturers, allowing businesses to cut IT management costs and deliver a greater return on investment (ROI) for IT projects.

Price and Availability
Depending on the operating system and firmware package desired, prices for the IGEL UD3 start at £256+vat; the UD2 starts at £175+vat. Available immediately. The IGEL UD3 comes with either IGEL Linux or Microsoft® Windows® Embedded Standard. The IGEL UD2 is also available with Microsoft® Windows® CE. The available firmware packages - Entry, Standard and Advanced - allow flexible as-needed, cost-efficient selection of supported software clients, tools and protocols for accessing private and public cloud scenarios.

(1)RemoteFXTM is a protocol extension for the new Remote Desktop Client (RDC 7) included in the service pack for Microsoft® Windows ServerTM 2008 R2. In order to be able to use these new functionalities a thin client must, in addition to the remote access protocol RDP 7, also support RemoteFXTM. This feature will be included in the release of the new service pack for all Universal Desktop thin clients with IGEL Linux as well as for the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter software (IGEL UDC).