Pocketing the PC X Server

StarNet Communications has announced X-Win32 Flash, a PC X server that runs from a standard USB flash drive. X-Win32 Flash allows users to install the PC X server onto a USB drive, plug it into any Windows PC, and immediately access applications on remote UNIX or Linux servers or other X-Window applications and servers. No code is installed on the PC so there is no remaining footprint once the USB drive is removed. The company also stated that use of X-Win32 Flash increases overall IT security by eliminating duplicate installations of software on unsecured computers. X-Win32 Flash is delivered via electronic download and is priced at $225 per retail license, the same as the company's flagship X-Win32. Customers can also order X-Win32 Flash pre-installed and licensed on USB drives ranging from 1GB to 4GB in capacity with prices starting at $295.

For many an IT professional, solving connectivity problems is at best just a part of the job, or at worse an unrelenting pain that defines the job itself. While the power of the ubiquitous Windows-based PC continues to grow, the reality remains that some classes of computer users avail themselves of the even greater power of UNIX, or more recently, Linux servers for compute-intensive applications such as electrical and mechanical engineering design, and telecommunications and network management, among others. In addition to these power users, there are professionals who may have occasional need to access applications that are resident on UNIX, Linux, Open-VMS, or any other X-Window supported operating system. Thus the need to provide connectivity between Windows and X-Window environments remains, and vendors such as StarNet, as well as Hummingbird, WRQ, and a few other smaller players continue to ply their connectivity solutions to a receptive marketplace.