So, on to Roy Illsey of Ovum “Market Trends: Is 2010 the tipping point for Desktop Virtualisation?”. This technology is new and small. The global market for desktops is 600 million units. Virtualisation has about 1/2% of that market. But it’s not just about the technology, it’s about the process too. This is where there needs to be a change in mindset. There is a convergance in thinking between Vmware and Citrix and a growing “ecosystem”, as evidenced by this forum and others.

Last, but not least Simon Bullers CEO of RedPixie presented “Implementing best practice for desktop virtualisation”. His bullet points about how to deliver a successful desktop virtualisation project included:

• Create a culture of teamwork. Think about whether you need a dedicated team or do as BAU. Get the Data Centre involved.
• Create a culture of end users. Build positive PR within the organisation and an appetite for change.
• Technology – Client. There are various types of client to consider, there are various types of application to consider. Build a demo lab.
• Technology – Storage. Measure and optimise throughout the course of the project.
• Technology – Platform. Server hardware, blades v racks. Type 1 or type 2 hypervisor. Blend?
• Size for the peak users.
• Process: spend time information gathering and planning. Decide on scheduling.
• Agree the appetite for risk.
• Process: difficult decisions, don’t get involved in a blame game.
• Financials – it’s a mine field! Does it need to show an ROI? User chargebacks?

A quick executive summary: Windows 7 is the best reason to adopt so far but don’t play the funny numbers game (a reference I guess to the potential cost savings).

Many points to consider there and the forum as a whole very worthwhile. After this talk there was a panel Q&A session before lunch. I regret not being able to attend the afternoon breakout sessions where no doubt plenty of discussion took place and many thought provoking ideas developed from the morning themes.

To re-iterate what I said yesterday, I think to be truly successful, a desktop virtualisation project has to deliver 100%.  The overheads of maintaining two or more desktop platforms are going to kill any efficiencies quickly. That is why I would seek to convince the sceptics first and not start with the users who were already fans.

I was interested in the “Zero Client” device. This for me is the “ultimate” solution, or at least the most evolved of all the solutions currently in play. In some ways it is a direct descendant of a dumb terminal of the type Wyse manufactured 30 years ago. A serial line delivering ASCII characters has been replaced by the LAN or WAN delivering rich media over optimised protocols. I would put my money on these types of device to be the most successful as the field develops.

As to the next generation of device after that, I think it will naturally be led by advances in user interfaces in the field of human computer interaction. That field seems to have been quiet in recent years after the revolution in mice, graphics and workstations. Maybe that’s my cue to go and watch some more Sci-Fi movies…there must be another HCI revolution due soon?