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Resolved Question

Does a "portable workstation" for remote PC tower exist?

by Sep 28, 2018 3:57AM PDT

Title isn't very clear! I've been using a laptop for years and I like that I can sit in the garden / on the sofa / at the dinner table with it while I do stuff. However, I'm thinking of getting a Desktop tower, because I like that I can upgrade components and add stuff at will. Is it possible to find a tower with a kind of dumb laptop terminal linked by wifi or something, so I have the power of a desktop and the home portability of a laptop? I've investigated remote desktop apps but they seem laggy / low resolution and generally a poor experience, and this option might require me to upgrade my laptop as well as buy a new PC - not an option!

Cheers!

Discussion is locked

Ihatecreatingusernames has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
8 Posts
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Re: portable workstation
by Forum moderator Sep 28, 2018 4:15AM PDT

Indeed, such a portable workstation (thin client) can be a laptop , and it communicates via WiFi (physically) en Remote Desktop (logically) with the desktop.

It's slower than the local desktop, due to the overhead involved, unless that is compensated by fast processing on the desktop for certain applications.

https://www.google.com/search?q=portable+thin+client might help to get more insights.

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But is there a home user version?
by Ihatecreatingusernames Sep 29, 2018 12:36AM PDT

Thanks- I hadn't heard of this. After investigation, it seems that even a Zero Client is perhaps what I'm talking about. But they seem oriented toward business. Is there a home user version? I suppose that many desktops now use Bluetooth keyboards, mice, speakers and wireless monitors - I suppose that I need just these elements integrated into a laptop form.

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Answer
To me this is a laptop (nod to Kees.)
by Forum moderator Sep 28, 2018 8:54AM PDT

As I write apps my laptop is the usual i7+GPU system which is about the same or better power than most desktops so it is a portable workstation.

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Team Viewer maybe??
by Sep 28, 2018 5:20PM PDT

I know you said you have used remote desktops - but I've had very good experience with TeamViewer - none if the issues you cite - even using my phone as the remote console!!!

So - if not - try it - its free for personal use.

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Worth a try
by Ihatecreatingusernames Sep 29, 2018 12:40AM PDT

Thanks- I'll give it a go. But I think I'd need hardware that's designed for zero latency communication. As my laptop is nearing obsolescence, I think it might struggle to keep up.

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I think there are no zero latency comms.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 29, 2018 9:06AM PDT

Even wired over 1 to 100 Gigabit networking has some latency. I've used CAD software with Windows Terminal Server with both Windows and not Windows machines and there's always a short delay.

Microsoft removed some of the delay by having the cursor locally rendered and moving about so that laggy feeling was reduced but you still felt the link and non-local impact.

What are you doing that calls for zero latency? There are only a few that call this out. Gamers, stock traders, etc.

Post was last edited on September 29, 2018 9:07 AM PDT

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Nothing special
by Ihatecreatingusernames Sep 30, 2018 11:41AM PDT

In fact I'm not doing anything special, just the usual stuff. It's just that I'd want an identical to "desktop" performance, otherwise I'd sacrifice the luxury of being able to work on the sofa and just buy a desktop, or get another laptop. I read that latency can cause issues with things like photo and video editing, which is probably where I'd notice it the most. Maybe the solution is wireless monitor, mouse and keyboard, set up on the coffee table...

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I had a Wireless HDMI system.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 30, 2018 11:53AM PDT

It had some lag so gaming was not nice. That is, you could feel the delay from the click of the mouse to the on screen action. So a wireless display has lag.

For now, for today if you want it to work just like the usual desktop, you get a laptop.

I've owned so many laptops over the years and today the usual 1K dollar gamer is workstation speed or faster.

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