The problem: The PC model ("FAT
CLIENT")
The networked PC can be referred to as a "fat client", a standalone
computer with all software, files and hardware on the desktop. The PC
user
is owner, user and administrator of a computer system that is complex
and
expensive to maintain. The PC model is no longer valid for the
following
reasons:
-
only one user can use a PC at a
time
-
files on hard disk can
only be
accessed by physically using that machine. For large collaborative
genomics projects in which researchers are located at many
institutions, files need to be on a centrally-accessible server.
-
administration of a computer
has become
too complex for most users
-
both hardware and software become obsolete
very rapidly
-
for each program, 1 license per PC is
required
-
PC's sit idle much of the time
-
most PC users don't do routine backups
of their hard disks
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