If the results of a recent nationwide survey are any indication, today's corporate technology executives are thinking "thin." Fifty-seven percent of chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed said they either have network computers, also known as thin clients, in place or have plans to implement them in the next three years. Centralized administration and support were seen as the most notable advantages of these computers.

The survey was developed by RHI Consulting, a leading specialized staffing service that provides information technology professionals on a short- and long-term basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 CIOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with more than 100 employees.

CIOs were asked, "Based on what you have seen or heard about the network computer (NC), or thin client, how likely are you to implement this technology in your company within the next three years?" Their responses:  
 
  

    Very likely                                                   25% 
    Somewhat likely                                           21% 
    Already have network computers                   11% 
    Somewhat unlikely                                        21% 
    Very unlikely                                                17% 
    Don't know                                                    5% 
                                                                      100% 
  

CIOs were also asked, "Which one of the following do you see as the most important benefit of the network computer versus the personal computer?" Their responses:   
  

    Centralized administration and support            42% 
    Cost savings                                                  21% 
    More control over end-user computing             14% 
    Better security                                                 8% 
    Ability to share information/data                        3% 
    No benefits seen                                              2% 
    Other/don't know                                           10% 
                                                                       100% 
  

"As businesses expand and the number of end users grows, the advantages of centralized administration and support become more pronounced," said Greg Scileppi, executive director of RHI Consulting. "The use of network computers provides greater control over deployed IT resources and increased efficiency in the area of technical support.

"Thin clients are particularly beneficial for companies with departments that work with a limited number of applications and must access shared resources, such as customer databases and inventory management software," he explained.

Scileppi said that investment in thin client technology will create job opportunities for professionals with skills in Java programming and server maintenance and optimization. "Those with knowledge of the latest server technologies such as clustering I2O and RAID storage will be in particularly strong demand," he added.

RHI Consulting provides firms with skilled IT professionals for projects ranging from multi-platform systems integration to help desk and network support. It is a division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI), the world's leading specialized staffing service with more than 200 offices in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Source: RHI Consulting