The Other Side of Remote Working
One of the frequently touted ingredients of Web 2.0 is the idea of the “web as platform”, and providing software as a service. In some respects, this isn’t a new thing at all. I got pitched the idea of using an ASP (application service provider) for the first time in 2000. Citrix was founded in 1989 - before the web existed - and its Metaframe products to provide remote desktops over the Internet have been around since the late 90s. Historically, internet connection speeds haven’t been fast enough for enough of us for such products to be of much interest. However, that’s definitely changed over the last couple of years.
Today, I’ve been playing around with the Citrix remote desktop service from Extrasys, a UK provider. You buy it on a subscription basis, depending on number of seats, software requirements and other service elements such as renting thin clients (very basic computers that basically act as an internet connection). In many respects, there isn’t a great deal to say or do, because you simply get a copy of Windows delivered over the net, which won’t seem very glamorous, new or exciting compared to the pretty creations from flickr, etc.
