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An iPad running Windows? Thanks to Citrix

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ipad_windowsJust when you thought you’d seen everything, some industrious geek goes out and does something new.

Citrix, the desktop and server virtualization company, has gone and done something, which I think its just great.  They put Windows 7 on an iPad.  Now, how they got their hands on an iPad is one thing (then again, how did Steven Colbert get his for the Grammys)?  But, to run Windows on it?

To calm down all the Mac folks out there, its not really running Windows 7.  It is running a Citrix client that is attaching to a virtual machine running Windows 7.  Citrix already has this set up to work on an iPhone, why not extend it to the iPad.?

Citrix is putting this idea up for a vote on their blog:

Well if your company has XenDesktop or XenApp you will be happy to know you will be able to use your iPad for real work as well. It turns out the 9.7 inch display on the iPad with a 1024×768 screen resolution works great for a full VDI XenDesktop. Windows applications run unmodified and securely in the data center, and even multiple applications at once. The advancements that were made for the Citrix Receiver for iPhone will carry over to the iPad, however the iPhone restrictions of screen size and small keyboards are overcome with the iPad. It’s a beautiful thing ! The iPad looks to be an ideal end point device that can empower users to be productive were ever they are and IT will be able to safely deliver company hosted virtual desktops and apps without worry.

So tell us if you want Citrix Receiver for the iPad and let us know how your going to put it to work.

As someone who works with virtualization everyday, this just made the iPad a whole lot more attractive for me.  The ability to run multiple environments on a lightweight 9.7″ inch screen just sings to me.

I hope Citrix decides to do this.  Then, we may see more IT professionals running around with iPads instead of laptops.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Sumocat

    02/02/2010 at 9:05 am

    They’re actually running it from the virtualizer from the iPhone SDK, so they probably don’t have an iPad yet, but looks like they’re moving forward with the project.

  2. Why not VNC?

    02/02/2010 at 9:50 am

    Running multiple virtual machines for remote access is fine and dandy for corporate use, but if you’re just looking to remotely fire up your own Windows apps from an iPad, you may want to consider any of the many VNC apps already available for iPhone/iPad to access either your own computer (or virtual machine, if you’re so inclined). Don’t know if there are any apps for the iPhone platform that use RDC, but the upshot of VNC is that you can find free server software for Windows, Linux, full-size Mac OS X (bundled w/ the OS, actually), and damn near anything else you can think of.

    Amy, why do you need Citrix to do this for you? Also, why would more IT pros running around with iPads (instead of real laptops?!) be a good thing?

  3. Amy Zunk

    02/02/2010 at 10:18 am

    @Sumocat: Ah, ok. I wasnt aware of that tidbit. It still a cool idea though.

    @WhyNotVNC: Personally, I like Citrix. But then again, I also like VMWare and VNC. Its not that I have one preference or another. Just, for the sake of this post, I said why not to Citrix? They each have a purpose. I have liked Citrix for doing virtual apps and desktops, VMWare for servers, VNC for a quick remote in to something. I havent used VNC on the iPhone/iPod Touch. Is it any good?

  4. Gavin Miller

    02/02/2010 at 12:52 pm

    Thumbs up here for Logmein on iPhone which I assume will work on the iPad.

  5. Chris Hickie

    02/02/2010 at 1:30 pm

    How do you get keypad input on it? Do you use the ipad keyboard or can you do ink via windows 7?

  6. Flo

    02/02/2010 at 3:42 pm

    @Chris: you can always use the Windows 7 keypad… Ink won’t work very well due to the IPad’s screen

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