I think VDI is great and would jump on it in an instant as an IT Operations Manager. However, as long as Microsoft is raping everyone over licensing small / medium companies will never adopt. You have to have software assurance or an Enterprise license in order to be within Microsoft compliance for VDI. So if you're the typical SMB who buys a laptop with OEM windows and simply keeps that part of your refresh cycle, you have to pony up as much as 6 figures to rebuy all of those licenses on top of any new thin client hardware. In the end, the costs of licensing, man hours, and end-user training just don't add up to keeping the status quo. Sure there are other benefits like decreased support costs, but convincing a CFO to repurchase windows licensing (that's how they see it) would be a fight not worth having.
Of course, if you're part of those fortunate companies that are active in an EA contract, this is all moot and I say make the change.
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I think VDI is great and would jump on it in an instant as an IT Operations Manager. However, as long as Microsoft is raping everyone over licensing small / medium companies will never adopt. You have to have software assurance or an Enterprise license in order to be within Microsoft compliance for VDI. So if you're the typical SMB who buys a laptop with OEM windows and simply keeps that part of your refresh cycle, you have to pony up as much as 6 figures to rebuy all of those licenses on top of any new thin client hardware. In the end, the costs of licensing, man hours, and end-user training just don't add up to keeping the status quo. Sure there are other benefits like decreased support costs, but convincing a CFO to repurchase windows licensing (that's how they see it) would be a fight not worth having. Of course, if you're part of those fortunate companies that are active in an EA contract, this is all moot and I say make the change.