First, when we look back at the thin and web client definition; the thin client is a computer that depends heavily on a more powerful computer, which stores all the main applications and data, web client connects to web browsers and runs the application on the server side with using a web browser.



For using both models, you must have the virtual infrastructure. For a thin client, you need to have a powerful virtual server as mentioned in Virtualization topic and set up VDI. This virtual server can be type 1 hypervisor or type 2 hypervisor servers. It depends on your organization requirement and users amount. Type 1 hypervisor server is much faster and reliable than type 2 hypervisor.



With a thin client, there would be one-time high-cost purchase. On the other hand, you will save a lot of money to buy thin client computer. For example, you need to set up a new computer lab with 30 computers. Each computer price is around $1000. If you go with the thin client, each computer price will be around $200. Then your saving will be $24.000. By the way, a thin client is more secure because all data will be stored in the data resource.



For web client, you must have virtual server and VDI set up too. Also, you must have third party device make a connection between your virtual server and the client. For example, the Citrix uses NetScaler Gateway to make the connection between your virtual server and clients. With web client you can put all of your systems into the cloud, thus you don’t have to worry about your premises. But there is a fee to host the resources and cloud-based applications.



The web client can be more useful and more efficient than a thin client because the user can connect from anywhere and anytime to organization resource and applications. The thin client user can only connect the server when they are on the same network. You can use the web client model to set up your computer lab. Instead of buying thin client desktop, you can purchase Chromebooks; the client connects to your virtual server over a network connection. There is one disadvantage with the web client, which is a bottleneck on your internet connection.