For those that don't know me, part of my job involves educating customers on the benefits of technologies such as server virtualization and VDI.

I'm not only involved in design and implementation work, but I'm also involved in helping customers make decisions.

I have colleagues and friends at companies that lug around two beefy laptops in this configuration:

• Laptop #1 = Running VMware Workstation that in turn runs all the VMs necessary for VMware View
• Laptop #2 = Used to showcase a, "client" connecting back to the infrastructure (which is actually running on Laptop #1).

That's great, but sometimes people struggle to get their heads around everything (although it's a great way to showcase Local/Offline mode).

I was recently given a mini-projector (3M MPro120) as part of my presentation arsenal. Instead of using it for Powerpoint (which I still do), I upped the sex appeal and made it part of my VDI-demo-in-a-bag-that-doesn't-way-three-stones.

The recipe:

• (1) Thin, light, powerful laptop that can run the VMware View infrastructure (AD, vCenter, ESX, View, etc.)



• (1) 3M MPro120 Mini Projector. This serves as the monitor and beats carrying around an LCD.



• (1) Teradici zero client
• (1) Mini foldable keyboard
• (1) Micro mouse
• (1) DVI-to-VGA adapter (as the Teradici only has DVI out)

Now I am able to showcase a zero client (very popular with my customers right now, as opposed to thick or thin clients) without a ton of stuff in my bag. While I love the Samsung PCoIP-enabled zero client solution best (I'm looking at 3 on my desk right now), nobody wants to carry around a monitor.

I've been dying to get in touch with someone from Amulet Hotkey to get a DXR-IP but all of my pings have not received responses. I do think it's a better looking zero client than my Teradici, but more importantly, it also looks a bit slimmer.