One lesson she has learned is that end users, particularly in the development community, prefer to choose the platforms they work on. Some Scripps developers want VDI but steer clear of it because they don't want to use Windows, and as a result she is seeking better VDI support for .

About 50 to 80 users opted not to use VDI, so the company still maintains resources for them. But the 57 who do use VDI still represent a reduction in the resources needed.

At MetroHealth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., VDI was embraced early and has been evolving for six years, says Aivars Apsite, technology strategist for the facility.

The hospital employs VMware View and is in the process of replacing endpoints with zero clients. Within five months it will have 1,800 zero clients and 1,000 or fewer PCs. The zero clients will be a mix of Wyse P20s and Wyse P25s OEMed through Cisco. The P25s support USB2 which is needed in some settings.

He's found that it's potentially less costly to employ pooled virtual desktops rather than static ones dedicated to each user.