Advantages like flexibility, consolidation and lower cost of ownership make thin-client computing an attractive alternative to the fat client. The organization will realize a lower maintenance expense and exact more control when its data and its processing are focused in the one data center of the established thin-client network.

The cost savings of switching to a thin-client setup can be significant -- Bloor Research (www.bloor-research.com) has estimated that deploying thin-client technology across an organization can cut costs by up to 70 percent. If you wish to see approximately how much thin clients might save you, both 2X Software (www.2x.com) and Netvoyager (www.netvoyager.co.uk/general/tcocalc.html) offer cool cost-savings calculators at their Web sites.

The thin-client approach simplifies many management issues, and the lower operational and deployment costs of thin-client computing are without question an added argument for adoption. Thanks to advances in thin computing, users' fears are no longer justified. It's no wonder thin--client computing is expected to continue to grow in popularity. Maybe it's time to take a look at the cost savings and added security that thin computing can provide and make a resolution to put your current network on a diet.

-- Douglas Schweitzer is a freelance writer and Internet security specialist in Nesconset, N.Y. He can be reached at dougneak@juno.com.