Hands on: Amazon Workspaces Thin Client
Amazon Workspaces Thin Clients: 30-Second Review
For those unfamiliar AmazonAWS cloud provides the ability to generate virtual computers with a wide range of operating system and virtual hardware for those who need an isolated environment.
These instances can be created and destroyed at will. Workspaces provides a sophisticated model that allows specific sets of applications and security protocols to be pre-installed through Workspaces.
Based on the specific needs of an individual or company, the Amazon Workspaces model allows enterprises to tailor these environments to the needs of specific users and adjust the amount of allocated memory and storage as needs change.
The weak link in any such scenario is the local computer required to access the workspace, and Amazon Workspaces thin clients provide a simple but secure way to provide the connectivity needed by remote workers.
The hardware is a repurposed Amazon Fire TV cube. When used in conjunction with a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and broadband connection, it provides a portal through which users can access their workspace.
A big selling point of this combination of hardware and software is that virtual environments can be centrally managed and secured without the hassle associated with managing physical computers. In theory, this provides a valuable way to manage the cost of ownership and provides the flexibility to add significant additional staff if the need arises, or if the business model demands it, or if the business model demands it, and accordingly there is a negative impact.
In contrast, Workspaces thin client hardware is limited in functionality, does not provide a front-end that meets all requirements, and assumes that the user has a reliable broadband connection that will not be interrupted.
While workspace thin clients are relatively inexpensive, the real cost savings are primarily related to management when additional hardware (monitors and input devices) is required as well as the additional cost of broadband service and monthly cost per workspace.
Amazon Workspaces Thin Client: Pricing and Availability
- how much does it cost? From $280/£230
- When will it be released? Now available
- Where can you get it? directly from Amazon
Anyone who’s seen an Amazon Fire TV Cube will be familiar with the hardware now being sold as Amazon Workspaces thin clients. Externally, both appear to be identical.
However, you can’t buy a Fire TV Cube ($99.99) and use it to access AWS Workspaces because the preinstalled firmware is completely different. So for what appears to be the same hardware, you pay $279.99 USD in the United States and £229.99 in the UK.
Based on the Fire TV Cube’s price, that doesn’t sound like a big deal, and the hardware specs for connecting to WorkSpaces are definitely modest.
Amazon Workspaces Thin Client: Specifications
| thing | Specification |
|---|---|
| hardware: | Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client |
| CPU: | Octa core 4x 2.2 GHz 4x 2.0GHz |
| Graphics processor: | 800 MHz |
| Memory: | 2GB |
| Storage: | 16 GB |
| Screen: | not included |
| port: | 1x USB 2.0 USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1 out, HDMI in (not used), IR extender port (not supported), Ethernet port (10/100) |
| camera: | not applicable |
| networking: | Wi-Fi 6E tri-band. Also supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| aspect: | 86mm x 86mm x 77mm |
| weight: | 513 grams |
| operating system: | Windows or Linux (via Amazon WorkSpaces) |
| Accessories: | USB hub with PSU, PSU |
Amazon Workspaces Thin Client: Design
- fire tv cube
- not built for this purpose
- activation
As mentioned, the hardware in this package is a repurposed Fire TV Cube that once came with WorkSpaces firmware, and which Amazon shamelessly charges nearly triple the price.
I’m sure this plan was considered a “genius move” at the Amazon board meeting when someone decided not to make a dedicated thin client, but in the cold light it seems too stingy on Amazon’s part.
The problem with the Fire TV Cube is that it acts as an Alexa front-end for the Amazon TV service, so it doesn’t have the ports needed to be a thin client.
Amazon’s solution is to include a cheap Chinese USB hub, since the Fire TV Cube only has one USB port. Without a USB hub, the keyboard and mouse will not connect unless they are Bluetooth.
Another useful feature of the hub is the ability to connect a second screen, but many users may not need this.
As our photos show, the hub combined with the many cables needed to connect the thin client to the screen and network creates a confusing wiring scenario.
It would be much better if Amazon made a proper thin client with adequate USB ports, and perhaps used a VESA mounting system to attach it to the back of the monitor, keeping all cables out of view.
Instead, the Cube must sit on a tabletop, especially if you want to use the built-in microphone and can’t avoid cluttered wiring.
One interesting thing we need to share is that the Amazon USB hub that comes with it has a USB-A connection to the thin client, and the devices can’t agree on whether it’s on or off. Therefore, the natural position of the USB hub in this case is reversed.
I’m not sure if this is a mistake from the TrueFriends brand or the Fire TV Cube manufacturer, but the fact that no one at Amazon noticed this strongly suggests that this wasn’t planned.
Yes, when it’s plugged in, it usually works, but the phrase “dog’s dinner” comes to mind most easily.
On first startup, users using Wi-Fi instead of wired LAN will be asked to provide the language and network password to be used. The final step in the process is provided by an activation code provided by the WorkSpaces administrator, which upon completion links the user account details with the WorkSpaces created for their use.
However, at some point, the user may need to log in to AWS and set a password, for which another computer or phone needs to be prepared to use on the thin client.
Amazon Workspaces Thin Client: User Experience
- password
- Operating system options
- Occasional problems
The downside of any truly secure system is that it becomes password-centric and therefore not exactly user-friendly.
For this device, you first need to enter an invitation code generated by the person who manages the workspace for this device. Upon activation, you need to log in and then define a password that will take you to the workspace defined for you.
Most annoyingly, the email with the invitation will be on the phone or computer, but then needs to be put into the thin client manually, and can be a long, complex piece of code. Surely it would be better to use your phone with an app to approve the device or a precoded dongle?
The beauty of the WorkSpaces solution is that once you have an approved client and log in, you have access to a predefined environment. These WorkSpaces can be various operating systems running on many different virtual hardware spaces.
In our tests we used a method defined as Intel Xeon Platinum 8259CL CPU with single core and 8GB RAM, running Windows Server 2016. But what kind of machine it is, the number of cores, memory and storage space, can be completely customized by the administrator. Many Linux versions are also available, as well as various Windows versions.
The problem, if you haven’t guessed yet, is that the more resources you define, the greater the monthly cost of running that workspace becomes. However, it allows you to customize your virtual space to better serve your users and adapt to the workloads they will experience.
This mechanism works much like regular Amazon AWS instances, and these can be tried out for free from any PC. However, with WorkSpaces, which is a more controlled bubble, every aspect of the security model, application suite, and user restrictions is easier to manage for those using dozens of thin clients.
Anyone familiar with Windows should find this thin client environment easy to follow, as it only has a few extra features specific to WorkSpaces.
That may sound great to stressed-out IT staff, but our experience wasn’t entirely perfect, as we encountered a few minor issues that might bother most people.
In one odd session, the workspace menus at the top and right of the session could be accessed using the mouse, whereas on Windows the mouse pointer moved but mouse button clicks were completely ignored.
Exiting the session and logging back in had zero impact, and only implicitly restarting the instance fixed the issue.
The idea that this was a “set it and forget it” model where IT support staff could avoid users having problems was revealed as an optimistic view. When you use a complex operating system like Windows or even Linux in a virtual space, problems still arise, just slightly different than those encountered with a local installation.
There are also broader management issues with tasks that users typically perform but require thin client intervention to complete. While this may be possible, there is no way by default to connect a flash drive to a USB hub and download files locally. This makes the system highly secure, but without an actual PC, local interaction with storage, printers, and SD cards can be annoying.
Amazon Workspaces Thin Clients: Conclusion
The biggest selling point is that this relatively inexpensive hardware allows users to access Amazon WorkSpaces, Amazon WorkSpaces Web, or Amazon AppStream 2.0, and provides multiple options for managing user identities and credentials using Active Directory.
That’s exactly what IT managers might want to hear as they manage users remotely without having to visit in person and instantly join a flexible workforce.
It’s also important to note that the user experience of accessing virtual Windows and Linux environments in the cloud (especially using the repurposed Fire TV Cube) isn’t great.
Obviously, it is possible to provide a virtual environment with additional memory, storage, and even a GPU, but it will never be the same as a local PC, especially for certain design tasks.
In fact, this is not the mechanism you use to edit videos, color grade photos, or create CAD models. It works fine for low-level Web-based applications or Office tools, but even then it won’t be the first choice for most users if given a choice.
Another problem is that the devices cannot be repurposed if the market changes or Amazon decides to stop offering WorkSpaces. Sadly, they might not even be able to transform back into a Fire TV Cube.
For businesses considering a more rigorous approach to remote workers, we strongly recommend running an extensive testing program before adopting the technology behind Amazon Workspaces thin clients, as it won’t be suitable for everyone or all scenarios.
