Matrox EpicA to revolutionize thin computing with multi-display

The Matrox EpicA products are now released. More info can be found at : http://www.matrox.com/mga/corp/epica/ .

Matrox EpicA complete multi-display hardware and software suite for thin computing Now available and on display at SIA Technology Management Conference in New York

Montreal, Canada, June 20, 2006 — Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, is pleased to announce the availability of its revolutionary new Matrox EpicA series for thin computing, including the EpicA TC2-Lite, EpicA TC2 and EpicA TC4 multi-display hardware and Matrox PowerDesk EpicA software. This innovative new product line, designed expressly for thin-computing environments, will be showcased at the upcoming SIA 2006 show in New York.

“With the EpicA series, Matrox continues to set the standard for providing multi-display graphics solutions by offering feature-sets never available before in thin-computing architectures,” says Al Vandenbussche, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Matrox Graphics, Inc. “The Matrox EpicA hardware and software is a groundbreaking total solution featuring state-of-the-art tools that will not only allow for greater screen real-estate but will also increase productivity and streamline work processes."

“Matrox EpicA is answering the growing demand for high-quality, multi-display analog and digital functionality for thin-client computing,” said Matt Wrabley, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Neoware, Inc. “EpicA provides complementary functionality to virtually hosted desktops.”

The Matrox EpicA series, comprised of the EpicA TC2-Lite, EpicA TC2 and EpicA TC4 graphics cards, are specifically designed to meet the requirements of thin-client devices with low-profile, fanless and low-power consuming specifications. The EpicA TC2-Lite is a dual monitor graphics card with digital resolutions of up to 2560 x 1024, while the EpicA TC2, also a dual monitor graphics card, offers digital resolutions of up to 3840 x 1200. The EpicA TC4 is a quad-monitor graphics card with digital resolutions of up to 6400 x 1200.

To complement the Matrox EpicA series hardware, Matrox PowerDesk EpicA software brings desktop management and multi-monitor awareness to thin-client environments. Multi-monitor awareness enables large resolution windows from the server to behave in an independent manner even though the remote session natively provides a stretched desktop. Included with the purchase of every Matrox EpicA graphics card (as a complimentary download), Matrox PowerDesk EpicA software also allows financial, insurance and enterprise professionals in thin-computing environments to take advantage of numerous multi-display controls including: how dialog and message boxes are positioned, how windows are maximized, and an assortment of other features that increase the user’s efficiency. This revolutionary software utility, which is designed to be installed on the server, functions exclusively with the EpicA series of graphics cards and is compatible with leading remote connection technologies: Microsoft RDP, Linux rdesktop and Citrix ICA for Windows. Major productivity advancements will be experienced through this integrated software package, with its extremely easy-to-use interface and desktop management features designed to have a dramatic impact on day-to-day work processes and data organization.

For more information on Matrox EpicA hardware and software for thin computing, please visit http://www.matrox.com/mga/corp/epica/.

For more information on Matrox’s presence at SIA Technology Management Conference 2006, visit http://www.matrox.com/mga/corp/news/pr/sia_2006_advisory.cfm

Availability
For more information on purchasing the Matrox EpicA series of graphics cards, call 1-800-361-1408 or email graphics.sales@matrox.com.

About Matrox Graphics Inc.
Matrox Graphics Inc. is the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals and has been delivering high-quality, innovative 2D/3D and video graphics accelerators for more than a quarter century. Creator of the multi-display phenomenon, Matrox combines its proven graphics chip designs, reliable software development and dependable card manufacturing expertise to produce products that are reputed worldwide for their superior image quality, practical ingenuity and unwavering stability. Matrox Graphics designs and supports graphics solutions optimized for utility, empowering professionals to see more and do more. A privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Matrox has international offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.matrox.com/graphics.

Matrox Graphics, Matrox Electronic Systems, and Matrox are registered trademarks of Matrox Graphics Inc. and/or Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. Other company, product and service names and/or logos indicated above may be trademarks or service marks of such other companies.


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What is so great about Matrox? Why is it better than other quad or dual video cards? I seen dual video cards on sale for much less, different brands. Just wondering why Matrox should be bought and used instead of the other ones.

 

How about bandwith? I use remote desktop each day through DSL and even with just one screen at 1024*768 and 1Mbit upload on the server side its still somehow slow.

 

So far as the card goes you would need to compare things like the total resolution of all screens to see if the lower dollar card would do what you need - but the real kicker for matrox is the host side software, it more or less virtualizes the rdp/rdc window that allows you to divide this up in as many screens as you want with applications locked to each, useful with even a single wide screen monitor, or in the case of multiple monitors you align these divisions to match the physical screens. The current gotcha is rdp/rdc 5.x client (current xp) will only support a maximum of 1600x1200, which in turn only allows a pair of 800x600 (total of 1600x600) so to use this proper requires the rdesktop linux or rdp 6.x(vista) as the client.

 

I believe Matrox workstation cards cost more because their marketing was directed towards corporate users who would be not be resistant to paying a premium. Probably overpriced.

Nevertheless, for workstation functions like trading, Matrox and Nvidia Quadro offer superior quality of display, reliability, and compatibility.... by design. Also, they have continued to upgrade drivers to accommodate relevant industry standard changes. That is, an investment in such cards is likely to have a long life and not become obsolete as quickly as the current fad in gaming cards. Considering you can pick them up used for cheap on eBay, they are usually a good choice for trading.

 

Could you put this in lay terms, please?

 

So since I am a little overweight, I cannot use this???

 

What does "thin clients" mean?
Thin monitors? But we are buying a graphics card, not a monitor.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_client

 

A thin client is a network computer without a hard disk drive, which, in client/server applications, is designed to be especially small so that the bulk of the data processing occurs on the server.