A big,fat internet pipe is required for this to become a reality. There should be bench-marks done.. for eg., do a 1gb file upload / download using (a) a local desktop environment (b) a networked desktop environment and (c) a virtual desktop environment. The chief limitation will be the ISP's bandwidth. Consider this.. we have graduated from the old 10mbps CAT5/LAN networks to 100mbps / 1gbps CAT5E / LAN. Now where can we find even a 10mbps ISP?
I welcome the initiatives behind this great effort. on the contrary let us consider a few facts. Today a laptop computer costs only as much as a desktop. so ..! And of course this may be a great support to companies. but while using this function isn't there a chance of our datas and information to be passed through a server, which may lead to a leak in information..
In a country where the Broadband boom has just recently happened, it will still take atleast 2-3 years for this technology to be thoroughly accepted by the masses. Though Virtualisation is the call of the era, unlimited Internet links would pose as the major hindrance for the Online Desktop solution to be totally sucessful in India until & unless ISP's start chipping in & providing unlimited download packages for their Broadband connections at cheaper rates.
