I agree more will moved to published apps over time, but we are not there yet (I stress yet).

One big bump in the road here is that the new 3D features in View 5 require disabling RDP. That forces me to chose between using the new features and never being able to access the pool from my iPhone (WYSE Pocketcloud is RDP only), or to leave the new features disabled because VMware implemented them with a requirement that the iPhone cannot meet without a PCoIP capable client.

It is like a 2 iron. No one uses it, but who wants to buy a set of golf clubs without a 2 iron?

Interesting thoughts here! I personally have never been at a customer where the iPhone was a device that was intended to be used to connect into a Windows-based desktop.
Is it a cool demo in a conference booth? Yes.
Is it useful to some of the super-admins of the world? Yes.

Other than that, it’s pure novelty.

While some of your customers may be asking for the experience of using their iPhone to connect into a Windows-based desktop, I’d encourage you to let them have a go from an iPad. Once that realization sinks in, now ask them how they’d like to try that out on a device a fraction of the size.

A few of my writings:
“Tablet Users: Why Published Apps > Published Desktops for Most” http://thinkvirt.com/?q=node/287

“Thirty Days Working Exclusively with the Apple iPad: A Business Traveler’s Perspective”
http://thinkvirt.com/?q=node/252

I think when it comes to VDI a lot of customers are ultimately looking for guidance on what actually works in the real world; this is the job of the solution provider.

If an org won’t sign off on VDI until you can show your iPhone connecting into a desktop, take a step back and discuss the merits of VDI and its appropriate use cases.

Cheers!

- Jason
@langonej

A workaround for NTFS-3G’s 15 seconds timeout error can be found at https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/NTFS-3G-for-Mac-OS-X

From your side, let your local account manager and systems engineer know. In fact, do that any time you have feedback or comments. It keeps them in the loop on what you are looking for and helps them better serve you. Every account manager I have worked with at VMware would welcome customer feedback and be glad to pass it on for you.

Would I use this often, no way. It is not well suited for accessing a Windows XP or 7 desktop. But when I do need it, when an admin does not want to drive an hour back to an office or to go home to perform a 2 minute fix, it is extremely valuable. Over 50% of mobile web browsing flows through iPhones, the footprint is only growing. When the competition touts access “anytime, anywhere”, answering with “anytime you can get to a PC or tablet” is not a good response. Most VDI deals I walk into are people trying to choose between Citrix and View, and access from an iPhone is the shiny feature everyone wants to try out in a POC or demo…even if they will likely never use it.

In a way, it is like putting heated seats on a car in Texas. Did I look for it on the sticker for my car…yes. Mainly because every other car I looked at had them and I was comparison shopping. Do I use them? Maybe 5-6 times a year. Though not having them would not have changed my car decision, it would have left a real negative impression. And, 5-6 times a year, that negative impression would have been remembered and reinforced.

Now ones/if the iPhone gets some projector type integration where I can beam my phone to the wall perhaps a view client would not be a bad idea at all. However, my fingers will still be fat but I will at least have a bigger screen to look at. I don’t know I am a little iffy about the view client for iPhone.. perhaps thats sort of what VMware feels as well..