What Desktop Type Do I Use?


If a resident or patient says to you 'My leg hurts', what do you do next?


You ask: 'What kind of pain? stabbing? burning? prickling? constant? come and go?'


You really need to know what kind of pain they have before you can begin to diagnose. Likewise, we need to know what kind of Desktop you use before we can start troubleshooting a computer problem. For example if you cannot find a file, the cause is different if you are working on a laptop at home vs. a Remote Desktop.


There are three types of desktop you can use. Plus a mobile device like a phone or iPad. If you submit a ticket, tell us which of these you use. 


  • Plain Desktop: if you use a laptop and do not have to logon to a server, you use a Plain Windows Desktop. Windows runs on the computer that you have. You turn it on, it asks you to logon and then when you do, your e-mail, charting, and Word and Spreadsheet icons are right there.


  • Remote Desktop: when you turn your computer on, after it starts up you double click an icon called something like "Care Resources" or "Faith Hospice". Then you logon with your user ID and network password. After it loads, all your applications are available when you click the Start Button. Windows actually runs on the Remote Desktop servers, not your device.


  • VDI: when you turn your computer on, after it starts up you double click an icon called VMWare Horizon Client or VMWare View. Then you logon with your user ID and network password. Then it loads something like "Holland Home" or "Atrio HomeCare". You click that, then Windows loads your VDI and all your applications are available when you click the Start Button. Windows actually runs on the Remote Desktop servers, not your device. Windows actually runs on the VDI servers, not your device.


  • Mobile Device - an iPhone, Android phone, or iPad does not run Windows. If you call with an issue, just say 'I have a phone or iPad.'