How-To
Repurposing an 'Obsolete' Windows 10 Laptop into a Thin Client, Part 2
In a previous article, I explored how organizations can extend the life of aging Windows 10 hardware, which is now unsupported after the OS reached end-of-service in October 2025, by repurposing these devices with a thin-client OS instead of replacing them or continuing to run them insecurely. I demonstrated this approach by installing 10ZiG's RepurpOS on a decade-old Dell Latitude E7440, walking through its minimal hardware requirements, simple installation, centralized management, and strong support for modern remote desktop protocols. In testing, I found that even older, inexpensive systems can deliver excellent performance when accessing RDP and SaaS (Office 365). In the past, RDP has been seen as an “also-ran” remote protocol, but with its advancements in security, efficiency, and visual responsiveness, it has found a place in today's modern IT.
In this article, I will walk you through my assessment of how well it handled VDI workloads. To do this, I connected to an Omnissa (FKA VMware) Horizon desktop, ran multiple Microsoft Office applications, streamed YouTube videos at high resolutions, and tested unified communications using Zoom. Because some users work primarily in SaaS applications, I will also evaluate RepurpOS's native browser experience, using Office 365, Copilot, and various websites. I expect the performance and usability to match what I experienced on my Windows 11 system.
I will also verify that RepurpOS will fully support dual-monitor setups, work flawlessly in both VDI sessions and when running local browser-based apps. Beyond performance, I will also look at 10ZiG's free, powerful management software, their new secure enterprise browser, and the RepurpConvert tool that will allow organizations to convert Windows 10 devices directly without using USB media. In the end, I will decide if RepurpOS is a stable, easy-to-use, and environmentally friendly way to extend the life of millions of “obsolete” PCs.
Accessing a VDI Desktop
I used Horizon (Omnissa, FKA VMware) to test the device's ability to connect to a virtual desktop. When configuring RepurpOS to attach to the desktop, I found a host of configuration options, including advanced settings for PCoIP and Blast.
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The laptop was connected to my LAN using a Cat 6 cable and a 1Gb switch linked to the internet. The virtual desktop I accessed ran Windows 11 and was configured with two vCPUs, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of NVMe storage. I launched the Horizon client and set it to connect to the Horizon desktop at the monitor's native 2K resolution.
On the remote desktop, I opened Microsoft Office and launched multiple MS Office applications: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. All these Office applications ran simultaneously on the virtual desktop without any issues.
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To assess video playback performance, I streamed a YouTube video with quality set to auto, then at 1440p. The video quality in auto mode and at 1440p was excellent.
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Unified Communications and Remote Desktops
Unified communications (UC) and video playback are indispensable and play a key role in making workplaces more productive and collaborative. With UC apps like Microsoft Teams, Zoom VDI, and WebEx, staff can join meetings, share info, and interact instantly from any location. This is especially important for hybrid teams spread out across different locations. They rely on UC to stay connected and work together.
RepurpOS uses Multimedia Redirection (MMR) to shift UC processing and networking from the virtual desktop server to the local thin client.
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By redirecting video content, calls, and similar media for local playback, MMR improves responsiveness, reduces server strain, and enables higher virtual desktop density while delivering a more consistent user experience. This is very useful when using resource-intensive UC applications.
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To test how well this performed, I connected to a Zoom session on the device using the Zoom VDI plugin.
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You can read more about MMR in this article that I wrote a few years ago.
Accessing MS Office 365 Via a Local browser
Not everyone needs a full virtual desktop; in fact, a recent report from Omdia Rearch shows that 85% of the workday is spent using SaaS and web apps accessed via a browser. RepurpOS supports running a web browser locally.
I was able to launch Google Chrome from the RepurpOS desktop without any issues.
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I was able to view a YouTube Video at 1080 without any issues.
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I tried a few more websites and used them without any issues.
Businesses and other institutions use web-based office applications like Google Docs and MS Office 365. RepurpOS does not support running Office 365 natively on the laptop, but I found that I could run the web version without any issues.
After logging in to MS Office 365 from the browser, I used Microsoft Copilot to create a PowerPoint slide deck on the benefits of using RepurpOS over Windows 10, and it successfully did so. I then brought an old Word document about my experience at VMware Explorer 2025.
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The experience I had running Office 365 on the laptop was identical to that on my Windows 11 laptop.
I am a big fan of Enterprise Browsers. As I was finishing this article, I noticed that 10ZiG just released 10ZiG Secure Browser, a Chromium-based browser designed to deliver secure, tightly governed web access. This runs on RepurpOS and is included with no additional cost on all their thin-client OSes. This browser enables controlled, locked-down access for web applications, all included at no additional cost.
The same Omdia Research report that showed 85% of the workday is spent using SaaS and web apps also found that 95% of organizations have experienced a browser-based attack in the past year. By using a secure browser such as 10ZiG's enterprises can avoid browser-based security risks such as these.
Dual Monitor Support
I wanted to confirm that RepurpOS supports dual monitors, since most workers now use two monitors.
I plugged a monitor into the laptop's HDMI port, and it detected it without any issues. I discovered that I could use it alongside the laptop's screen in both independent and mirror modes without any problems.
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I tested the dual monitors on my Horizon Desktop and ran Office 365 in a browser, natively on the device. The dual monitors worked without issues and handled the workload I put on them, even when playing 1080p videos in full-screen mode on one of the screens.
Free Management
The ongoing care and feeding of thin clients requires centralized management, and one of the things that attracted me to 10ZiG was its FREE management software. As this can be a significant cost line item, I verified this on the company's website and with some people I know who use 10ZiG-powered thin clients, and found that yes, 10ZiG management is free, quite powerful, and easy to use.
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Final Thoughts
If we can save only a fraction of the millions of “obsolete” PCs from the trash bins that they are destined for, it will be a huge win not only for a company's bottom line but also for the environment.
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I found that I could easily repurpose a Windows 10 laptop using RepurpOS. By doing this, I found that I could connect to a virtual desktop or use its native browser to run office applications and play videos without any issues. Since most users now have dual monitors, I tested the device's dual-monitor capabilities and found I could use two monitors without any problems.
I found RepurpOS stable, easy to use, and reliable. Having 10ZiG's powerful management software for free makes it a cost-effective solution for organizations transitioning to SaaS-based workflows and virtual desktops.
The fact that you can buy thin-client hardware from 10ZiG is a huge bonus, as you can use your existing PC now and then replace it as needed from the same company that provides the OS.
I do need to mention that, in addition to releasing an enterprise browser, 10ZiG also just released RepurpConvert. This allows you to install RepurpOS directly from Windows 10, without using a USB drive. This is a game-changer, as it enables users to run an MSI or EXE file or, more likely, to use Intune or another endpoint management solution to convert an existing Windows machine to RepurpOS.