Desktop virtualization is an aggregate term for many different technologies that includes:

• VDI
• Terminal services
• Client VMs
• OS streaming
• Traditional desktops

VDI  – A user’s desktop is moved into the data center and put on a virtual machine.  Windows 7 is on a virtual machine on some server in the datacenter.

Terminal Services – This is what Microsoft calls remote desktop session hosts. Similar to VDI, with terminal services multiple users share the same server instead of a 1:1 ratio as you have with VDI.

Client VMs – Virtual machine can go on your client device.  This allows the user to take the machine and run offline.  The OS doesn’t run locally; a hypervisor such as Virtual Bridges runs on the client device.

OS streaming – OS streaming allows you to take the hard drive out of a desktop computer and share it across multiple machines.  The machine boots up and mounts a disk image across the network.  Make one modification on the network and the next time the computers boot, they have the image.  No hypervisor is involved.

Traditional desktops – What strategy do you want to use for your desktops?  A blended approach takes into account all of the forms of desktop virtualization noted above and may include traditional desktops as well.