Virtualization = $avings
Desktop virtualization is of great interest to large organizations because there is enormous potential to save money and improve security.
* Modern multi-core processors running MetaFrame in the data center can each host multiple desktop sessions allowing the organization to replace most of its desktop PC's with thin clients. Thin clients are less expensive, more secure, cost less to support and don't need to be replaced as often. There may also be substantial savings in software licensing - you only need to license the maximum number of copies in use at one time. For most applications, that is a lot less than the total number of users in the organization. Some of the savings will need to be invested in the data center, network infrastructure and license metering but most organizations will come out way ahead.
* Virtualization allows you to optimize the environment for the application. If your organization has developed it's line of business applications in Oracle, it may make sense to build the virtual machines using Linux or Solaris instead of Windows. It's transparent to the user and may reduce the number of Windows licenses that need to be purchased.
* The support burden for a thin client is essentially zero. If they break, you simply replace them - no data to worry about, no uncertainty about whether it is a hardware or software issue, they can't be infected with malware. Whatever goes wrong, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get the user back up and running and very little technical skill is required.
* Thin clients are inherently secure. Corporate data is kept where it belongs - on the servers. Accessible but not transferable.
Power users will still need workstations and mobile users will still need laptops but most organizations can probably replace 75% of their computers with thin clients with no reduction in service to the users. There are a lot of potential savings there and significantly reduced attack surface for those concerned about security.