Before I start, I just wish to clarify that “client computers” mean the actual desktop computer or laptop that you are holding right now.
Long time ago, the client computers have very low specifications in terms of graphics, memory, hard disk and CPU speed. That’s because we rely on the centralized servers to process the information, while we only use keyboard to enter the information in a black screen (with no fancy graphics to appreciate).
Very soon, there is an increasing need for the client computers to be more powerful (if not it will be the same or even better than servers). The main usage is to watch videos, listen to music, play games and so on… People don’t like the boring black screen, and they want something more.
Then, the Internet came into play between the servers and client computers. Everyone of us simply use a web browser to surf the websites, install messenger programs to chat with our friends, and do many other things leveraging on the power of our computers as well as the servers.
Only this recently… With all the various tools created by Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Adobe and so on, the power is now given back to the servers again! We can almost work on anything with the use of a web browser only… We can use Google Doc to create our word documents and excel spreadsheets… We can use WordPress with Thesis to create almost any kind of website (not just a blog like the one you are reading right now). You can even use Pixlr to edit any images that you need!
Probably, the only things that we cannot use the power of a web browser is when we need to create videos and audio… I believe it’s just a matter of time as the whole world is now moving into an even faster Internet speed.
The only requirement that every client computer needs to have are: the latest version of web browsers, Java and Adobe Flash Player.
You probably don’t need to bring a laptop anymore in everywhere you go if you are doing an online business… 
