One reason to use an X-terminal or a thin-client using LTSP is that the
workstation can be cheaper. I had a potential job putting together work
centres using possibly diskless workstations. There was going to be
about 100 units and about six to a server. The project had a very
limited budget for hardware and the idea was that the money could be
saved on the cost of the diskless workstations. (Using old computers was
not acceptable.) The trouble is that the hardware costs were not quite
cheap enough but I feel it ought to be possible to get it cheaper.
The most inexpensive solution I could put together, here in Australia
was a "Box-pc" from elx.com.au that came in at $800.00 Australian. That
is 512 megahertz, with screen, keyboard and 256 meg memory. This was my
sort of benchmark product. The price wasn't quite good enough after
adding in the cost of a server. The Box-PC is overkill being effectively
a mini PC....the cost of adding a disk was so small that it would have
been cheaper to buy the disk version and not buy the server. The main
cost is however in the price of a TFT
The job didn't go ahead but I can't help but think there ought to be a
way to get a harware thin-client that could make the system very
inexpensive.
Searching the internet, I found there are not many commercial thin
clients but there are some in the United States. Although the web ads
look cheap there are hidden costs (like TFT and keyboard) and after
phoning I found the cost to be about the same as the Box-PC but with the
extra risk and cost of importing. Also without the advantages of using
LTSP since the commercial thin-clients come with their own proprietry
onboard thin client software.
I tried looking at small "Embedded" computer boards. Basically a
processor with IO ports on a board. I only researched one place but the
boards were almost as expensive as the Box-PC and it would have been
necessary to buy a power supply and a chassis and do the assembly.
I am interested in exploring this approach more. Intuitively it seems
there ought to be a cheap board solution. Some-one suggested using a PDA
which is a great idea but is not a suitable all-day work-station.
I am interested to hear of anyone's deas and experiences.
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