Peter;
While I understand your argument and agree that the TCO of an LTSP
implementation is better over the long haul, my client had a need for
only 3 PCs for customers to use to browse the Internet with no server.
He was waving an offer from Dell at me for complete PCs with 17"
Flat Panel Monitors for $399 ea.
My price for thin client + Flat Panel + Keyboard + mouse was higher
and yet didn't have software, hard disk, CD-ROM and required a
server.
Don't get me wrong - I finally sold him on it and since then, he said
it's some of the best money he ever spent and is entirely pleased with
the setup.
My point is that LTSP+Ruby could significantly lower the per-seat
cost to make a much more compelling argument in favor of LTSP.
Tom
Peter Billson wrote:
Tom,
I disagree that LTSP has a hardware cost disadvantage.
Cheapest Dell PC (no monitor) is about $300 but that is only
available with XP Home. Cheapest Dell PC with XP Professional I could
find was $470.
In any application where you are thinking about deploying a number of
Windows PCs, you will be using XP Pro.
New thin clients are $210 each and a Dell server that will support 30
clients is about $4,000.00. That is a total of about $350 per seat.
Even running a peer-to-peer Windows network (no server) LTSP is $120
cheaper per seat.
And that doesn't account for:
a) In a more realistic comparison you would have to add in for a
Windows domain server - at least $100 per seat.
b) Setting up 30 individual PCs (Linux or Windows) is more costly in
labor then setting up 30 thin clients. (1/2 hour vs. 2 hours each)
c) The Dell PC is shipped bare - no Office Suite, Anti Virus, etc.
while the LTSP set up has everything you need. M$ software costs
would *easily* add several hundred dollars to the cost of each
desktop.
So without going to the whole TCO thing, LTSP is less expensive. TCO
just is icing on the cake.
Pete Billson
--
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Thomas Griffing Red Hat Certified Engineer
Pondus Solutions, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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