[sclug] Thin Clients

[Alex Butcher]

On Sat, 29 Jan 2005, Scott Rixon wrote:

> I got my hands on Windows XP Embedded Thin Client yesterday.. It got me 
> thinking...
>
> Why would anyone put XP embedded in a thin client? It's just a 'node' so who 
> care what it runs? Use Linux and you don't have any licensing costs..

I can't fault that logic. ;-)

I suspect that the reasoning goes that Windows is a recognised desktop
brand. If the thin clients ran Linux, their customers might get scared that
they were 'migrating to Linux on the desktop'.

> I think they are a great idea.. Does anyone know where I can get a 'cheap' 
> Linux/blank one from? I want to have more of a play.. I have to give the XP 
> one back so I can't really pull it apart and stick Linux on it..
>
> Unless... Could you PXE boot Linux to it? Could be an interesting project..

<http://pxes.sourceforge.net/>

> Thoughts? Experiences? If you ran one of these in an office you could have a 
> Windows TS server for all the legacy apps?!? I think there could be some 
> really power here...
>
> Scott

Alex.
-- 
Alex Butcher      Brainbench MVP for Internet Security: www.brainbench.com
Bristol, UK                      Need reliable and secure network systems?
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