[olug] Terminal clients

[Dan Linder]

On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 15:42, Kelly Williams <kellywilliams81 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have a friend that is IT for a ministry. We are in the process of taking
> the old machines that have Windows and turn them into terminal clients and I
> suggested that we use ubuntu for the client but he wants to use Windows. I
> have tried talking him into using Linux server and you don't need all the
> security software. I need input or advice.

When you say "terminal clients", I assume you mean a stripped OS with
a minimal Internet browser?  Or are you meaning a true
telnet/ssh/serial terminal?

How about licensing cost?  Unless there is a special licensing
agreement, he'll have to purchase licenses for these systems unless he
can re-install the OS that came with them.  (Does the Windows license
stay with the purchaser/owner, or move with the motherboard+cpu?)

If licensing is not an issue, how about additional costs such as
AntiVirus and cost+time to re-install after someone surfs to a site
that installs malware?

If the systems can be setup to support a diskless boot, he'll have
lower operating costs with having to pay for the power for the HDDs.
As a benefit he has only one system that needs to be backed up and
kept running.

Dan

-- 
***************** ************* *********** ******* ***** *** **
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
    (Who can watch the watchmen?)
    -- from the Satires of Juvenal
"I do not fear computers, I fear the lack of them."
    -- Isaac Asimov (Author)
** *** ***** ******* *********** ************* *****************