On Friday 2004-06-04 15:05, Alan Dayley wrote:
> Bryce C said:
> --[clip]--
>
> > as much as the card, and you can use 'em for more than *just* that. I'm
> > bummed that they don't have my favorite thin client, a small box about
> > the size of a floppy disk and about 2" tall for really cheap. Guess they
> > don't make it anymore.
>
> You mean like this one: http://www.openbrick.org/?
>
> You can also find manufacturers of single board computers in the embedded
> PC/104 format (size: 3.6" x 3.8") that can provide a little metal case for
> one of their boards which could be used for an LTSP client.
>
> Alan
>

Everytime the LTSP concept comes up it sounds really cool.  

Then I ask myself where to deploy them.

Schools ... ok.
McDesktops .. maybe.

BUT what I really think of as the "killer" use for LTSP is in the Phone Room 
of DOOM! 

There are two problems.  You DO NOT give CSRs a full suite of office software.  
If you deploy on MS they get Terminal Server, a mail client (maybe, limited 
to internal email only), and one vertical Killer Application.

* If telemarketing, they need sales force automation.
* If customer service, CSM client software.
* If market research, CATI (computer aided telephone interviewing)
* If help desk ... well some sort of fault tree automation. 
* What ever it is they use in collections.

Note that the two BIG expenses are NOT related to MS desktop software.  The 
expenses are:

* Hardware.  I've seen small business owners turn white and gibber in panick 
at the thought of 20 new bottom end PCs, a network upgrade, and new monitors.

* Licensing for the vertical Killer Application.  (In the two cases I've seen, 
market research firms have ONLY upgraded hardware when forced to do so by 
their CATI vendor!)

* Server software.

* The server itself.

---------------------

Now on Linux they might get some hardware savings.  But what phone room Killer 
Apps are available for the Linux desktop?? (Namely sales force automation, 
CSM, CATI, and what ever it is for collections and help desk.)

The folks I've worked with mostly cared about initial cost of ownership, 
reliability, and longevity.  (They were cheap and hated IT as a @#$% money 
pit.)  They do not care one little bit about open source.  They don't have an 
IT department of note, so they will not only never hack the source code, once 
they get the application running it may be *YEARS* before they consider 
upgrading or patching.

The critical question with Linux is so often "can I get the application I need 
and love on Windows for Linux (or a @#$% suitable subsititute).  LTSP exists.  
When combined with X-windowing it replaces terminal server.  So what?  Can my 
boiler room rober barons get competative vertical killer apps?

If they can get their vertical application, what will be the ICO?  How often 
will they be forced to upgrade?

If they can obtain and afford their killer app, then (and only then) can we 
ask how much will we save on hardware.
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