[oclug] This is what Linux was made for....

[Adrian Irving-Beer]

On Thu, Nov 25, 2004 at 01:36:47PM -0500, Robert Brockway wrote:

> Thin client.  Thin client.  Solutions to allow this sort of thing
> have been around as long as Unix and X have been around.

IMO, the network bandwidth required to pull off X on the network is a
little excessive.  Things like VNC would work, though, at the cost of
more server load.

> Certain large companies have done a great job of convincing almost
> everyone that each user needs their own computer on the desktop.
> They do not.

Except that you'd need to severely reeducate the users, since they've
grown up accustomed to the single-user workstation.  Resource-hogging,
OS-reinstalling, virus-spreading PHBs.  Old story, but one that
inevitably requires 'backwards compatibility' in all the less
progressive companies.

Might make more sense in schools -- if you subscribe to the modern
'kids shouldn't be able to experiment with computers in school'
philosophy.  Web browsers (minimal plugins) and office suites.  Fair
use all around (barring bugs).

IMO, individual PCs are like the bulkheads on the Titanic -- sure,
they suck; they won't stop the entire network from becoming
flooded with junk, or the company from sinking in its own
technical ineptitude; but they're better than nothing, and they're
all we got for now.
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: Digital signature
Url : http://tux.oclug.on.ca/pipermail/oclug/attachments/20041125/2a6fcd63/attachment.bin