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For what it's worth, I've used ThinStation (<a
href="http://thinstation.sourceforge.net">http://thinstation.sourceforge.net</a>),
which is a FOSS (Free Open Source Software) solution to turn nearly any
old computer into a thin client. This way old decommissioned computers
were given new life without any additional hardware expense. It works
well with Microsoft's terminal services, so you can use a MS server as
the back-end if you like. It also supports several other protocols
besides RDP, so you have several back-end server options besides
Microsoft.<br>
<br>
If you want to purchase new TC devices, Neoware (recently purchased by
Hewlett-Packard) makes some good thin clients with various models to
choose from and reasonable prices. <br>
<br>
On the back-end, you have options also. Microsoft, of course, and then
any number of free Linux options, might be among the most popular for
libraries. I've even used a product called XPUnlimited (<a
href="http://www.xpunlimited.com/">http://www.xpunlimited.com/</a>) to
share out a Windows XP desktop to a small number of computers. It looks
like they have a version now that supports Vista, FWIW. Locking down
either environment probably shouldn't be too difficult, depending on
your expertise in your chosen server operating system. Locking down the
thin client's themselves isn't the issue. It's the server and the user
profiles that you need to focus on. In a TC environment, on the server,
Deep Freeze and/or the full hard drive protection features of
SteadyState probably aren't your best options.<br>
<br>
Then the next hurdle is trying to get your pc reservation system and/or
print management solution to work in a TC environment...<br>
<br>
Plenty of hands-on testing and configuring to do here before you roll
out your solution!<br>
<br>
Good luck!<br>
<br>
Chad<br>
<br>
-----------------------<br>
Chad Neeper<br>
Senior Systems Engineer<br>
<br>
Level 9 Networks<br>
740-548-8070 (voice)<br>
866-214-6607 (fax)<br>
<br>
-- Full LAN/WAN consulting services --<br>
-- Specialized in libraries and schools --<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Lucretia Wiley wrote:<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> Sunflower BODY { MARGIN-TOP: 25px;
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT:<br>
> 20px; COLOR: #666600; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica } IMG {<br>
> MARGIN-TOP: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: -20px } Sorry, had to resend the
email<br>
> below.<br>
> <br>
> *Lucretia Wiley * *Computer Systems Technician* *Warren Trumbull<br>
> County Public Library* *444 Mahoning Avenue* *Warren, OH 44483* <br>
> *330-399-8807 ext. 141* *Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wileyl@wtcpl.org">wileyl@wtcpl.org</a><br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:wileyl@wtcpl.org"><mailto:wileyl@wtcpl.org></a>*<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> ------------------------- *From:* Lucretia Wiley *Sent:* Monday,
July<br>
> 21, 2008 12:36 PM *To:* <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:oplintech@oplin.lib.oh.us">oplintech@oplin.lib.oh.us</a> *Subject:* Thin<br>
> client computers<br>
> <br>
> ** *Good Afternoon,* ** *I wanted to find out if any of you have
thin<br>
> client computers at your* *library being used as email only
stations<br>
> and if so, what brands and* *models do you have? Also, how are you<br>
> locking them down and do * *you have a time limit as to how long
the<br>
> patron can use the station?* ** *We currently use deepfreeze to
lock<br>
> the computers down and PC * *reservation to reserve and limit the<br>
> time a patron can use a computer.*<br>
> <br>
> *I would like to look into using Windows Steadystate to lock the<br>
> computers* *down with so any suggestions that anyone could give me<br>
> would be highly* *appreciated.* ** *Thanks,*<br>
> <br>
> *Lucretia Wiley * *Computer Systems Technician* *Warren Trumbull<br>
> County Public Library* *444 Mahoning Avenue* *Warren, OH 44483* <br>
> *330-399-8807 ext. 141* *Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wileyl@wtcpl.org">wileyl@wtcpl.org</a><br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:wileyl@wtcpl.org"><mailto:wileyl@wtcpl.org></a>*<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> -------------------------<br>
> <br>
> _______________________________________________ OPLINTECH mailing<br>
> list <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:OPLINTECH@oplin.org">OPLINTECH@oplin.org</a> <br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech">http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech</a></span><br>
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