[Web4lib] Thin client computer lab

[John Lambertson]

I would recommend against thin clients for a situation like yours.

For the cost of thin clients + monitors, you could easily afford low-end
notebooks or high-end netbooks with Windows.  You can then choose to install
Linux or not, or dual-boot for more learning options.

You would have wireless built in, so you could explore networking as a
learning option, without the need for a dedicated server.

Depending on the models you pick, you would likely have built-in cameras, so
video taking/editing would be open to you at no additional cost.

If one computer goes down, you still have many computers.  If one server
goes down, all of your thin clients are down.

Lending the computers would be an option, even if you don't want to go that
way to start.

Search and browse slickdeals.net for a few weeks, and you will see many
deals on inexpensive hardware.  For example, this one was linked yesterday:

http://sellout.woot.com/?ts=1270979906&sig=512f37c2f5cfe136

11.6" netbook with a lot of extras for $270.

I think you would really limit your teaching/learning choices with a
thin-client solution.

Full disclosure: I am not affiliated with any of the sites I list above, but
I have found good deals through slickdeals.net and I have purchased from
woot.com.

John Lambertson
III/Website Systems Administrator
Arapahoe Library District
webmaster at ald.lib.co.us
303.792.8948
arapahoelibraries.org