NComputing??

[Josh Wanner]

Not sure if this was discussed in any other forum topics.

I have been looking at replacing our lab, you know the story.... Computers are getting older, equipment is starting to malfunction, things are starting to fail, and all this after a fresh image.

I have seen this Ncomputing come across my desk a few times. The cost looks good! Looks like 5 "Super Stud" computers could run my lab of 20 machines. Quick math....

Desktop Computers 25 Machines X $500 = 12,500

NComputing 5 "Super Studs" x $1000(if that) = 5000
5 NCom Units . $400 = 2000
Total = 7000

Cost is good! But has anyone had experience with this type of setup? All 2 reviews I saw, they both said the performance was GREAT! (Now, off to google it some more.)
So to my Tech Friends...What do you know?

Thanks in advance,

Josh

[Lloyd Sommerer]

We talked about these (in general, not this brand) at the Nebraska Technology Coordinator's Fall meeting, and the consensus of the people who used them seemed to be that they were fine for browsing and office suite programs, but had some trouble with more demanding applications.

The only big complaint was with peripherals. Connecting anything other than Keyboard, Video and Mouse seemed to be problematic.

But I don't have any personal experience with them.

[Jeremy Biddle]

I've looked at similar products as well over the past few years. Demanding apps like Photoshop, InDesign, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc. will not run well on these. You may also have issue with getting audio to each "station." I also seem to recall something about them only supporting certain monitor resolutions.

[Gary Nelson]

We currently run a 30 terminal thin-client lab using Wyse terminals with a dedicated server. Each station has an XP desktop with access to our standard apps (Type-to-Learn, MSOffice, MovieMaker, Inspiration etc...) through an application neighborhood as before. We can get sound at each terminal (using headphones to be practical) and have had no problems having a class or 28 go on to You Tube, TeacherTube or Animoto and watch a video with sound with no lag time. You do need to make sure each terminal has enough resident memory (1GB+) depending on the apps you will be using. There is also a USB port on each, but I haven't used them for anything more than an flashdrive. We don't have the funds for networked versions of more demanding apps, but can imagine those might cause problems.

[Jeremy Biddle]

What sort of specs does the lab server have?

[Gary Nelson]

I asked my IT guy for the specs and got this reply:

Actually your statement about a dedicated server is not accurate. The OS is streamed to the terminals from a Citrix Provisioning Server, but the terminals do not access that server in any way once they are booted. The Provisioning server provides the OS for the terminals via PXE boot and streaming. The applications are either included in the default OS image or provided by the Citrix XenApp environment.

I stand corrected.