UN buys into Ncomputing's Linux thin-client PCs (The Inquirer) [LWN.net]

The Inquirer reports on a United Nations project to get 1000 Linux-based thin clients into schools in developing countries. "Ncomputing will not only provide its One-Watt thin-client devices but will also provide logistical and operational support for deployment in primary and secondary schools through 2012. A pilot project has already been completed in Burkina Faso, with more projects scheduled for Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania in 2009."

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virtual rant

Posted Jun 1, 2009 13:47 UTC (Mon) by tzafrir (subscriber, #11501) [Link]

> Ncomputing claims to have shipped over a million
> 'virtual desktops' to more than 140 countries

If they are virtual, how could they be shipped?

(This rant is virtual. It only exists on the LWN server :-) )

UN buys into Ncomputing's Linux thin-client PCs (The Inquirer)

Posted Jun 1, 2009 17:28 UTC (Mon) by TomMD (guest, #56998) [Link]

I generally like the thin client approach, but in a rugged / 3rd world area? The central server will take not-insignificant amounts of power while it constitutes a single point of failure. Using numerous 2 watt ARM systems you get the ability to individually charge and they'd fail more-or-less independently.

From what I understand on the Ncomputing site, the thin clients take one watt but if the server takes even 100 watts then the power profile is 4 watts each (30 clients per server was a stated maximum in the article).

The quantities sound high (1M), so perhaps this has more merit than I currently acknowledge. It is hard to extract technical details from their website.