Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry
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Business Use Case
I have some users in my organization that does clerical work / data entry. All this user really needs is RDP to our ERP system and Outlook, maybe a printer, and a one-off app here or there, such as UltraVNC or Excel or something. Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
We recently purchased Chromebooks for a small quick project for the HR department that is about to be finished. I was considering either repurposing these Chromebooks for mobile users that still don't require anything really heavy (not doing Excel PivotTables, data analysis, or anything) but still needs a laptop of some kind.
I know that I can get the apps from the Google Play store to do what we need. I am looking at Chrome Enterprise Licensing to manage the security of the devices.
Question
With looking at deploying a few apps, how much resources do I really need (RAM, CPU, Storage)? I doubt I need 8 GB of RAM to run Outlook and RDP, plus printers and another app. 4 GB should do just fine, unless I'm overestimating the capabilities of the device. i3 or Celeron should do just fine. Doubt an i7 would be necessary. Stock 32 GB of storage as nothing should be stored on the devices and everything on the servers.Is there really an ROI by going from a Windows box to a Chromebox? I doubt I would be spending any more of my time troubleshooting chromeboxes in comparison to windows boxes. I would just have some spare chromeboxes on hand that I could quickly replace troublesome boxes with and work on the troubled boxes in the server room. $1k/Windows box and may last 1-2 (maybe 3-5) years plus internal support versus $250-500/chromebox + $50 annual licensing fee to Google for managing the chromebox + internal support (maybe less than before with the Windows box, but support would still have to be there).
With this change, would we be reducing our security footprint and begin the slow movement to a LANless model? Not as many attack vectors for a Chromebox in comparison to a Windows box, as we all know, eventually could I migrate client devices in general to a DMZ/untrusted networkzone and treat it that way while keeping the servers in a trusted network zone?
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Printer... that throws a wrench in the works. Chromebooks do not use printers in a traditional way. You might be okay, or might have a complication. If you want traditional printing, you'll want traditional Linux desktops instead of ChromeOS.
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@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
All this user really needs is RDP to our ERP system and Outlook, maybe a printer, and a one-off app here or there, such as UltraVNC or Excel or something.
ChromeOS cannot run Outlook, Excel, etc.
VNC might work, here is an example.
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@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
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@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
I know that I can get the apps from the Google Play store to do what we need. I am looking at Chrome Enterprise Licensing to manage the security of the devices.
Once you add Chome Enterprise Licensing, the cost of Chromebooks gets rather high.
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@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
With this change, would we be reducing our security footprint and begin the slow movement to a LANless model? Not as many attack vectors for a Chromebox in comparison to a Windows box, as we all know, eventually could I migrate client devices in general to a DMZ/untrusted networkzone and treat it that way while keeping the servers in a trusted network zone?
Windows will do LANless just as well as ChromeOS. The difference is that ChromeOS is LANless only, Windows is flexible. Anything you can do with ChromeOS you could also choose to do with Windows, MacOS, or a Linux option.
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
You're whiteboxing, aren't you?
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
I pay $1000 for a similar spec from HP.
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Given the needs, I would strongly consider Fedora or Ubuntu here. Tons of management options (that don't cost money), and no shortage of app options, and really simple remote control options. All things that will be challenges on Chromebooks.
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
You're whiteboxing, aren't you?
Correct.
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
I pay $1000 for a similar spec from HP.
Right, but why? That's a lot of extra money to get something kinda blah.
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Paying 10% for OEM support is nice and easily worth it. Paying 150% extra for that seems... nutty.
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
I pay $1000 for a similar spec from HP.
Right, but why? That's a lot of extra money to get something kinda blah.
Share your source?
I don't buy many desktops - though quick count - we have... 46 - damn.. more than I realized.. we have around 60 laptops.
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
I pay $1000 for a similar spec from HP.
Right, but why? That's a lot of extra money to get something kinda blah.
Share your source?
I don't buy many desktops - though quick count - we have... 46 - damn.. more than I realized.. we have around 60 laptops.
We're probably split in desktops versus laptops. We don't do enterprise-wide client refreshes. We purchase laptops and desktops as requested by the user's manager (we internally charge the requesting department for the equipment in order to keep requests down).
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
All this user really needs is RDP to our ERP system and Outlook, maybe a printer, and a one-off app here or there, such as UltraVNC or Excel or something.
ChromeOS cannot run Outlook, Excel, etc.
VNC might work, here is an example.
We're pulling Outlook and Excel from the Google Play store, just like you would on your Android phone.
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@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
I pay $1000 for a similar spec from HP.
Right, but why? That's a lot of extra money to get something kinda blah.
Share your source?
I don't buy many desktops - though quick count - we have... 46 - damn.. more than I realized.. we have around 60 laptops.
We're probably split in desktops versus laptops. We don't do enterprise-wide client refreshes. We purchase laptops and desktops as requested by the user's manager (we internally charge the requesting department for the equipment in order to keep requests down).
Boy how I would love that.
Our fleet is definitely showing it's age. Most desktops are 5 years old now - I've updating a few this week that are 7+ years old.
outside of a failure, I can only replace 2 per month.
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@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
All this user really needs is RDP to our ERP system and Outlook, maybe a printer, and a one-off app here or there, such as UltraVNC or Excel or something.
ChromeOS cannot run Outlook, Excel, etc.
VNC might work, here is an example.
We're pulling Outlook and Excel from the Google Play store, just like you would on your Android phone.
how well does those work on ChromeOS?
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Printer... that throws a wrench in the works. Chromebooks do not use printers in a traditional way. You might be okay, or might have a complication. If you want traditional printing, you'll want traditional Linux desktops instead of ChromeOS.
That might be a possibility. The only 2 things really blocking us from doing this is tech familiarity and user retraining. Otherwise, I would put in a Salt Master inside the trusted zone and minions on the desktops. OWS for Outlook (which would lower costs for us, from $15/user to $10/user) and Reminna for RDP to the ERP.
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
All this user really needs is RDP to our ERP system and Outlook, maybe a printer, and a one-off app here or there, such as UltraVNC or Excel or something.
ChromeOS cannot run Outlook, Excel, etc.
VNC might work, here is an example.
We're pulling Outlook and Excel from the Google Play store, just like you would on your Android phone.
how well does those work on ChromeOS?
About as well as you would expect on an Android phone, similar to the Chromebook. Not much functionality in comparison to Outlook in Windows. These users aren't doing PivotTables, but just data entry at best for Excel.
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@NerdyDad said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
Normally, we have been deploying Dell OptiPlex's SFF in place because they don't consume a lot of power, small desktop footprint, and still does the job. However, I have been thinking that it just may still be overkill and cost a lot at $1k/computer + internal support.
Our high power quad core, 16GB RAM, WD SSD desktops are only $405 new. If we needed low power clerical systems, they would cost a bit less. What's causing that high cost?
I pay $1000 for a similar spec from HP.
Right, but why? That's a lot of extra money to get something kinda blah.
Share your source?
I don't buy many desktops - though quick count - we have... 46 - damn.. more than I realized.. we have around 60 laptops.
We get the stuff from PCM. You can hit up @ysapir
