Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry
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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
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@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.
If you moved to my whiteboxes, you could refresh TWICE as often, and still save hundreds. Plus you'd delay half of your expenditure by several years as a bonus.
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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?
He is ignoring
- the Windows License
- the assembly time of the hardware
- the purchasing of the hardware pieces
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@JaredBusch 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?
He is ignoring
- the Windows License
- the assembly time of the hardware
- the purchasing of the hardware pieces
No Windows license at all, so nothing ignored. It's for non-Windows boxes.
Assembling time, yes, that's ignored.
Purchasing? that's all in the cost. I just send an email, the box shows up.
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@JaredBusch 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?
He is ignoring
- the Windows License
- the assembly time of the hardware
- the purchasing of the hardware pieces
No Windows license at all, so nothing ignored. It's for non-Windows boxes.
Assembling time, yes, that's ignored.
Purchasing? that's all in the cost. I just send an email, the box shows up.
You are comparing a non windows licensed white box to a Windows licensed box. You are most definitely ignoring it.
Assembly time time most certainly matters.
With purchasing, I can just send an email and get a valid Dell/HP box. With whitebox, I most certianly cannot. I have to know the precise pieces being used all work together.
I did not mention you ignoring OS installation time as no one should ever leave the OEM install on their system.
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@JaredBusch said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@JaredBusch 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?
He is ignoring
- the Windows License
- the assembly time of the hardware
- the purchasing of the hardware pieces
No Windows license at all, so nothing ignored. It's for non-Windows boxes.
Assembling time, yes, that's ignored.
Purchasing? that's all in the cost. I just send an email, the box shows up.
You are comparing a non windows licensed white box to a Windows licensed box. You are most definitely ignoring it.
I'm not. In this use case, that license is vestigial. You can't get away from it, even when it is not needed. Just like if there was extra, useless hardware added to that one but isn't needed. In no way whatsoever is it ignored, it's an unnecessary cost that is just wasted money in this use case.
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@JaredBusch said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
With purchasing, I can just send an email and get a valid Dell/HP box. With whitebox, I most certianly cannot. I have to know the precise pieces being used all work together.
You certainly can. And in fact, Dash already asked about that and found out that he could just email @ysapir and ask for this setup and get it as easily as that. If you want this one, it is literally that easy. I can't get Dell or HP any easier.
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@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@JaredBusch said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@JaredBusch 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?
He is ignoring
- the Windows License
- the assembly time of the hardware
- the purchasing of the hardware pieces
No Windows license at all, so nothing ignored. It's for non-Windows boxes.
Assembling time, yes, that's ignored.
Purchasing? that's all in the cost. I just send an email, the box shows up.
You are comparing a non windows licensed white box to a Windows licensed box. You are most definitely ignoring it.
I'm not. In this use case, that license is vestigial. You can't get away from it, even when it is not needed. Just like if there was extra, useless hardware added to that one but isn't needed. In no way whatsoever is it ignored, it's an unnecessary cost that is just wasted money in this use case.
Are you saying you're getting a Windows (home or pro) license with your whitebox?
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@Dashrender said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@JaredBusch said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@scottalanmiller said in Chromebox for Clerks and Data Entry:
@JaredBusch 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?
He is ignoring
- the Windows License
- the assembly time of the hardware
- the purchasing of the hardware pieces
No Windows license at all, so nothing ignored. It's for non-Windows boxes.
Assembling time, yes, that's ignored.
Purchasing? that's all in the cost. I just send an email, the box shows up.
You are comparing a non windows licensed white box to a Windows licensed box. You are most definitely ignoring it.
I'm not. In this use case, that license is vestigial. You can't get away from it, even when it is not needed. Just like if there was extra, useless hardware added to that one but isn't needed. In no way whatsoever is it ignored, it's an unnecessary cost that is just wasted money in this use case.
Are you saying you're getting a Windows (home or pro) license with your whitebox?
I am not. I am saying that the thread is about non-Windows machines. ChromeOS or Fedora have no need for that license.
If you are comparing HP or Dell in this thread, you either have to assume that that license is wasted and pointless; or you have to assume that you are able to get that gear at a lower price without the license.
