[K12OSN] OT: Apple Imac lab
Rob Owens
rowens at ptd.net
Fri Feb 27 22:02:34 UTC 2009
On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 03:18:42PM -0500, David Hopkins wrote:
> > PowerPC Apple boxes don't use PXE; they use a system more akin to how Sun
> > boxes net-boot. That said, they make fine thin clients assuming they've got
> > decent screen resolution. That'll of course depend on when it was made.
>
> This would be a completely new lab with new hardware. Probably 20"
> all-in-one units.
>
> > Since you're talking about iMacs, that means they all use the newer
> > OpenFirmware, like all other "NewWorld" PPC Macs. You should be able to
> > netboot these things just fine. However, if you run into trouble with that,
> > I've done basic Yellow Dog Linux installs with pretty much just X11 (no
> > GNOME, KDE, Firefox, or any of that other stuff). Just enough to get X11 to
> > run. Then you can stick the following in the rc.local file.
> >
> > X -query w.x.y.z
> >
> > where w.x.y.z is your LTSP server. This alternate strategy works very well
> > with anything, regardless of architecture, just so long as you've got X11
> > installed (OpenBSD, FreeBSD, any GNU/Linux, Slowaris, whatever)
> >
> > So, if it's dirt-cheap, has 10/100 like all iMacs should, and has decent
> > screen resolution, then yeah, go for it!
> >
>
> I think the estimated cost is almost $40K for this lab. I"m not keen
> on it, but I was asked about it. If someone can show me a way to do
> movie editing, sound editing, etc with OSS and local apps using the
> latest k12Linux, I would be ecstatic.
>
If the school is willing to spend money on new hardware, why not compare an all-Mac lab to an all-Linux lab, without using LTSP. That's more of an
apples-to-apples comparison. LTSP isn't always the best solution, and it sounds like standalone Linux systems would have a better chance against
standalone Macs in this case (specifically because of the video and audio editing).
$40K would buy you at least 50 pretty nice white-box machines with 22"
widescreen monitors. Probably closer to 60.
-Rob
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