[K12OSN] the cat's meow -- thin client

Tue May 23 15:06:59 UTC 2006

Message sent:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing with regards to documents on your website which refer to
the Open Source operating system Linux in relation with Embedded PC
devices, and I'm wondering whether someone could revise these
documents written in 2004, as many items mentioned in these documents
appear inaccurate or have no reference to solid sources which can
corroborate the information.

I'm referring to the web page at
http://www.chippc.com/support/kbase/answer.asp?ID=CKB00063 and the
powerpoint presentation at
http://www.chippc.com/library/files/presentation/Linux%20TC%203.ppt

One concern I have in the PPT, is with the item which says (Slide 12,
item 1) Claim: "You can get the source code" Truth: "Yeh, good luck.
Ask Wyse or Neoware for the source code and see what you get. Note: MS
provides CE .NET source code to selected vendors"

If you require the source code for the linux kernel, or any
applications which are statically linked against GNU General Public
Licenced (GPL) code, and you are unable to locate this code, then
there is a licencing issue which needs to be addressed by the Free
Software Foundation who will attempt to resolve this licence issue. If
you are referring to an application which they have written in-house,
which is not licenced under an "Open Source Licence" such as the GPL,
then they are not obliged to release the code for this software.

All of the common Linux thin-client stack is released under various
GPL-friendly licences (kernel, X-Windows, rdesktop), although (I
believe) the Citrix client is not released under a GPL-friendly
licence, it is available as a free download for Linux.

I'm also concerned by the comments about Open Source Security, both in
the web page and the PPT. In the web page it says "Vulnerability to
Viruses" "HIGH" followed with the comment "Linux is not standardized
and not secured." In the PPT it says "You have less viruses risks"
"Much easier to develop viruses to open-source OS. Security is big
problem!" While it is easier to develop a virus in an open source OS,
it is also easier to identify flawed code and prevent it from running,
or identify it. A search on "Linux/" in the Sophos virus definitions
returns 4 pages. The same search for "W32/" returns over 600 pages
today.

It is stated in the PPT (Slide 7 - Claim 1) ""Linux will run on any
platform" - So why do I need 196 MB of flash and 128 MB of RAM to run
it on a Thin-client?", then on the web page, specify 64Mb flash. I'm
not certain about Linux Embedded, but Linux on the desktop will run X
Windows on a 386 chip, with 8Mb Ram from a floppy disk. The
ThinStation package will run from an 8Mb ISO image and over PXE.

Slide 26 shows "Local browser" Linux "Bad – Netscape / Mozzila" -
Windows CE "Good - IE 6.0 Embedded" - Why is Mozilla and Netscape
considered "bad"? when there are more security vunerabilities
introduced by Internet Explorer than Mozilla?

It's also slightly worrying that the last slide on your PPT shows only
Microsoft resources, no impartial views? Reviews from other websites?

I've only addressed the main issues that I'm uncomfortable with, but
all these pages seem to show is re-badged Microsoft sales information.
Your products were suggested today on a fairly high-profile Linux
Terminal Services mailing list, but immediately slated as soon as
these pages were turned up.

I hope you can look into either reviewing these documents, or removing
them entirely, as they are not at all beneficial to you or your
business.

Regards,

Jon Spriggs

On 5/23/06, Jon Spriggs <jon at spriggs.org.uk> wrote:
> Well, there are kinda some reasons for that.
>
> Basically, it looks like they are only looking at embedded devices, so
> they are saying that from a development perspective. Having said that,
> I'm not endorsing or approving the document they've written, and I'd
> certainly like to discuss with them issues they've mentioned in this
> document, asking for some proof, besides some quotes from the Wyse
> development that I'm guessing they've pulled straight from the
> Microsoft website, mostly revolving around the "viruses" object, and
> the assumption that !=MSIE is a bad thing!!!
>
> Anyway, I'll drop them a note, and see what they have to say.
>
> Jon "The Nice Guy"
>
> On 5/23/06, Paul VanGundy <vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us> wrote:
> >
> >
> > That presentation is misleading and has some false statements in it. For
> > example, I have no issues incorporating LTSP into my current MS
> > infrastructure. I also noticed that all of the resources for this
> > presentation were from Microsoft.......
> >
> > -Paul
> >
> > --
> > Paul VanGundy
> > Information Technology Director
> > Epping High School
> > Epping Middle School
> > P: 603.679.5472
> > F: 603.679.2966
> > vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us
> > Registered Linux User #398783
> >
> >
> >  ________________________________
> >  From: k12osn-bounces at redhat.com [mailto:k12osn-bounces at redhat.com] On
> > Behalf Of Mark Gumprecht
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 6:49 AM
> > To: Support list for opensource software in schools.
> > Subject: Re: [K12OSN] the cat's meow -- thin client
> >
> >
> > I checked out their site and came across a windows CE vs Linux terminal...
> > it was less than impressive. Neat concept, but the company doesn't seem to
> > think much of LTS.
> > http://www.chippc.com/library/files/presentation/Linux%20TC%203.ppt
> > mark
> >
> > rmcdaniel at indata.us wrote:
> > These are cool. I sent an email telling them that they should configure
> > the clients to use PXE or Etherboot in addition to RDP and Citrix.
> > Perhaps if several from this list sent emails, they might listen and
> > modify them a little.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ronald R. McDaniel
> > Conecuh County Schools
> > (251) 578-7073 x26
> > (251) 238-1890 cell
> > 1*4238*104 SouthernLinc
> > rmcdaniel at indata.us
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: [SPAM] [K12OSN] the cat's meow -- thin client
> > From: Barry R Cisna <cisna-barry at wc235.k12.il.us>
> > Date: Sat, May 20, 2006 8:36 am
> > To: K12LTSP-listserve <k12osn at redhat.com>
> >
> > Howdy All,
> >
> > Just thought I'd throw this out. Maybe most have seen/heard of
> > these ?This rig looks like it would be the cat's meow for a school
> > scenario. All three models are PoE compliant,This would be a God's send
> > in itself, if you are like our school with "not enough power outlets" in
> > each room.All would have to be done is have all PoE compliant
> > switches,which can be had for about $310 for a 24 port with gig
> > uplinks.Get rid of all of the power cord mumbo-jumbo/spaghetti.
> > Think of it ,no knobs or edges or buttons for the kids to tear off :)
> > The only trick would be to see if the AMD Alchemy video would be able to
> > work? I talked to a distributor for these and he told me they are now
> > available in the states. They were having troubles with the voltages,on
> > the prototypes brought here to the states, as these are manufactured in
> > the Middle East. He told me that his company fitted these ,several
> > hundred into a new corporate offices,and works very well. But they were
> > RDP'ing to WTS server.
> > they only require 5w of power which would be sweet as well. 0 noise &
> > probably almost 0 heat output.
> > It's worth taking a look at it, when you have time.
> >
> > http://www.chippc.com/products/jackpc/
> >
> >
> > Take Care,
> >
> > Barry Cisna
> >
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Mark Gumprecht
> > MSAD3
> > Unity, Maine 04988
> > gumprechtm at msad3.org
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
>