Windows Tablets as 'Proper' Domain Clients? Any Stories?

[Miscbrah]

Hi gang - anybody done this? Keep thinking on and off that I can get some of these working here and burst the iFans' bubbles with home area-having, printer-using, group policy-accepting portable lil domain client tablets with some Microsofts happening on them.

 

Just thought I'd see how things had gone, if there were any horror stories or zen-like calm and happiness where they're used.

 

Anybody got some or know someone who has?

 

Ta for any replies or happy/horror stories.

[FN-GM]

We have some here and they work a treat. Running 8.1. Only real complaint is the battery doesn't last as long with a "full fat" tablet.

[Miscbrah]

Intredasting... ta for that.

 

Thought I'd also ask if you (or even if you can) image them? Do they just 'take' .msi packages etc?

[Griff]

Good thread we are also looking to move down this route..

[StevieM]

^^

Likewise.

[MYK-IT]

I have a Dell Venue Pro 11 (i5) Windows Mobile tablet for IT support use/testing; joined to the domain (effectively just built/configured like a laptop). It has windows 8.1 enterprise, although as a school we are on windows 7 enterprise. It works, although unless its a metro style app, using touch screen can be a bit fiddly. Planning on getting a docking station so that I can use it as my main work computer too.

 

As stated, battery life isn't great; but if introducing school wide would most probably get the cheaper Atom models as most usage would be for web browsing and office applications anyway. In fact, just ordered some Atom Dell Venue Pro 11's for our ICT Teaching Staff to trial/use.

Edited June 16, 2014 by MYK-IT

[zag]

An ipad with OneDrive and wireless printing works just as well we have found

[Miscbrah]

An ipad

 

No need for that sort of filthy language in here mister!

 

Heh, yeah we've a few ipads here, which I have little to do with, but my WORD the hassle there is installing apps, registering this and that and this and that... the stress that eminates from the folks trying to do *anything* with them seems to merit considering alternatives alone, before even starting on specific pros and cons.

 

Centrally managing the things with GP, deciding WHICH printers and drives they get, what icons show and where, kiddies getting the software pushed out, managing them like they're regular clients... all seems like a heavenly state of affairs.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

An ipad

 

No need for that sort of filthy language in here mister!

 

Heh, yeah we've a few ipads here, which I have little to do with, but my WORD the hassle there is installing apps, registering this and that and this and that... the stress that eminates from the folks trying to do *anything* with them seems to merit considering alternatives alone, before even starting on specific pros and cons.

 

Centrally managing the things with GP, deciding WHICH printers and drives they get, what icons show and where, kiddies getting the software pushed out, managing them like they're regular clients... all seems like a heavenly state of affairs.

[SovietRussia]

8.1 tablets are deffo the way forward - from a end user and management point of view they are win win!

[3s-gtech]

We have two Asus T100 tablets and a Toshiba Encore 8. I put 8.1 Enterprise on them all - swines to image, but fine for standalone or possibly USB cloned installs. Can't get 64 bit OS onto them though sadly, meaning we've had to regain some 32 bit clients again.

 

Seem to work well. Not got any in large rollouts, but I'd be much happier issuing these than iPads nwo.

[Norphy]

No need for that sort of filthy language in here mister!

 

Heh, yeah we've a few ipads here, which I have little to do with, but my WORD the hassle there is installing apps, registering this and that and this and that... the stress that eminates from the folks trying to do *anything* with them seems to merit considering alternatives alone, before even starting on specific pros and cons.

 

Centrally managing the things with GP, deciding WHICH printers and drives they get, what icons show and where, kiddies getting the software pushed out, managing them like they're regular clients... all seems like a heavenly state of affairs.

 

That's great on the desktop but on the Metro side of things, it's not so clear cut.

[Miscbrah]

That's great on the desktop but on the Metro side of things, it's not so clear cut.

 

Leads me on to asking, is there *something* available in GP for managing the metro screen?

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

We have two Asus T100 tablets and a Toshiba Encore 8. I put 8.1 Enterprise on them all - swines to image, but fine for standalone or possibly USB cloned installs. Can't get 64 bit OS onto them though sadly, meaning we've had to regain some 32 bit clients again.

 

Seem to work well. Not got any in large rollouts, but I'd be much happier issuing these than iPads nwo.

 

How did you image them? Clonezilla/Ghost type deal?

[FN-GM]

Leads me on to asking, is there *something* available in GP for managing the metro screen?

 

If you use Enterprise edition yet.

[Norphy]

Even then that'll only allow you to manage the layout of the screen. Deployment of apps and settings is a lot more complicated. Frankly, it's worse than iOS is in that regard.

[3s-gtech]

How did you image them? Clonezilla/Ghost type deal?

 

Thankfully I haven't had to image them yet, there's only the three of them so they were built individually.

[smidsy]

Have deployed 35 Asus Win8.1 tablets as full fat domain clients. Created image of master computer and then had to spread using USB y cable and pen drive. You can managed the Metro screen by creating your ideal screen and then taking the XML file using Powershell. The xml file can then be added to a GPO to be forced upon the clients. Not had to play with trying to deploy Metro apps yet though.

[edutech4schools]

I thought that things like the store do not work on a domain due to the store needing a different login account to the standard domain accounts, is this true?

[Norphy]

Not quite, no. You can still access the store when you're signed in using a domain account. You open the Windows Store app and sign in with a Microsoft account there.

 

The whole thing is a massive clusterfudge and Microsoft should be ashamed. IMO.

[StevieM]

I thought that things like the store do not work on a domain due to the store needing a different login account to the standard domain accounts, is this true?

 

Would you want standard users to be able to access the store, though? If the were on a domain, I'd set UAC so that only an admin account could install apps. I think our biggest problem would be the LEA filter blocking access.

[edutech4schools]

I have deployed Windows 8.1 touch laptops but nobody uses the Metro tiles and they all just use the standard desktop, which makes me think what is the point of a MS tablet using metro tiles. I could force it on them but if they want and prefer a standard desktop what's the point.

[Miscbrah]

Would you want standard users to be able to access the store, though? If the were on a domain, I'd set UAC so that only an admin account could install apps. I think our biggest problem would be the LEA filter blocking access.

 

That's the thing yeah, I would be actively blocking that anyway.

 

I'm thinking some Metro for the "Wow... tablet... new and shiny" factor, which we've determined we can set through .xml file pushout, and maybe even Server 2012 has options in GP too? Think I read that somewhere but don't recall so I might be lying there.

 

Push out .msis mebbe?

 

Image d2d with USB sticks.

 

Batteries suck which is a GOOD thing as it'll ENSURE they're charged and locked in cabs each night.

 

...I feel a PLAN coming on.

[dezt]

We run 60 Dell Latitude 10 tablets here, currently upgrading them to 8.1 enterprise, been in a year, everyone loves them.

[smidsy]

Server 2012 does indeed have the options in GP for Win 8 settings or I used a win 8.1 VM to set the GP as not got a 2012 server just yet. The children here like using metro but it does have its limitations e.g. it wont display a tile if the programs aren't installed on the machine so they also use the all programs list that can be got at by swiping up on the screen. I populate the all programs list with a startup script syncing to a redirected start menu.

 

MSI can be pushed out to the tablets using the normal method.

[abillybob]

I will start this by saying - mnah mnah - I will put this in every single one of your threads without fail.

 

Secondly I find them very easy to manage we have a test one here and I simply image and deploy with all the new apps installed and arranged how I'd like, I then unpin the store etc from the main start menu. Mainly they will just use them on standard desktop mode anyway but just in case.

[smidsy]

We have gone a step further than this at the moment and removed the store and bing health / fitness apps completely from the machine using a powershell script I found (and have now lost). If you want a copy of this script to have a look at then pm me.