dayzd Posted July 14, 2014 Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) Hi all! I'm on the verge of setting up a new Xibo installation to replace our ageing PowerPoint-based digital signage. At present, I've decided I'm going to run the Xibo server component on Ubuntu Server. For the clients however, I'm not so sure. I'd prefer to run them on Ubuntu, saving the cost of Windows and Office licenses (I don't intend to embed PowerPoint files anyway), but get the impression that the Windows-based client might be easier to use and maintain. I'm anticipating using client machines with Core i3 or i5 processors and the on-board IntelHD graphics they provide, so hopefully there'll be no major performance problems hardware-wise. Has anybody got experience of both versions of the clients? Is there a large difference in reliability and/or performance between them? Thanks in advance of any guidance! I apologise if this topic has been covered before, but I've tried a couple of searches of the forum and haven't yet found too much on the subject. Admittedly, I've not looked too hard, so I may have missed something somewhere! **Edit Just discovered this forum thread on the exact same topic, which leads me to think I'm probably heading in the right direction! Edited July 14, 2014 by dayzd
synaesthesia Posted July 14, 2014 Posted July 14, 2014 Once they're up and running, using/maintaining them is no different to Windows; the UI is browser based on both and nearly identical, if not actually identical. We got quite a performance increase by switching to Ubuntu as a server, on top of the reliability increase found by not using Powerpoint 1
dayzd Posted July 14, 2014 Author Posted July 14, 2014 That's a nicely re-assuring post. Thanks! I'm fairly certain I'll be making myself slightly less popular by offering something that doesn't support PPT (let's face it, most non-techy people like using it), but if the system is reliable enough without it, I don't imagine it'll be missed for long. :-)
tekins Posted July 14, 2014 Posted July 14, 2014 Just export the powerpoint as a movie, very simple and works.
tomearnshaw Posted July 14, 2014 Posted July 14, 2014 I would strongly suggest you take a look at the Android version for clients. We have two MINIX Neo minis which we get from Amazon for just over £50. Counter in a licence for £15 and you are looking at a cheap but very easy to manage system.
TheScarfedOne Posted July 14, 2014 Posted July 14, 2014 Using the Windows client for past 2 years...works fine, doing the version upgrade in a few weeks...
beany1 Posted July 15, 2014 Posted July 15, 2014 We have indoor and outdoor signage, using Windows 8.1 clients on nettops - no problems with them. Most of the content is videos exported from PowerPoint. All on domain in a signage OU so have custom group policy settings. Uber easy to manage.
dayzd Posted February 18, 2015 Author Posted February 18, 2015 Just digging up an old thread for the sake of completeness and to help stop anyone else making the same mistake that I just did... While it is mentioned in the Xibo documentation now, I don't think it was when I was originally looking in to this, or at least I missed it - the Python-based Ubuntu Xibo Client doesn't work with anything other than Nvidia graphics cards. I've just spent the better part of a week making many mistakes (and learning a lot) to get to the point where I can finally run the client, only to find graphics performance is TERRIBLE on Intel's i3/5/7 native graphics systems. Fading in the Xibo splash screen is a less-than stellar 2fps experience... Now I have to go and spend some money on Windows licenses. Which is something that I was trying to avoid in the first place! TL;DR. Read the manual and system requirements. If you've not read it for a while, read them again.
pcstru Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 Why not look at the android clients as suggested by @tomearnshaw. We are gradually replacing our atom based mini-itx windows boxes with those. They are more energy efficient too!
box_l Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 Best of both. I am looking to move from the android sticks now these are available. Android Mini PC's : MeeGoPad T01 Windows 8.1 HDMI Stick - Quad-Core CPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB Internal Memory, Bluetooth Low power, low cost, flash, powerpoint and youtube autoplay! Just waiting for it to arrive. BoX
lmgtfy Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 Best of both. I am looking to move from the android sticks now these are available. Android Mini PC's : MeeGoPad T01 Windows 8.1 HDMI Stick - Quad-Core CPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB Internal Memory, Bluetooth Low power, low cost, flash, powerpoint and youtube autoplay! Just waiting for it to arrive. BoX Looks good I'd be interested to know how you get on with these with Xibo. Cheers
DaveMurphy Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 We use Windows 7 embedded on small form factor PCs and in some areas we use very old desktop PCs which run absolutely fine. Got a GPO set up to enable automatic user login, hide task bar, start menu, pop up notifications etc so the screens don't get disturbed.
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