hipsterdoofus Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 I am in a library environment and of course occasionally vdi gets thrown around but I hear it is a lot of work to scale and such. What I was wondering is, does there exist a device that I guess would be much like a chrome book but for a desktop that basically just is a browser? For instance, it seems that a catalog computer at a library would easily be replaced with this. I know at some places, they use iPads for library catalogs, but for one, iPads aren't necessarily cheap, for another thing, to me they don't seem at all easy to manage in my environment. I am just curious what my options are out there. Thank you.
Arthur Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 (edited) What I was wondering is, does there exist a device that I guess would be much like a chromebook but for a desktop that basically just is a browser? A Chromebox in kiosk mode? https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3134673?hl=en-GB To use your Chromebook as an open kiosk with kiosk apps, you can turn on Kiosk Mode. This mode is most suited for any single-app use case such as guest registration desks or library catalogue stations. In this mode, the login screen, device locking, window management and other features are disabled, and the single kiosk app will load full-screen. Edited June 2, 2015 by Arthur
hipsterdoofus Posted June 2, 2015 Author Posted June 2, 2015 A Chromebox in kiosk mode? https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3134673?hl=en-GB Hmm Unsure - I was thinking of Chromebooks as in a laptop type device. Not familiar with a Chromebox. I suppose that could do although it isn't an all-in-one - I guess you just plug any monitor into it?
Arthur Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 (edited) I was thinking of Chromebooks as in a laptop type device. Not familiar with a Chromebox. I suppose that could do although it isn't an all-in-one - I guess you just plug any monitor into it? Chromebooks or Chromebases would also work. Kiosk mode will work on any device running ChromeOS. When you mentioned "would be much like a chromebook but for a desktop" it sounded like Chromebooks weren't an option. I guess you just plug any monitor into it? Correct. The advantage of a Chromebox is you can connect a larger and/or better quality IPS LCD to it. A lot of Chromebooks come with screens that have fairly poor viewing angles. Not sure if that matters though? Edited June 2, 2015 by Arthur
Arthur Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 WebConverger (and similar software) might be worth looking at too if you want to be able to use any old PC?
matt40k Posted June 2, 2015 Posted June 2, 2015 If you've already got PCs, you can just create a GPO that sets a custom UI, so instead of loading explorer.exe, it loads, says, chrome or IE - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc975911.aspx. A bit future proof to, so you can just remove the GPO when they need to run something else.
mikkydoos Posted June 3, 2015 Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) Building Public Kiosk Workstations with Windows 7 and #Windows8 #ITPro - TechNet Blogs There was a free Microsoft product that did this but I can't remember the name. Edited June 3, 2015 by mikkydoos
john Posted June 3, 2015 Posted June 3, 2015 I had an internet cafe area in one job and we used Site Kiosk on the PCs to lock them to a web browser only setup worked really well.
mavhc Posted June 3, 2015 Posted June 3, 2015 Or install Chromium OS on any random computer, and possibly then switch it to Chrome OS
hipsterdoofus Posted June 3, 2015 Author Posted June 3, 2015 Thanks everyone for the replies. Right now we essentially do use "any old computer". We recycle computers that were used for other tasks for a couple of years down to be catalog computers that essentially only do one task. I'm not necessarily looking to convert existing catalog computers. They run Windows 7 and do have many policies applied against them and work well. What I'm really interested in is in the future if there would be product cheaper than a regular PC to use there BECAUSE all it really needs is a browser. It's okay if it is more than a browser, but that's really the main thing I need on these.
StandardN3rd Posted June 3, 2015 Posted June 3, 2015 Chromebox as has been mentioned before, we run some of ours in kiosk mode, then through a captive portal so we get per user filtering. Approx 160 to £180, so yes, cheaper than a pc. We use Asus cn60, and they work well.
hipsterdoofus Posted June 3, 2015 Author Posted June 3, 2015 Chromebox as has been mentioned before, we run some of ours in kiosk mode, then through a captive portal so we get per user filtering. Approx 160 to £180, so yes, cheaper than a pc. We use Asus cn60, and they work well. Thanks StandardN3rd...what is your application that you use them for, if I might ask? Just trying to compare the usage level.
HappyAdmin Posted June 3, 2015 Posted June 3, 2015 I've used Porteus Kiosk successfully on a small roomful of old PCs that are just used for internet access (including Google Apps.) Porteus Kiosk - free and open source kiosk software for web terminals. Impressively responsive in use, and well locked down. Free, too, if you don't have too many machines and are prepared to be a bit manual in your setup and maintenance.
hipsterdoofus Posted June 3, 2015 Author Posted June 3, 2015 I've used Porteus Kiosk successfully on a small roomful of old PCs that are just used for internet access (including Google Apps.) Porteus Kiosk - free and open source kiosk software for web terminals. Impressively responsive in use, and well locked down. Free, too, if you don't have too many machines and are prepared to be a bit manual in your setup and maintenance. Unfortunately the machines in question are spread out over a metropolitan area and so I would need the set up be able to be more automatic eventually.
HappyAdmin Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 Well, it can be centrally managed - Remote kiosk management , I just didn't bother for the few machines I needed to set up. Next time... I've no connection with the project - it just did exactly what I needed. I'm sure you will find the best solution for your case.
StandardN3rd Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 Thanks StandardN3rd...what is your application that you use them for, if I might ask? Just trying to compare the usage level. We use them in classroms in a high school, so usage is very high. Some are configured in pure kiosk, whereby, a user launches the browser, is presented with a captive portal, signs in with AD credentials, then gets appropriate web filtering for their user level. Staff, Student etc. As soon as the browser is closed, the session is destroyed, and the next user needs to sign in to the portal. Another way we have them set up, is almost standard, whereby a user signs in to the device with their enterprise google credentials, but the devices are configured to not save any local data, so when the user logs out, their account is removed from the device. The first way is probably closest to what you need, though both have their advantages.
hipsterdoofus Posted June 4, 2015 Author Posted June 4, 2015 Thanks everyone - certainly gives me some ideas. This isn't a pressing project, but one that I may think about in the future, and I wanted to know what some of my options were.
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