K12LTSP (Score 1)

K12LTSP diskless workstations are one of the most cost efficient solutions available for classroom technology, and I'd personally like to see more schools use it. I was a technician in a large, financially strapped school district for three years, and watched as the administration spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on WinTel desktop machines, only to see them used for games, if at all. Here's just a few reasons a K12LTSP setup is ideal from an administrator's (and technician's) point of view:

1) It is cost efficient use existing hardware that is considered outdated in addition to being free of MS software licensing issues.

2) K12LTSP has pre-configured install CDs available for download , so minimal setup is required.

3) Using diskless clients greatly reduces time spent troubleshooting/changing/testing hardware components on each desktop. When software issues occur, there is a single point of troubleshooting. This saves a fortune in support costs.

4) Far fewer viruses. How much time did you spend patching or cleaning up a MS machine this summer?

5) With some special configuration, they can be used with Macintosh clients.

6) The learning curve with teachers is minimal, and for many students nil.

The administrators and vendors may prevent widespread implementation of K12LTSP in schools, and that's a shame, because in my view this is ideal for both cash-strapped school systems and time-strapped teachers.