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Thread ID: 97465 2009-02-17 05:34:00 How would this work? stormdragon (6013) Press F1
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748581 2009-02-17 18:35:00 Started reading a bit more into it a each Workstation would require a separate license at a cost of $99 U.S. dollars = $194.27 New Zealand dollars. Plus a separate graphics card at approx $100. Plus the computer would probably have to be fairly decent spec (I don't believe their recommended spec's would even like one XP environment.)

Seems like it would be a better idea just to use the like of EEE Boxes for cheap student PC's. 		stormdragon (6013)
748582 2009-02-17 18:42:00 Used to have 6 monitors running on a P60Mhz off a dozen el-cheapo Trio 64v PCI cards with the flying through space screensaver, all setup around my room ... now *that* was cool stuff :D Felt like I was in a real-life Star Trek episode ;)

Nice setup Chilly and people complain about my two monitors. :stare:

I presume they were all CRT's :xmouth::horrified 		stormdragon (6013)
748583 2009-02-17 19:21:00 Yup, some of the CRTs could only do 640x480, but I didnt care, still looked cool! :D Chilling_Silence (9)
748584 2009-02-17 19:29:00 Started reading a bit more into it a each Workstation would require a separate license at a cost of $99 U.S. dollars = $194.27 New Zealand dollars. Plus a separate graphics card at approx $100. Plus the computer would probably have to be fairly decent spec (I don't believe their recommended spec's would even like one XP environment.)

Seems like it would be a better idea just to use the like of EEE Boxes for cheap student PC's.
Still a lot cheaper than having separate Computers. using the prices provided:

Eg: 1 user @ $294.27 --- And a whole PC would cost a lot more than that - and just looking at some places - Asus Eee Pc 701 Celeron around $460.

So in round figures - $160 cheaper - now times that by say 30 students.

$194.27 x 30 =$5828.1 compared to $460 x 30 = $13800

$13800 - $5828 = $7972

$7972 is a lot of money for a school to save.

If it were 3-4 PC's / students only then maybe but not when you are talking many. Now work that out at say 60 + students ;) 		wainuitech (129)
748585 2009-02-17 19:41:00 Only problem Wainui is you forgot to take the actual computer that would be hosting these and also the cost of each PCI card.

Say each PCI card costs $100 then from your $160 you've only got $60 left which could go towards the host.

If you get 5 workstations off each host thats only $300 towards the cost of the host.

Plus there's the cost of each monitor, keyboard and mouse set. 		stormdragon (6013)
748586 2009-02-17 20:15:00 Sorry screwed that one up.

Would end up being $160 left over as you were saying but then you still need the host system and monitors, keyboards and mice. 		stormdragon (6013)
748587 2009-02-17 20:26:00 Your only talking small amount of users though - as I said, if it were only a few then maybe - but 1 powerful ( or existing PC) + hardware+ Licenses is still going to be cheaper than multi EEe boxes .

My mistake before- that price I posted of $460 was for the Asus EEE (laptop) with the 7" screen - totally pointless in a school classroom - the One that would be of some use is the Asus Eee Box B202 PC as posted on Ascent s site that does have a monitor , keyboard etc . $828 . 00This one here ( . ascent . co . nz/productspecification . aspx?ItemID=373903" target="_blank">www . ascent . co . nz) -- BUT thats even more expensive .

Talking "bulk Buying" if a school were to use the Cards in a PC, even having to purchase 1 or 2 more powerfull PC's first, then say order 30 + cards, + 30 + monitors + 30+ keyboard and mouse combos - they would still get a FAR better price than 30+ Asus Eee Box B202

single price units est figures --

License = Card $294

19" LCD $270

Keyboard / Mouse combo $33 . 00

Total - $597 . 00

Thats still $231 cheaper than 1 Asus box .

Now lets say you have to buy a Single PC with power to run 5 stations at once ( not including the extra cards- Round figures - pull a figure out the sky) with a bit of power $1500 . 00

OK sure you may have to purchase the Odd PC to run the units if the current ones dont have the power, but that would depend on what the school currently has .

The school originally linked in the original question - obviously did some figures, and assuming they are using a similar program, it has obviously saved a fair amount of $$$$$ other wise they wouldn't have done it . 		wainuitech (129)
748588 2009-02-17 20:38:00 The new systems using EEE Boxes we are looking at are approx $700 incl GST and a Monitor

4 x $700 = $2800


Using this system

$200 per software licence
$100 per PCI video card
$220 per monitor, keyboard and mouse.

$520 per workstation

Host approx $650 can provide 4 workstations

4 x $520 + $650 = $2730

Doesn't seem that much in it to me.The new systems we are looking at are approx $700 incl GST and a Monitor

4 x $700 = $2800


Using this system

$200 per software licence
$100 per PCI video card
$220 per monitor, keyboard and mouse.

$520 per workstation

Host approx $650 can provide 4 workstations

4 x $520 + $650 = $2730

At 40 systems you would be looking at a $700 difference the cost of one of the EEE Box and monitor combos.

Doesn't seem that much in it to me.


Edit: True everything relies on whether the school had some existing hardware to use and if the software was even that which you were linking to and not some cheaper alternative.
I might get in touch with the school and see if I can't find out how they did it. Thanks for the info and helping me think though this. 		stormdragon (6013)
748589 2009-02-17 22:39:00 Just done some ACTUAL real pricing, not guess work ( retail)

To have a PC - board that Has 5 Graphic Cards, ( 2 PCI-E & 3 PCI)
CPU - Q8200, 2 GB Ram, DVD Writer, Windows XP Home 250GB Drive 5 x Viewsonic 19’ LCD’s, 5 x keyboard /mouse 5 x Licences


Works out roughly $100 cheaper that 5 Asus boxes. Mind you the PC would rip any Asus to bits power wise.

Thats using retail pricing from any shop anyone can buy items from.

If you have existing gear it would be a lot cheaper., then of course you would have the problem of not overloading the power circuits in the building running 20 + separate PC's.

Obviously a School would get discounts etc. So what ever the school did, it saved them a lot of money - good on them.


might get in touch with the school and see if I can't find out how they did it Good idea - esp if you are doing something similar - post back if able any info you can get - may come in useful for others as well. 		wainuitech (129)
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