Slashdot Mirror
Workspot Offers Free Web-based Linux Accounts
medicthree writes, "Workspot is offering free Linux accounts to anyone who wants one. These accounts are accessible through a normal Web browser, and let anyone install and run whatever (free) software they want to on the accounts. KDE is the window-manager (as I'm still on the waiting list I'm not sure if this can be changed). The system lets one keep up to two different desktops alive 'infinitely,' and they plan on charging later for additional features (more desktops, renting 'high-end' software to use on your account, more disk space, more CPU usage, etc.) One of [Workspot's] angles is that the system lets people 'try' Linux without installing anything on their actual computers. "
Um, and the problem would be?
I havn't got a whole lot of Linux experiance, but I assume that just like any other modern Unix-like system it can swap out unused processes, so when you are not using your graphical enviroment the data area for that X server (Xvnc) will be paged out to disk, and the text (code) area will be shared by all the other running copies.
More over, if they want you to be able to have graphical desktops that save state, how else would it be done? ICCCM and XSM (or whatever the session managment was named after ICCCM's session managment was declared a failure) has been around for years and still doesn't work for everything (or really much of anything!). It has to be somewhere. If it can't be on the client, it has to be on the server.
From VNC's web pages they say it was orignally designed for a ATM baised lightweight "Network Computer". In other words allowing X (windows/mac) graphical logins.
The Java XServer is fairly "resource easy" on the central server. But it doesn't let you save state from session to session. It also deals with lack o' bandwidth in a very diffrent way from VNC. For example a Xserver without enough bandwidth scrolling a single xterm will scroll it slowly, and become unresponsave to the user. VNC will appear to skip chunks of the text (like seeing still-frames of a movie), but will remain fairly responsave to the mouse and keybord.
I run VNC (over SSH) on my home machine, and access it from work, from my windows box (it has the monitor, for my wife's convenence), from other places. It's pretty nice. I keep three sessions running (three Xvnc's).
If my only concern was resource use I would probbably put an X server on my other machines at home (well, not the palm pilot), and do it that way. But the "never ending X session" is an extreamly handy feature. I gladly pay the small price VNC forces from me. It ain't a bad choice here either.
If the demand is high for this service (I'll bet it will be!), how will they keep up? Will they:
a) Just let it bog down until the lag balances with the demand?
b) Limit user accounts to an amount the allocated resources can support?
c) Just keep adding new machines, indefinitely?
Geeky modern art T-shirts
How is this preparing anyone for installing linux at their home or office?
From the FAQ:
Q: Can I install my own software?
A: Sure, if it is free software or if you have a licence for it and it doesn't require root privileges to install.
That has already totally turned me off. This website at best will prepare people for using linux in an environment that will have a systems administrator who will do all the difficult stuff, like setup PPPoE (so that one's DSL connection can be accessed) without any support from your ISP. The only people I can see being attracted to this site are Windows users who are about to be forced to use Linux as a desktop environment and need to quickly familiarize themselves with the linux desktop environment.
Those intrepid enough / with spare cycles to throw away may consider setting like this up themselves. It is almost garunteed that workspot will try to stay behind the development curve. While this is good...because it makes for a consistent environment with little change...it doesn't demo Linux's "flashier" side very well. Not to flame, but KDE doesn't make a stunning impression. Yes, its useful, but it isn't very grabbing. :) I have gotten so used to it that I was surprised to find a friend shocked when I showed him that I could do this! One easily forgets why one uses *nix, hehe.
 
In any case you can easily setup your own similar installation. I've been setting one up for our LUG. It'll give us an URL to refer people to when they want to know what Linux "looks like". I'm using the WiredX java applet, a fine piece of software (it even performs well!!!). You can download it from http://www.wiredx.net.
 
If nothing else, it demonstrates the flexibility of X right off the bat
-nullity-
I am nothing.
here is an url for that mystic vnc :)
(I am sure someone is wondering, since I was
http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/
http://www.lastfoot.com has the same service, and they are accepting accounts right now.
They use a vnc based solution.
--
Pretend there is some witty statement here.
You can also get a virtual linux session over the web from
live.amirix.com
This uses VMWare, to give you a virtual box, which has some advantages (and disadvantages).
I am so glad I got that account last week! With the slashdot crowd heading there the two business day rule may change!
Here are my experiences to date:
To those that expect to install something on their computers: There is nothing to install, they use the java version of vnc and the desktop is presented in your browser. In reality, the entire desktop is like a remote screenshot and looks EXACTLY like a debian KDE typical desktop. They let you customize it but I haven't got that far yet! If not for anything else, use this for shock value on a doze machine and have a debian desktop inside an IE window!
They are true to their word on the two business day waiting period.
Since th VNC client is GPLed, you can actually download their changes from workspot.org; this is my next weekend project...
I don't know how this works through firewalls, but if it does, geeks in doze offices all over the world have just been liberated!
The site is neat but has very very little tech info. There is a faq which adds little value and repeated searches on Google don't lead to any other pages about this service, so it looks like a well kept secret... till now!
On a side note, there was a previous article here about wireless ebay on a palm VII using debian and workspot. I never really understood that one and since I haven't figured out how to list archived article comments by score all I can tell is that the trolls haven't changed much! I think it talks about workspot using debian to provide wireless access to ebay on palm vII!!!
The other cool thing about this service: If you have a license or the software is free and does not require root, you can install it! Can't wait to get the emacs JDE from installed and running so that I can use this site for (*new buzzword alert*) 'remote coding'.
If this site is really for linux newbies to try it out, more info 'bout how to get started would definetely help...currently the site only lets you escape the hassle of installing linux ( not that much of a hassle anyway ) but does not serve as an intro to linux.
Whats with the bannerless CGI enabled apparently limitless web space (faq says don't use _too_ much diskspace, open to interpretation...)? These people seem to have all the goodies on one site.
I tried to ftp out of the box to move my website in but sadly nothing happened! I realized how helpless I was without having the box at my feet: there was none of that reassuring hum from the drive as you clicked on something and waited. How about a flashing [processing command sire]...? Now that would have geek value!