"Thin Clients" that Support Linux and Windows?

An Anonymous Coward asks: "I have been searching for a thin client that accesses both Linux and Microsoft systems and am dismayed to find that most thin clients only support MS RDP or Citrix ICA. Yes, I know that any old PC can be made into a 'thin client' and that X-stations have existed for many years for Unix based systems, but I will be buying new hardware for a new office that needs mainly MS connectivity. Since I am also including a Linux server or two on the network and think that Linux has a chance on the desktop, I would like to purchase thin-clients that can connect to both instead of being locked in by design from the start. This way, I can eventually move users onto Linux desktops in the future without replacing anything on the desktop." How hard would it really be to add on X11 functionality to an existing Windows thin client? While the realities of the current market makes finding such products unlikely, maybe if we can drum up the interest now there may be hope to see something like this in the future.

"I have a chance to buy top of the line hardware for this project and am looking for something that has a small footprint, no moving parts, ICA client or MS RDP, Linux connectivity (embedded X server?), a real manufacturer and a nice design that would not look out of place in a brand new, designer furnished office.

The Compaq Evo T20 serves my current needs perfectly, except that it forever locks me into Windows on the desktop, Does anybody have alternatives they can suggest?"

Comments

IBM Netstation

[Howie]

I've been keeping an eye out for one of these at a decent price...

The IBM Network Station 1000 Model 8362 is a PowerPC-603-based thin client with support for VT emulation, X, ICA/Citrix, local Java apps, 1600x1280x8bit graphics, sound.

The complicated part is that they were designed to be slaved off of a Win2k/NT or AIX box, but people have figured out ways around that for the most part.

Best of all, they're silent, too.

They seem to go on E-Bay for around 300Eur (These guys have them for 450Eur with a 1yr warranty. [for those not in Europe, that's $270 and $400 US, respectively]