Backup is definitely the way to go, and if your fileserver runs something UNIXy, you can use rdiff-backup to do a remote incremental backup to another local server or an off-site server over the Internet. Cheap, fast, easy to set up, and easy to restore from (even restore multiple past versions).
My company wirespring uses
these little P3 machines for kiosk and digital signage deployments all the time. They're only slightly longer than the nOrhTec product, and they're based on the i815 chipset (great linux support). Our FireCast Linux OS runs MPEG1,2 and 4 on these things great (and there's XV support to boot). Plus, if you can't live with a fan, you can pop out the Celeron/P3 and stick a VIA Eden or C3 in for silent running. On the flip side, the manufacturer also makes the product with a different case, and they even have models configured with P4s.
Here's a cool (cold, actually) one:
Buy 2 roughly 2lb blocks of dry ice. Scoop out a golf-ball sized hole in one of the blocks, and drop some magnesium shavings in. Ignite the shavings with a lighter/bunson burner/etc. Do not look directly at the burning Mg. It will hurt. But _do_ notice that it burns a bright white. Now put the second block of dry ice down on top of the first block so that it covers over your pit full of burning Mg strips. You'll notice that even though the Mg is now in an atmosphere of pure CO2, it continues to burn. And now it's a pretty (and much less painful) red color.
My company WireSpring Technologies makes a custom version of Linux called FireCast that's designed specifically for remotely managed terminals like kiosks, public terminals, and the like. We've got some customers in the education industry who are doing exactly what you mention, on hardware that they were set to abandon before they found us.
Even if you don't go with our software, you might get some ideas from the interactive demo. Good luck!
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Backup is definitely the way to go, and if your fileserver runs something UNIXy, you can use rdiff-backup to do a remote incremental backup to another local server or an off-site server over the Internet. Cheap, fast, easy to set up, and easy to restore from (even restore multiple past versions).
My company wirespring uses these little P3 machines for kiosk and digital signage deployments all the time. They're only slightly longer than the nOrhTec product, and they're based on the i815 chipset (great linux support). Our FireCast Linux OS runs MPEG1,2 and 4 on these things great (and there's XV support to boot). Plus, if you can't live with a fan, you can pop out the Celeron/P3 and stick a VIA Eden or C3 in for silent running. On the flip side, the manufacturer also makes the product with a different case, and they even have models configured with P4s.
Here's a cool (cold, actually) one: Buy 2 roughly 2lb blocks of dry ice. Scoop out a golf-ball sized hole in one of the blocks, and drop some magnesium shavings in. Ignite the shavings with a lighter/bunson burner/etc. Do not look directly at the burning Mg. It will hurt. But _do_ notice that it burns a bright white. Now put the second block of dry ice down on top of the first block so that it covers over your pit full of burning Mg strips. You'll notice that even though the Mg is now in an atmosphere of pure CO2, it continues to burn. And now it's a pretty (and much less painful) red color.
My company WireSpring Technologies makes a custom version of Linux called FireCast that's designed specifically for remotely managed terminals like kiosks, public terminals, and the like. We've got some customers in the education industry who are doing exactly what you mention, on hardware that they were set to abandon before they found us. Even if you don't go with our software, you might get some ideas from the interactive demo. Good luck!