Barking and Dagenham switches from Windows XP to Google Chromebooks, s

Most of you are missing the point here:

They are running Citrix Accounts!!

They'll still be able to print to local printers as before; run all the same programmes as before but instead of opening a citrix connection on the XP lap top, they will open a citrix connection on the Chromebook.

They use Citrix now to access a Windows environment that will not change. What will change is that you will no longer have your own XP desktop before you click through to Citrix and that will enhance security.

Nigsy said:

Most of you are missing the point here:

They are running Citrix Accounts!!

They'll still be able to print to local printers as before; run all the same programmes as before but instead of opening a citrix connection on the XP lap top, they will open a citrix connection on the Chromebook.

They use Citrix now to access a Windows environment that will not change. What will change is that you will no longer have your own XP desktop before you click through to Citrix and that will enhance security.

so is that like remoting into another PC with Windows? So a server has all the employees Windows OS? and from their device (chromebook, PC, mac..) they log into the server and are "in their" windows environment? Network Speed must be an issue, and you need a good computer to remote into from to not have delays.

If that is correct, they still need to buy the Windows licenses..... no matter which way they play this game, MS always seems to win.....

HerrKaLeun said:

Nigsy said:

Most of you are missing the point here:

They are running Citrix Accounts!!

They'll still be able to print to local printers as before; run all the same programmes as before but instead of opening a citrix connection on the XP lap top, they will open a citrix connection on the Chromebook.

They use Citrix now to access a Windows environment that will not change. What will change is that you will no longer have your own XP desktop before you click through to Citrix and that will enhance security.

so is that like remoting into another PC with Windows? So a server has all the employees Windows OS? and from their device (chromebook, PC, mac..) they log into the server and are "in their" windows environment? Network Speed must be an issue, and you need a good computer to remote into from to not have delays.

If that is correct, they still need to buy the Windows licenses..... no matter which way they play this game, MS always seems to win.....

It's a bit like remoting in....except the dekstop you remote into isn't yours its on a server and it's shared desktop and you only have access to the programmes and software you need based on your personal; security profile. You also have access to networked folders for your dept' and or personal use; again all locked down with security profiles
Connection speed isn't an issue in the office because you have network cables. The old DELL etc that are being replaced were running on 512mb ram as all the processing is done on the central servers. The only time you have connection problems is when you are trying to access these things from home via VPN then trying to negotiate citrix.
I'm not sure how the licensing works but they probably buy X ammount of user licences against 1 server based OS. The savings come with IT only having to manage and maintain one system with several hundred users as opposed to several hundred users each with their own unique configuration on a laptop.

Hi there
Do you STILL have to go through Endless telephone menus and Off shored call centres to ring up the Council if you need any services.

Not sure that Chromebooks can in any way cut it except for the basics - and even then these things are almost as expensive as cheap laptops.

These types of machines probably excellent for presentations / email etc = but I'm not sure I'd want to be restricted to these for REAL management stuff -- and what about access to large external data base systems such as SAP / ORACLE etc -- a lot of Local authorities world wide use parts of the SAP system.

I'll bet you'll see users of these chrome books sneaking in their own tablets / PC's after awhile !!!.

If you can "Virtualize" the desktop so users can connect to a server and use traditional apps then it might just work but knowing the sort of people who usually are employed by local councils (not just UK but world wide as far as I can see) I doubt if their I.T would be up to it.

I shall "Watch this space" with interest -- my gut feel is that it will end in tears - even Politically as HMG in the UK already has an issue with Google over Tax avoidance etc. - A local council seen to be doing business with this type of organisation might not go down too well. I'm surprised UNISON or whatever the Local Govt Union is hasn't already raised some objection here -- the nearest equivalent would be the British Army subcontracting the S.A.S. out to the Taleban. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo;

I worked at the council in question for 6 months. They are on the latest Oracle release and run all of this over the Citrix network. It will make no difference to the average worker whether they access it on a chromebook or a laptop. Some have iPad access via a messed up version of Citrix. So they already do 'Real management Stuff'.
I personally wrote a suite of Finance reports for them via Toad all over Citrix. As for using their own laptops; it's not going to happen they would not be able to connect to the network; and most of the PC's they have access to have their USB ports disabled..so no thumbdrives!!

Hi there
You've answered part of the question -- CITRIX is a sort of Virtualisation so the user could presumably be presented with any appropriate set of applications on their remote machine via the network -- however Google is still "persona non Grata" so problems *could* become politically difficult.

My other question is why on earth don't some of these councils allow a BYOD device -- personal data can easily be kept restricted to those who need it --- if you are running through a CITRIX network then the user only sees what they are allowed access to. Personal data can be restricted to the server drives only.

I'm not sure why on earth a local authority would need some of the policies being touted -- apart from confidential personnel data what on earth have they got that would be of any commercial interest. Confidential data is easily managed - Airbus / Shell etc and a whole slew of other large companies manage all this stuff and still allow people to use their own devices without having draconian rules in force -- and it's a lot cheaper too !!!.

It's quite easy to get almost ANY information from a Local Authority simply by using the Freedom of Information Act :

For example "How often did you order stationary from XXXXXXX" or how many times have complaints been made about Potholes in your area and how many different suppliers did you use. Then with a
little more probing you could actually get their suppliers etc etc.

The trick though is you have to phrase the RIGHT questions.

Cheers
jimbo