Webconverger.org/ Webconverger Comparison Matrix

Introduction

Webconverger is an evolution of the hybrid client for deployments in places like offices or Internet cafes where only Web applications are used.

Unlike thin or hybrid clients, Webconverger is faster and more responsive by providing a up-to-date Web browser that runs locally.

Why Webconverger

Webconverger mini or maxi available for free download (demo) does not have any wireless networking support.

Comparison with Microsoft Windows products

Below are products that run on the Windows platform. Microsoft exert their monopoly on OEMs, hiding the true license cost of about 60GBP (XP Home) or 190GBP (Vista Ultimate) from the average consumer.

Kioware

KioWare’s pricing seems to be based on a tradional per seat licensing model. Webconverger customers are free to copy and install their customised copy on as many machines as they like.

So lets take a typical deployment of 10 machines (Pricing effective 9/7/2008 and subject to change):

Support is free of cost with Webconverger for 30 days. Kioware would charge 10 machines:

SiteKiosk

Microsoft Steady State

Microsoft Steady State is based on a vanilla Windows XP installation. If a malicous hacker is out to break it, he will as the image is not updated. An AV-program (with certain scripts to write virus update signatures into the Steadystate cache, otherwise AV updates would be swept off after every reboot…) is still required as a virus could for example infect the MBR, corrupt the Steadystate cache partition and just mess up the system in general.

A complete reboot is required to clean up the system after the user leaves the system, due to the nature of the system each reboot means that multiple gigabyte of data are being copied from one partition to the other. That takes a good 3-4 minutes on an average system and it’s of course also pretty stressing for the HD.

The good thing about Steadystate is that it allows me to offer a full Windows XP installation with MS office, Skype, Instant-messaging software and whatnot to the guests. The downside is that it breaks continuously and is much more trouble than it’s worth to maintain when most people really just want to check their webmail. I could go on all day ranting about how something like Windows XP with Steadystate is inferior to a Webconverger for my usage scenario here.

Rationale

Entrepreneurs are not developing for the Windows or the Linux desktop, they’re developing for the prevalent Web API platform.

Likewise users are not checking their email with Outlook Express anymore, they’re using Web applications such as Gmail or Yahoo. This is Web convergence.

That leads us onto a problem. How does an IT manager roll out the Web platform? We probably have to deal with fragile pre-installations of Windows and battle to get Firefox on each machine. Then the hopeless battle to maintain that system from viruses, spyware and the looming costs of a Vista update.

The answer is Webconverger.

Webconverger is simply a Web kiosk/terminal, that is easy to deploy and secure. In most cases all you need to do is boot from a CD. That’s it! A usable up to date Web browser that just works.

The Web, just the Web and only the Web.