Little OT but you never know.

We want to put a machine in an area at work so that visitors/customers
can use it if they're at our place for the day and need to check their
email and the likes.

We're anticipating it will be used for:

Checking email, usually through a web browser, visitors don't expect
pop3/imap access, and if they do they won't be getting it:

Downloading files they might have been emailed to USB memory sticks,
possibly burning them to CD/DVD.

Sending via email stuff they may have worked on during the day, i.e the
data from the work we've done for them, this might be on CD, DVD or
<shudder> floppy disk.

What we want is something that requires zero maintenance, has no risk of
viruses and (the important part) when a customer has finished using it
they can "push a button" and walk away and the unit will restart and
there is *ZERO* history left - we don't have the resource to maintain
this machine religiously and we can't have Customer B sit down and see
any trace that Customer A was using it, or who Customer A was.

I'm thinking maybe something like this -
http://www.maxspeed.com/products/products.aspx?ID=147

Wondered if anyone has been in this situation and what they did?

cheers,
Paul
--
paul <at> spamcop <dot> net

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:48:29 +0100, Paul Hutchings <paul@spamcop.net>
wrote:

A guy who I work with used to work for these guys:

http://www.scream.co.uk/

I don't know much about them, other than they specialise in kiosks,
but they might be worth a look.

Jake

Paul Hutchings wrote:

You can try GNU/Linux liveCDs like Knoppix and Mepis
that can do this. Several hundred on this link.
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
Its all open source, free and done up techies.

I also make custom LiveCDs, contact me if you
need to contract me to make some to your specifications.

Theres a Linux distro especially for Kiosks and I'm blowed if I can
remember its name. Should be able to google as it was mentioned on a linux
ng a few weeks back.

Dave

--
For what we are about to balls up may common sense prevent us doing it
again
in the future!!

On 31 Mar 2005 18:48, in uk.telecom.broadband,
Paul Hutchings <paul@spamcop.net> wrote:

seems something like the (fairly old, now) 'NetStation' but you want
some extra features (ie bringing it up to date on USB, DVD)
See: <http://info.linspire.com/webstation/>

<http://www.linspire.com/lindows_news_pressreleases_archives.php?id=58>

SAN DIEGO-- July 22, 2003 -- Lindows.com, Inc. launched a new class of
computer today with the Lindows WebStation (www.lindows.com/webstation).
Available immediately, the WebStation, starting at $169, offers users a
value-priced, Internet-ready computer perfect for the family's second
computer, business work terminals or public-access kiosks.
...
The WebStation is virtually indestructible because it runs off of an
internally located CD. That means system settings are not subject to
long-term damage when settings are changed. Simply restarting the
WebStation instantly restores it to its original settings. Passwords
and usernames are not required when using the WebStation, which makes
it perfect for public access locations. Some models, designed with the
public sector in mind, make the CD drive inaccessible to patrons,
ensuring the CD powered WebStation continues to stay up and running.

Sold (but to US market, only, from iDotPC.com) from US$ 199
<http://www.idotpc.com/TheStore/Deskt...79&Cate.id=21?

Dave Stanton wrote:

Knoppix does it. At boot time you have options to set up
which windows mode you boot up in. In this case set the Kiosk mode.
(But may still require customisation as it has a boring
'demo' mode look and feel to it.)

"Paul Hutchings" paul@spamcop.net wrote in message
newsaul-B297EB.18482931032005@no-dns-yet-212-23-3-119.zen.co.uk >
Wyse also do similar offerings based on CE, XP or Linux. Maybe worth a look.

Paul Hutchings wrote:
What about just allowing them WiFi Access to the internet that they can
use from their own laptops?

In article <424ea8f1$0$326$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com>,
Dee <archer1NOSPAM@PLEASEjustemail.THANKYOUnet> wrote:

We're probably going to do that as well, but it's not uncommon for
customers to turn up with nothing at all and just expect to be able to
do this sort of thing.

cheers,
Paul
--
paul <at> spamcop <dot> net

Paul Hutchings wrote:
Not as secure as a completely locked-down operating system, but Opera
web browser has kiosk mode and can be locked down fairly comprehensively
through customised ini files. www.opera.com

Owain