@Ben L. said:
Hey, at least you can store files on the computers. Some schools just flat out delete everything when you log out.
I'm noticing that seems to be common in educational institutions. At other places I've been, if you want to save something, you have to save it to the mapped network drive or your flash drive. Anything on the desktop, my documents, pictures, etc. is removed on logout. Not that that's really a bad thing though.
@Nexzus said:
In that environment, not using Active Directory, or at least some form of centralized management is costing them money.
Hell, I have a Win2K3 Domain Controller on my 3 PC/laptop network at home.
The computers are managed by a domain controller, but there are just so few accounts. They did, however, spend the time to set up unattended deployments. The other instructor said it took him and four other students eight months to get it to the point where a lab can be deployed in an hour or two's time.
@dynedain said:
Sounds like AD and network profiles are already in place. What they probably can't justify is the cost overhead of adding 4000 user accounts and the required network storage space that will generate as people download stuff. Plus, the client access licenses that Microsoft charges can get expensive. I'm guessing they opted for per-user licenses instead of per-machine licenses, and MS doesn't let you swap that.
The campus uses Windows 7 Enterprise on all the computers. I'll have to find out more details on the license.