this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
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If the pc has specs to run something from the cloud it has specs to run a local os.
Depends on what you do and depends on how it's set up.
At a previous job we had thin clients set up to connect to some remote desktops, and indeed they were running an OS locally, but had barely enough resources to run the OS and the client app.
Yep, just looking at it screams thin client. This will have just enough for networking (wifi/bluetooth), running three monitors (no gaming), some 3.5mm audio, and usb 2.0. If it's business focues, probably some remote mgmt stuff, and maybe a default VPN client.
Maybe uould find a version of linux that would run on them. I'm not a linux aficionado but I've found cut-down flavours useful in the past when I've needed something that could run on a crippled potato.
If you can run it on a pi, you can run it on these
Again, depends on what your use case is. Even if you find a stripped down OS that's less resource heavy, you'll probably still be using the same other software (i.e. same browser on the same modern web, and you'll be out of RAM once you open 10-20 tabs). If a manufacturer has meant this as base specs for a thin client, you're not tricking anyone (but yourself) by trying to use it as a full featured computer, and you're still driving sales (at least on the hardware part) on a deliberately crippled product.
If you want to vote with your wallet (as IMO everyone should), you don't buy this and repurpose it; you simply don't buy it.