[[!meta title="Webconverger Comparison Matrix"]]
Webconverger provides a simple and secure operating system to get you onto the Web.
Webconverger is an evolution of the hybrid client for deployments in **public places** 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.
- Simple
- Reliable
- Good performance
- Current, supporting the latest Web features
- Excellent [[security]]
- Better [[i18n]] support for difficult locales like Chinese, Korean and Japanese
Below are products that run on the Windows platform. Microsoft exert their PC monopoly on OEMs.
Please view [[blog/entry/Kioware_Product_Comparison]].
Please view [[blog/entry/SiteKiosk_versus_Webconverger]].
Microsoft Steady State has been discontinued.
Faronics offers a comparable solution to "freeze" the Windows machine. However "freezing" is not a good strategy for providing users an uptodate and current browser experience like Webconverger install users enjoy. "Deep Freeze" is comparable to Webconverger's Live version which we plan to phase out over time in favour of the "automatically uptodate" install version.
"Freezing" also does not guarantee any security for you users. For example a vulnerable flash in a "frozen" Windows could be exploited each and every browsing session, if the surfer unfortunately browses to the exploited every session. If Webconverger discovers an exploit, it is quickly patched and installs [[upgrade]] so that surfers are safe.
Entrepreneurs are not developing for the Windows or the Linux desktop, they are developing for the prevalent Web platform.
Likewise users are not checking their email with Outlook Express anymore, they are 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, malware and the looming costs of a Vista (or worse) update.
Webconverger is simply a Web kiosk/terminal, that is easy to deploy and maintenance free. 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.