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I love my Amazon Workspace

aws.amazon.com

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Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#71

Post by Daviey »

I have to agree with this. It has been a real pleasure to use. I have managed about 50 workspaces... but there has been some annoying things:

  - inability to modify workspace t-shirt size
  - workspace features using AWS services but mostly hidden
  - lack of ability to re-brand the client (i did rewrap the installer with custom artwork but breaks on upgrades).
  - Linux client... still waiting. (but can run under wine)
  - not easy to use 2fa support
  - not easy to set default printer.. they are non-static
  - reboots are slow
  - no ability to declare exit IP location... UK people don't want to appear in Ireland (bad for google.com and credit card payments).. have to spin up a standalone proxy using a different provider (thanks digital ocean).
  - BYOL is great.. but inbuilt support for office365 would be better.
  - No Amazon Elastic File System yet in Ireland.. so have to run a separate fileserver for network drive.
  - Not been able to get vnc as a service working.. and can't use the windows UAC without it.
  - No ability to use custom templates on user provisioning emails.
  - Can't use human interaction device, such as dictate pedals for secretaries. 
  - .. and some more.. these are the top of my head.

Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#72

Post by Daviey »

Diederich wrote: post #43

Funny thing, I need to use an amazon workspace from time to time for my job. I've managed to keep 100% Linux (for my personal boxes) professionally and at home for a good long time now, but a specific (and thankfully rare) access requirement was solved by using a Windows Amazon workspace. Guess what? No Linux workspaces client. So now to gain network access to a particular resource (a web address), I run the Windows…

It can be made to work under wine... or you can still use rdp.

Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#74

Post by DTE »

If you are interested in VDI without the complexity that comes with AWS check us out at https://www.paperspace.com (YCW15)

a few key differences:

- we can stream directly to a web browser without any plugins

- you can fire up a new machine in just a few minutes

- all of our machines have GPUs that make the experience feel great (we work with architects, engineers, and others that need a fluid desktop experience)

- we are cheaper (starting at $15/month) and our pricing is predictable

[disclaimer: I'm one of the founders]

Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#75

Post by dharma1 »

I was running an AWS spot instance for 3D rendering/modeling for a while, using one of their GPU instances. It's my only Windows based workload, and I only do it occasionally, there aren't powerful enough laptop GPU's - so it was a decent option. The remote connection wasn't a problem, but it was a pain spinning the spot instance up and down.

In the end I just built a PC with a GTX970 at home instead which I use with Splashtop remotely now. I also setup a Belkin Wemo switch if I need to reboot it remotely.

Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#76

Post by DTE »

nutbutter wrote: post #34

Paperspace.io is pretty awesome. I've been using it for about a week now. The specs/ratio are much better over there.

Like amazon we can only offer Windows 7/2008 as part of our licensing. We will offer Windows 10/2016 as soon as it becomes possible to do so. In the meantime, we offer a BYOL option that allows you to run whatever you want on our cloud

Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#77

Post by bpyne »

ghshephard wrote: post #64
bpyne wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen variations work quite well. The first time was in a startup company. We hired a brilliant and unconventional sys admin who was somewhat reminiscent of the Gilfoyle character in "Silicon Valley". After being hired, he took a few weeks to analyze how the user groups worked. Then he disappeared into his work room for a few weeks, often working late into the night. When he finally reappeared, he had set us up s…

These workstations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ray ?

It was 2001 or 2002, so my memory is a bit fuzzy. But, that looks familiar.

Re: I love my Amazon Workspace

#80

Post by math0ne »

AJRF wrote: post #51
commandshift90 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OS X licensing for off-prem machines is a tricky thing, and the technology being used for streaming complicates it further, if I recall.

Thanks for answering! Other providers for OS X solutions are super dodgy / shutdown / involve time sharing (no imaging, you store everything into a personal Dropbox). I ask about OS X support as the requirement for OS X to run Xcode kills a lot of iOS development workshops as the cost is to high / device availability is low. Thanks again for taking the time to answer.

I don't believe there is anything like RDP built into OSX, so I don't forsee anything like this for apple any time soon.
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