Hot-e is an embedded Linux thin client computer that can be used to substitute a standard PC chassis. Instead, they access thin clients - either 386 or 486s that have been 'recycled into dumb terminals' or Hot-e devices from the Sunshine Coast-based ThinLinX that remote boot into Linux terminal services - to get to the company's Pronto Xi enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which runs the core of its business.
Unlike Mac and Windows users, the Linux contingent isn't running distributions on individual machines. A lot of that has been driven down by using non-Windows environments.' 'Now we are at about 1.2 per cent of gross revenue, including all those financial charges too.
If I look back at our IT spending four years ago, it was three-and-a-bit per cent not including depreciation and finance charges. 'We found that by migrating away from Windows we've been able to significantly reduce costs and it's given us a far more stable environment. 'Our operating environment was predominately Windows when I first got here ,' Camillos said.
