Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Thinstation VS BoxedApp Packer

Compare Thinstation VS BoxedApp Packer and see what are their differences

Thinstation logo Thinstation

Thinstation is a basic and small, yet very powerful, open source thin client operating system...

BoxedApp Packer logo BoxedApp Packer

BoxedApp Packer is a developer utility for converting your regular full-fledged applications to...
  • Thinstation Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-01
  • BoxedApp Packer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-20

Thinstation features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Thinstation is a minimal and efficient operating system designed to turn PCs into thin clients. Its low resource requirements allow it to function smoothly on older hardware.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, Thinstation provides the flexibility for users to modify and customize the source code according to their needs or preferences.
  • Wide Protocol Support
    Thinstation supports a wide range of connection protocols like RDP, Citrix ICA, VMWare View, and more, making it versatile for various environments.
  • Centralized Management
    It allows centralized management of client configurations, making it easier for administrators to deploy and manage multiple thin clients.
  • Cost-Effective
    Using Thinstation can significantly reduce costs associated with hardware upgrades and licensing fees for full operating systems on client machines.

Possible disadvantages of Thinstation

  • Limited Local Capabilities
    As a thin client OS, Thinstation relies heavily on server infrastructure, which might not meet the needs where extensive local computing is required.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Setting up and configuring Thinstation can be complex, particularly for users unfamiliar with Linux-based systems and thin client environments.
  • Dependency on Network
    Since Thinstation operates primarily as a thin client, a stable and fast network connection is crucial. Any network issues can significantly impact performance.
  • Limited Peripheral Support
    Thinstation may have limited support for certain peripherals, which can restrict its use in specialized applications requiring specific hardware connections.
  • Community Support
    Being a less mainstream solution, Thinstation may have a smaller community for support and troubleshooting, potentially making it harder to find help.

BoxedApp Packer features and specs

  • Portability
    BoxedApp Packer allows applications to be packed into a single executable file, making it easy to transport and deploy without the need for installation.
  • Virtualization
    It enables creation of a virtual file system and registry, which can run applications independently of the host system's actual file system and registry.
  • Security
    By packing applications, it provides a layer of security by obfuscating and reducing the chance of code tampering and reverse engineering.
  • Compatibility
    Supports a wide range of applications and can package complex applications with dependencies, which increases compatibility across different systems.
  • Resource Management
    BoxedApp Packer can help in managing application resources efficiently by packaging necessary resources like DLLs within the single executable.

Possible disadvantages of BoxedApp Packer

  • Performance Overhead
    Virtualization can introduce performance overhead, which might slightly slow down the execution of the packed applications.
  • Complexity in Debugging
    Debugging packed applications can be more complex as traditional debugging tools may not work effectively with executables packed with BoxedApp.
  • Licensing Costs
    The software comes with licensing costs, which may not be feasible for individual developers or small companies.
  • Limited Customization
    While it offers a range of features, there might be limits in customizing the packaging process to tailor specific needs of certain applications.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Although it supports many applications, certain applications or features may not work correctly when virtualized, leading to potential compatibility issues.

Thinstation videos

How to Install Thinstation 5.5 on Hard Drive + Build Thin Client ISO Image on VMware Workstation

More videos:

  • Review - Getting Started with ThinStation

BoxedApp Packer videos

Tutorial - Unpacking BoxedApp Packer

More videos:

  • Review - ุญู…ุงูŠู‡ ุงู„ุณูŠุฑูุฑุงุช ูˆ ุงู„ุจุฑู…ุฌูŠุงุช ุจุญู…ุงูŠู‡ [BoxedApp Packer]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Thinstation and BoxedApp Packer)
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
58 58%
42% 42
Cloud Computing
73 73%
27% 27
Email Marketing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Thinstation seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Thinstation mentions (7)

  • OpenSource Thin Client?
    What about ThinStation? That can apparently bootstrap enough components to talk to Citrix, Redhat, Windows, VMWare Horizon, etc... Apparently even telnet, VMS and SSH if you're feeling really nostalgic. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Ubuntu server with Dump linux based terminals
    For your old clients, I guess that ThinStation will be fine, either you're using ThinLinc or other kind of remote access. https://thinstation.github.io/thinstation/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Low power SFF PC to use as a thin client, that has four video outputs?
    Oh wow that'd be really great of you. ThinStation is what I've been looking at. But if the aren't locked down it should work. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Windows 10 to automatically log in and run remote desktop login, disable all other apps.
    I think that I've read good quality suggestions, but... Why waste a Windows license for it to work as a thin client? Try installing Thinstation - https://thinstation.github.io/thinstation/ (or make the computer boot it from network!). Source: about 4 years ago
  • Looking to set up a few of these Wyse clients... Advice? See comment.
    I hate ThinOS. Try to install anything else if you can. Thinstation is free. LTSP network boots its clients. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

BoxedApp Packer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of BoxedApp Packer yet. Tracking of BoxedApp Packer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Thinstation and BoxedApp Packer, you can also consider the following products

LTSP - The Linux Terminal Server Project adds thin-client support to Linux servers.

Turbo Studio - Turbo Studio (formerly Spoon.

DRBL - DRBL (Diskless Remote Boot in Linux) is a free software, open source solution to managing the...

VMware ThinApp - Speed up application deployment and migration with VMware ThinApp, an agentless application virtualization solution. Learn how it works.

JauntePE - JauntePE

Enigma Virtual Box - Enigma Virtual Box is an advanced level of system protection system that is based on the system of sandboxing and virtualization.