The Service NSW government agency for dealing with the public is dumping its Microsoft Windows computers in favor of Google’s lightweight – and relatively inexpensive – ChromeBooks.
It has already purchased some 1200 Chrome OS devices to replace Windows computers in Service NSW self-service kiosks.
Service NSW has calculated that the Chrome desktops require only five percent of the support hours previously required by its Windows devices.
The agency also saved costs by ditching private WAN networks, relying instead on broadband and Wi-Fi. According to a recent report by Service NSW’s CTO Colin Jones and former CIO Ben McMullen: “When you add in the savings on devices and IT management, we’re targeting reducing our operational costs by 46 percent per year.”
