I've opened a new hostel in Ao Nang, and business (so far) is going well. I need to fit out an area of the lobby to provide wi-fi and desktop PC internet access for my guests. It occurred to me that since there is no internet cafe in the immediate vicinity, I could boost my business revenues (slightly), by offering paid internet access to passers-by.

This post is not about the commercial viability of providing an internet cafe service - I have to install some desktop PCs in my hostel for use by my customers anyway, so I might as well make the set-up 'internet-cafe-friendly' as well

So I'd like some advice about the most practical configuration for this requirement:

- I will use 3 or 4 desktop PCs, to allow internet browsing, Skype etc

- Usage has to be free for my hostel guests, (password system?)

- Usage is charged to passers-by at a per-minute rate

- Administration of the payment system needs to be simple and not time-consuming - I do not want to spend my time looking after passers-by who are paying me 60 baht/hour...

- The internet cafe management software should minimise the risk of viruses being downloaded, or downloading/storage of copyright material. I do not want any problems from the copyright police, so reboot on customer log-off is ideal

- I am pretty good at Unix/Linux admininstration, but I do not want to commit a lot of time to maintaining this internet cafe software application.

Any suggestions/advice on hardware and software?

Thanks

Simon

Whatever you do, install a freeze and restore (DeepFreeze?). You can do whatever you like on the PC, download viruses, delete files and directories, anything. Just switch off and back on and you're back to square one. Kenny

Good idea Kenny. Thinking about managing the charging for internet usage, I think a better approach is to operate it as a 'buy a coffee internet cafe' - that is, internet usage is free to passers-by if they buy a cappuccino (or similar) in my hostel. That way, I do not have to manage the time-usage and I probably end up with a higher profit...

Simon

<br />Good idea Kenny.  Thinking about managing the charging for internet usage, I think a better approach is to operate it as a 'buy a coffee internet cafe' - that is, internet usage is free to passers-by if they buy a cappuccino (or similar) in my hostel.  That way, I do not have to manage the time-usage and I probably end up with a higher profit...<br /><br />Simon<br />

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Simon, print up some numbered dockets with space for PC number and time started.

When a customer comes in he has to ask to use a PC so he's given a docket, all filled in.

When he's finished you charge for time used with maybe a discount for products consumed.

Also you can set price breaks.

30 baht for 20 minutes, 45 baht for 40 minutes 60 baht for 60 minutes. 1 baht a minute after that. Or something like that.

Kenny

These may be of use for you :

http://download.cnet...;contentBody;4d

http://download.cnet...;contentBody;5d

There Both FREE too !

Whatever you do, install a freeze and restore (DeepFreeze?). You can do whatever you like on the PC, download viruses, delete files and directories, anything. Just switch off and back on and you're back to square one. Kenny

Microsoft offers a free solution (only to Genuine users of XP and Vista) similar to DeepFreeze called Windows Steady State.

Read this link:

http://www.howtogeek...ws-steadystate/

This is a great program for a public computer at a coffee shop, at a school, a library or just from keeping your young ones messing things up. Currently it officially works with XP and Vista. Presently there are not plans to to support Windows 7.

However, some of Windows Steady State features are built into Windows 7 called 'PC Safeguard' to help protect against others modifying the system.

Read this link:

http://www.blogsdna....c-safeguard.htm

After working with a friend who owned an Internet Cafe, this is a must! Customers were constantly modify systems and installing software to their tastes.