Windows is a service...
No, you're an Operating System. If you were a service, I'd be going into task manager, killing your process, and setting the service startup mode to Disabled.
Why would you be using Windows for displaying literally what looks like a static image, maybe a video? Seems like massive overkill.
True, but if you're a small independent business it's pretty reasonable to believe they don't have any techies. Just grabbing a basic Windows PC that you already understand is probably a simple enough solution.
Hard disagree. Most Linux releases have handled a second monitor automatically for years. Plug and play.
I'm talking like six monitors like I see at the local servo. Guessing they're using some kind of displaylink usb adapters? Does Linux play OK with them?
For static setups like PC's it is fine. For laptops however my experience is that every distro I tried fails horribly in providing a decent UX. Each and every time I plug in my monitor while my laptop is in sleep mode (so each time I worked at the office) I need to set up the proper resolution again when it wakes. I don't know if Linux cannot handle 5120x1440 properly, but both X11 and Wayland just reset to glorious 640x480.
They’re using windows to show a webpage.
Teensy tiny windows pcs are cheap and a low barrier of entry for “the tech guy”
I'd love to get a job at one of these display board companies (or the local IT if they do it themselves), and tell them I can save them thousands.
A Pi Zero 2W, TFTP boot, you've saved masses of hardware cost and saved yourself a Windows licence.
Replicate that for all the displays over all the stores, done.
