A boot image control strategy is a common way to reduce total cost of ownership in organizations with large numbers of similar computers being used by users with common needs, e.g. a large corporation or government agency. This is considered part of enterprise application integration in larger shops that use that term since applications are part of the boot image, and modify the boot image, in most desktop OS. Windows Vista includes tools for boot image control, displacing third-party tools. Mac OS has always had more flexible handling of boot drives, simplifying control and reducing the need to move boot images around between drives. Increasingly, boot image control is a network operating system function. Economics Very often a large computer vendor is required to explain in a bid in response to an RFP how they intend to simplify the purchaser's boot image control problems and the attendant service costs: The total cost of ownership correlates strongly to the total number of different images, not the total number of computers, so this is a major cost concern. Three basic strategies are commonly advised: a single base boot image for each type of computer in the organization, customized by each user with no central control a thin client strategy where the smallest possible boot image is used, typically one that does not include a full operating system a departmental boot image strategy where a base boot image is customized with applications to fit each group of users, but, the users do not have the ability to upgrade or alter the configurations Thin client strategies Organizations that do not closely track, control and set common standards for, acquisition of new computer hardware, typically can only practice a thin client strategy. Which strategy will reduce total cost of operations the most depends on several factors: whether the capabilities of a full operating system are required, or just those of a thin client whether applications with inflexible software licenses are in use that must be paid for not only if they are used, but even if they are only installed whether poorly-behaved applications that interact badly are in use LAN or removable disk limits that make it easy or difficult to do re-imaging on demand More complex departmental boot images While the departmental boot image strategy seems to be the most flexible, the complexity of creating and managing several large boot images, and determining when