Children Gain Computer Access For First Time Thanks To Low Cost Userful MultiSeat Linux

Online, September 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Calgary, AB -
Userful Corporation, the global leader in desktop Linux virtualization, today announced that it's upcoming product, Userful MultiSeat Linux 2010™, has garnered an overwhelming demand in Latin America and Asia, despite not being commercially available until Q4 2010. The low cost and robustness of Userful's MultiSeat solution has even made it possible for schools in indigenous villages in Brazil, where infrastructure is minimal, electricity is unreliable, and there is little physical space, to provide computer access to students for the first time.

Userful MultiSeat Linux 2010 is a complete solution software bundle for schools that increases access to affordable educational computing in classrooms, and computer labs, by allowing up to 10 students to connect to a single host PC at the same time, each with their own monitor, keyboard, mouse and applications. The upfront hardware and software cost savings, and ongoing electricity and maintenance cost savings provided by Userful MultiSeat Linux 2010 can multiply the number of computer stations available to schools, delivering more stations within the same budget. On average, Userful's education customers report saving 60% in up-front costs, and 80% in annual power savings as compared to their previous PC-per-station solutions. That's why more than 30,000 schools in 100 countries are using Userful to provide millions of students with computer access.

"Regions such as Latin America and Asia have been shifting to Linux and open source software in their schools for a few years now to eliminate software costs, and make it feasible to deploy plug-and-play computers right in the classroom on small budgets," said Beverley Gallagher, VP Strategic Partnerships at Userful. "Our education customers have been asking us to bundle Userful MultiSeat technology with their favorite Linux software so that they can install it all at once from a single DVD. That's exactly what we've done, and the response has been fantastic."

Since Userful Linux MultiSeat 2010 is Linux based, the operating system (OS) and application software is all free! Hundreds of free, open source, end-user and education-specific applications are included, such as: Edubuntu OS, iTALC classroom computer management tool, ATutor teacher assignment tracking software, OpenOffice.org office suite, GIMP graphics suite, GCompris educational games suite, Firefox web browser, and many more. Teachers can use free open source software to further lower costs, easily tailor curricula to individual students, and monitor and control the classroom computers. Students can develop digital skills that will help them with their school work and prepare them for jobs in the future.

With Userful, each student individually controls his or her own station and applications. To the students, it seems like they each have their own dedicated PC, but in reality they are all sharing the resources of a single computer. Setup is plug-and-play, and configuration is automated, making Userful easy to setup and use. Simply plug USB MultiSeat devices into the host PC, plug a monitor, keyboard, and mouse into each USB MultiSeat device, install Userful software, and the system is ready to support multiple students at the same time.

Userful provides superior video performance to Windows alternatives such as Microsoft Windows Multipoint Server 2010 when using USB MultiSeat devices. At just $59 per seat (education pricing), and with no server licensing costs, Userful software is also the lowest cost shared resource computing solution on the market.

A preview version of Userful Linux MultiSeat 2010 is available now for pilots and customer trials. To learn more and to download, visit http://userful.com/products/userful-multiseat-linux, email [email protected], or phone +1.403.289.2177 ext.795.

About Userful:
Userful Corporation is the world's leading Linux desktop virtualization company with millions of users in over 100 countries. The company's software which turns 1 computer into 10 lowers desktop computing costs, improves manageability, and reduces both electricity consumption and e-waste. Userful's software is sold through a partner network of resellers and OEMs worldwide. Privately held and founded in 1999, Userful launched their flagship product in 2002, and has since sold over 750,000 seats. To learn more about Userful, visit: http://www.userful.com

Trademark notice:
Userful MultiSeat Linux 2010™ is a trademark of Userful Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.