Ultra-Low-Cost Computer Solution For Schools Bundles Free K-12 Education Software

Canadian company Userful Corporation, the world leader in multiseat
Linux computing, today announced the preview release of Userful Linux
MultiSeat 2010™ - a complete Linux based classroom software solution
on a single install DVD. Userful's flagship product, Userful
Multiplier™, turns 1 computer into 10, and is the foundation of
this new product preview release. This evaluation software provides a
sneak preview of some of the major feature enhancements that will be
included in the commercial release of Userful Multiplier V.4.0 and
Userful Linux MultiSeat 2010™, in Q4 2010.

Userful increases access to affordable computing in educational
scenarios such as classrooms, computer labs, and libraries by
enabling multiple people to connect to a single host PC, each with
their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. 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 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 user individually controls his or her own station
and applications. To the users, it seems like they each have their
own dedicated PC, but in reality they are all sharing the resources
of a single computer. Userful supports 3D applications, and provides
superior video performance to Windows alternatives such as Microsoft
Windows Multipoint Server 2010 when using USB multiseat devices.

Userful supports all major USB multiseat devices, including the HP
T100, Wyse E01, NComputing U170, MCT MWS 8820, and MWS 8840, as well
as standard video cards. 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 video device, install Userful software, and the
system is ready to support multiple users at the same time. 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.

"With Userful Multiplier we can fulfill our mission of bringing
equality and equity in technology to our children and young
students.” Said Luis Alejandro Orona, Product Manager, Oro Verde
Digital SRL Argentina. “It allows us to bridge the digital divide
in an economic and ecological way. What I most appreciate is the
simplicity of implementation and use. Previously it took much more
time and effort to install large numbers of computers. Installing
multiple stations on a single PC saves us time and maintenance
costs."

Userful's software is sold through a partner network of resellers and
OEMs worldwide. Having the support of a broad range of partners makes
it easy for customers to purchase Userful solutions optimized for the
unique language, content, and curriculum needs of their region. The
upfront hardware cost savings, and ongoing electricity and
maintenance cost savings provided by Userful shared resource
computing solutions can multiply the number of computer stations
available to schools, delivering more workstations within the same
budget. Teachers can better align computing resources with
instructional strategies, while deploying easy to manage computers
right in the classroom, and reducing workstation support liabilities.


“With Userful, schools can offer more computer access to more
students on existing budgets, and/or have enough money left over to
spend on other classroom technology," said Beverley Gallagher, VP
Strategic Partnerships at Userful. "Plus the Userful multiseat
computers are easy to set up and maintain, making them easily managed
by nontechnical professionals right in the classroom."

Userful Linux MultiSeat 2010 (preview) is available now for pilots
and customer trials as an Edubuntu 10.04 integrated install DVD. The
integrated install DVD allows users to partition the target
computer's hard drive during the install process, and install
Edubuntu 10.04 pre-configured with Userful Multiplier Evaluation
Version 3.8, in a single convenient installation. Userful Multiplier
Evaluation V.3.8 is available in both RPM and DEB formats, supporting
all major Linux distributions including Ubuntu 10.04, SLED 11, and
Debian 5.0.

To learn more and to download Userful Linux MultiSeat 2010 (preview),
or Userful Multiplier Evaluation V.3.8, visit
userful.com/products/userful-linux-multiseat, email
info@userful.com, or phone +1.403.289.2177 ext.795.

For the full version of the press release please visit:
userful.com/press/linux-multiseat-2010

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:
www.userful.com