$59 Linux Desktop Computer To Be Shown At Cebit

(Auszug aus der Pressemitteilung)

Calgary, AB – Feb 23, 2011 – At Cebit this year (Hall 13, Stand 28) Userful Corporation, the

global leader in Linux desktop virtualization, will be demoing and
giving away free software licenses for it’s Userful MultiSeat™
software which turns one Linux computer into 11 high performance
independent computer stations using standard USB devices such as the
HP t100, Wyse E01, Goodway DU2600, Atrust m200, MCT MWS 8820, and
DisplayLink devices. Userful MultiSeat enables schools and businesses
to deploy more than twice as many computers for the same cost, while
enabling up to 11 users to use different applications at the same
time from one host computer, each with their own monitor, keyboard,
and mouse. At just $59 per seat (education pricing), Userful
MultiSeat is the lowest cost computing solution available with the
features and performance of a full desktop computer.

Userful MultiSeat enables organizations to quickly deploy large
numbers of computer stations for a very low cost, whether in the
classroom, office, call center, oil field, hospital, library,
military base, hotel, internet cafe, or anywhere else multiple
computers in close proximity are needed. It reduces hardware costs by
up to 80%, and reduces required infrastructure (power plugs, cabling,
etc.) by a factor of 10 as compared to a traditional PC-per-seat
solution. It also reduces energy costs by up to 90%, enabling
organizations to recover the cost of their computers through
electricity cost savings over a few years.

„Userful MultiSeat software and HP multiseat USB thin client hardware
are an ideal solution for regions such as India, where schools need to
deploy large numbers of full featured computers for minimal cost,
using minimal infrastructure,“ said Rajat Mehta, Country Manager PSG,
HP India. „Userful is a professional and responsive company that
enables schools to leverage Linux and open source software for a very
professional, and high performance user experience.“

More than 50,000 schools worldwide are already using Userful to
provide millions of students with computer access. Userful has proven
to be the computer solution of choice for governments with digital
inclusion mandates to provide school age children with computer
access, on limited budgets. Countries such as Brazil, who have
already successfully deployed over 350,000 Userful computer stations
to schools in every municipality, have shown that with the combined
cost savings of Userful MultiSeat, Linux, and open source software,
it is feasible to provide every student with a comprehensive
education using computers, regardless of whether they live in a city
or a remote indigenous village with little infrastructure. The
Brazilian Ministry of Education has reported saving 60% in up-front
costs, and 80% in annual power savings as compared to their previous
PC-per-station solutions. To date, Userful has sold more than 750,000
seats.

„Userful and DisplayLink have worked closely together to build
support for DisplayLink USB virtual graphics enabled devices with the
market leading Userful Linux solution.“ said Dennis Crespo,
DisplayLink Executive VP, Marketing and Business Development. „The
performance and ease of use of the Userful MultiSeat software running
on DisplayLink technology enabled devices is outstanding. As the
leader in USB virtual graphics, DisplayLink is excited to be a part
of the super easy way to set-up and run computer sharing. Now schools
can spend less time and money configuring systems, and more time
providing students with practical computing experience.“

Each user individually controls his or her own station and
applications. To the user, it seems like they each have their own
dedicated PC, but in reality they are all sharing the resources of a
single host computer. Set up is Plug-And-Play — 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 users using different
applications at the same time from one computer, each with their own
monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Userful MultiSeat is also available as part of a software bundle for
schools, called Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011. This all-in-one install
DVD is a Linux based software bundle that includes a wide variety of
no cost applications such as: Edubuntu operating system, iTALC
classroom computer management tool, OpenOffice.org office suite,
Firefox web browser, and subject based applications for astronomy,
chemistry, languages, mathematics, planning, and more. Hundreds more
applications can be installed at no charge with a single click
through the Software Center — a centralized repository of free Linux
based applications. Teachers can use additional 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 the included classroom computer management software teachers can
centrally manage and monitor the computer stations with ease. For
instance teachers can see what each student is doing on their
station, send students messages, remotely take control of a student’s
station, share files with and between students, create or delete
student accounts/change passwords, and add a new application to all
computer stations by installing it only once on the host computer,
among other control features.

„Userful has been flying under the radar, quietly taking the world by
storm“ said Tim Griffin, President of Userful. „We’ve already done the
world’s largest ever desktop virtualization deployment, and one of the
largest digital inclusion initiatives in the world. Userful is the
perfect solution for anyone who wants the benefits of desktop
virtualization, without the price tag. It’s also lower cost than
netbooks, and doesn’t have the same concerns around recharging,
durability, theft, e-waste, warranty, or small screen size.“

Userful provides a compelling alternative for businesses who no
longer want the costs and headaches of a server room, traditional
thin clients, or large numbers of PCs. Userful MultiSeat desktop
virtualization works with ordinary low cost PCs and zero clients.
It’s the lowest cost solution that offers important features such as
hot desking, fail over capacity, local USB device access, and high
performance streaming video.

Userful offers a free 11 station, 90 day pilot for any department of
education worldwide so that educators can easily experience first
hand the high performance, and ease of use of the solution.

To learn more and to get trial software licenses, visit Hall 13, Stand 28 at Cebit.