Calgary, AB (CA), December 2010 - Userful Corporation, a leader in Linux desktop virtualization, has released a beta version of its Linux alternative to Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010. The software, named Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011™, turns one Linux computer into ten independent high-performance computer stations.
It offers the same features as Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, plus some additional ones MultiPoint lacks, such as hundreds of free educational software applications and a suite of tools for managing classroom computers. Userful MultiSeat™ also has higher video performance than Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, and at just $59 per seat (education pricing, commercially available Q4 2010), and with no server licensing costs, it is also a lower-cost alternative.
Userful MultiSeat enables schools to quickly deploy large numbers of computer stations for a very low cost, whether in the classroom, computer lab, or school library. It is easy to set up, use, and maintain, and it provides teachers with the tools they need to give their students access to high-quality computer-based education.
With Userful MultiSeat, schools can deploy twice as many computers for the same cost. It reduces hardware costs by up to eighty percent and reduces the required infrastructure (power plugs, cabling, etc.) by a factor of ten as compared to a traditional PC-per-seat solution. It also reduces energy costs by up to ninety percent enabling schools to recover the cost of their computers through electricity cost savings over a few years.
On average, Userful's education customers report saving sixty percent in up-front costs and eighty percent 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.
Students control their own station and applications individually, making it seem that they have their own dedicated PC. In reality, though, 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 students using different applications at the same time from one computer. Each student's machine has its own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Userful MultiSeat supports both HP t100 and MCT MWS 8820 USB MultiSeat devices.
Since Userful MultiSeat is Linux based, the operating system (OS) and application software are all free! Dozens of free open-source end-user and education-specific applications are included such as Edubuntu OS, iTALC classroom computer-management tool, OpenOffice.org office suite, Firefox web browser, and applications for subjects including astronomy, chemistry, languages, mathematics, planning, and more.
"Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011 enables governments to extend computer-based education to more children using existing budgets", comments Beverley Gallagher, VP Strategic Partnerships at Userful. "Digital inclusion is a very important opportunity, and this beta brings us closer to bridging the digital divide throughout the developing and developed world. It's opportunity, multiplied."
