Daily Archives: November 5, 2010

2 posts

Linux Alternative To Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Beta

Server

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 provides teachers with the tools they need to give their students a 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 80%, and reduce 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 schools to recover the cost of their computers through electricity cost savings over a few years. 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.

“I recommend the Userful MultiSeat solution because having many user stations from just a single host computer is a better use of that computer”, said Sergio Castellanos, Project Coordinator, Wintel Mexico. “With Userful we can learn, work, have fun and teach within a group without worrying about configuration, or viruses in the computers. It is an excellent way to start the Linux experience.”

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 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 with their 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 is 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. Hundreds more free applications can be installed with a single click through the Ubuntu Software Center (it’s like the Apple App Store, but everything is free!). 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 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 MultiSeat Linux 2011 enables governments to extend computer based education to more children using existing budgets”, said 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.”

Userful offers a free 5 station, 90 day pilot for any department of education worldwide. To learn more and to download, visit http://userful.com/products/userful-multiseat-linux, email [email protected], or phone +1.403.289.2177

For a comparison of Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011 and Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 visit: http://www.userful.com/products/product-comparison/userful-multiseat-vs-windows-multipoint

For the full version of the press release please visit: http://userful.com/press/multiseat-linux-2011-beta-release

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 2011â„ , and Userful MultiSeatâ„ are trademarks of Userful Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Note to editors: For more information, news, and photos from Userful, please visit the Userful press kit at: http://userful.com/company/news-and-reviews/press-kit

iomart Group wins UK security award for cloud-based government computer child safety project

Cloud

Netintelligence, the cloud security service from iomart Group, has won the title of Security Project of the Year at the inaugural UK Computing Security Awards.

The accolade was given to the company for its work in securing, and providing comprehensive parental controls on the 250,000 laptops distributed to families across England, under the government’s Home Access Scheme, designed to provide low-income families with internet access.

The awards, organised by UK publications Network Computing and Computing Security, were founded to honour the products and services that have made a positive contribution to the security of public and private organisations.

Bill Strain, Chief Technology Officer for iomart Group, said: “We consider winning such a prestigious award a great achievement. This award represents peer group recognition of Netintelligence’s important role in the evolving field of cloud based security solutions and our team’s ability to deliver complex projects within this arena”.

Strain added: “The project, which was delivered over a relatively short timeframe of six months, has been described as the most ambitious ever under taken in the field of UK home computing to date. The fact that the project was rolled out so successfully without any critical feedback being received from any quarter, is testament to the dedication and professionalism of the companies involved in its implementation.”

The Home Access Scheme was launched by the former Labour UK government, and managed by Becta, to provide practical and financial support to low-income families in England with the educational and social benefits of the internet.

Qualifying families were able to apply for a Home Access Grant to purchase a package consisting of a laptop, connectivity and support. Each package issued included pre-set parental controls and a version of the award-winning e-safety guide, Know IT All for Parents.

Netintelligence was selected by Becta’s approved suppliers, who included Misco, Comet, XMA and Centerprise, to provide the internet safety/parental control solution on every laptop distributed under the scheme.

The Netintelligence cloud-based managed service solutions enable resellers to deliver fully featured web-based security services to both business and consumers with no requirement for infrastructure investment. Services include enterprise web management and control, parental controls and email filtering and archiving.

Colin Riddle, Technical Operations Supervisor and Home Access Project Manager at Misco, explained: ”Netintelligence offered us a complete security solution exceeding the requirements of the Home Access programme with the support and features that we needed. Having a cloud security solution which complied with published guidelines was essential for us to meet the requirements of the Home Access programme. We needed a solution which not only met the requirements but also allowed us to deploy it easily and to support the end-users with powerful management features.

“The deployment of Netintelligence is based around the concept of imaging – this fitted perfectly with our existing fulfilment procedures and therefore we are able to smoothly integrate Netintelligence into our solutions.”

The award rounds off a fulfilling week for the iomart Group, which announced on Monday that it has acquired managed hosting company Titan Internet for £4.2 million cash.

About Netintelligence

Netintelligence is the cloud applications hosting brand of managed hosting and cloud services company iomart Group plc. Netintelligence – is leading the market in delivering web based fully managed, internet security services for consumers and businesses. Netintelligence offers the next generation of internet security products – the ’online’, or cloud, security service to IT resellers.Netintelligence automatically provides a wide range of critical security and protection features direct to an end users computer via the cloud.

The Home Access Scheme
The Home Access Scheme was launched in January 2010, as a government drive to help low-income families to get access to a computer and the internet to get online at home. Since launch, it has helped more than 250,000 families with children in Years 3 to 9 to get access to a home computer and/or broadband. Following a change in UK Government administration, the general scheme was formally closed in August 2010, and is now focusing on applications from families with children with disabilities or Special Educational Needs.Since the announcement of the scheme’s closure, there have been several calls for the coalition government to renew it.