"This initiative will provide computer access to millions of
children and adolescents throughout the country. It is a historical
achievement, being: the world's largest ever virtual desktop
deployment; the world’s largest ever desktop Linux
deployment, and a new record low-cost for PCs with the PC sharing
hardware and software costing less than $50 per seat. The decision
to deploy Userful and ThinNetworks' low-cost and environmentally
friendly desktop virtualization solution establishes the Brazilian
Ministry of Education as a global leader in computer education and
provides other governments and institutions worldwide with a proven
model for improving student to computer ratios while rolling out
large numbers of desktops with minimal cost and environmental
impact. Userful Multiplier is the simplest, and highest performance
approach to desktop virtualization on the market. In combination
with hardware from ThinNetworks it is also the lowest-cost desktop
virtualization solution on the market. All other virtualization
solutions lead to sacrifices in performance. Userful offers the
features of a full PC including high performance video for less
than $50 per additional seat in large deployments (not including
monitors and keyboards) and uses standard PC hardware including
additional low-cost video cards and USB/2-way-audio hubs from
ThinNetworks. Userful and
"ThinNetworks are providing the desktop virtualizaton and PC
sharing software and hardware while Positivo, Daruma, and Itaultec
are providing the PCs and services. Userful and ThinNetworks have
been selected in a competitive bidding process for all three phases
of the project. The first phase, 18,750 workstations in rural
schools, has already been installed and they are functioning
well."
