Alberta Software Company Helps Reduce New Recycling Levy on Computers

CALGARY, AB (February 23, 2005) - Alberta is the first province to implement an environmental fee of up to $30 that retailers will charge on the purchase of new desktop computers. This environmental fee will most likely be implemented by other provinces. Userful's innovative 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software offers an environmentally-friendly and cost-saving solution, by turning one computer into ten. Userful's software creates this ten-to-one advantage by using extra video cards to quickly turn a single ordinary PC into a network of up to ten workstations. By reducing hardware, software, and maintenance costs, Userful's 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software significantly reduces the total cost of ownership by as much as seventy per cent. In addition, it also reduces the newly implemented recycling levy per desktop computer.

With 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software, up to ten users can work off of a single computer box. Each user requires only a standard monitor, USB keyboard, and mouse. Users can simultaneously browse the Internet, send email, and independently run any installed software they desire.

Tim Griffin, President of Userful, who holds a Masters degree from the University of Calgary in Environmental Design said, "We designed our 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software to bring affordable and environmentally-friendly computing to the world. Currently, less than three percent of the world's population owns a computer, yet computer hardware disposal is becoming one of the fastest growing threat to our environment. Imagine a software product, such as 1-Box Desktop Multiplier, that can reduce the environmental impact of computing by as much as ninety percent."

In addition to making desktop computing drastically more affordable, 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software has substantial environmental benefits. The ninety per cent reduction in hardware greatly alleviates an organization's power, air conditioning and computer disposal costs.

After three years of selling the 1-Box software as a turnkey solution, Userful is releasing 1-Box Desktop Multiplier as a stand-alone product for global distribution, and is looking to expand their network of partners and resellers internationally. 1-Box Desktop Multiplier offers support for most Linux distributions, including Novell, Mandrake, Fedora Core and Red Hat.

About Userful

For the past three years, Userful has been transforming the world of desktop computing with their unique 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software. Userful's innovation of turning one computer into ten has earned them the status of technology leaders in desktop computing, and has recently been named one of Alberta's fastest growing companies. With this ten-to-one advantage, Userful has gained a strong presence in the public computing market; with the mission to become the dominant platform for affordable desktop computing worldwide.

For more information about Userful and 1-Box Desktop Multiplier, visit Userful's online newsroom at http://www.userful.com/press/