Computer industry recognizes Calgary company with prestigious award nomination

Calgary, Alberta (August 4, 2005) - A Calgary-based company, Userful, has been nominated alongside international computer industry giants IBM and Novell to receive one of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Userful's DiscoverStation 4.0, to debut at LinuxWorld in San Francisco next week, was one of four products named as a finalist in the Best Systems Management Tools category of the LinuxWorld Product Excellence Awards.

"Being recognized by our peers as a finalist for the Product Excellence Awards confirms something we and our many clients have known for years: that DiscoverStation is the best way to manage and provide public computer access," says Tim Griffin, President of Userful. "Enabling libraries and other organizations provide and manage cost-effective public computer and Internet access has always been one of our primary goals. With this nomination, we hope that more people will recognize our unique ability to reduce the IT expertise and costs required to provide access to computers to their communities."

According to LinuxWorld organizers, the awards recognize achievement in major areas of innovation in the Linux and Open Source community. Products from IBM and Novell were also nominated in the Best Systems Management Tools category.
Userful's DiscoverStation is a centrally-managed public computing solution that enables organizations to provide computer and Internet access at half the cost of traditional PCs. Userful pioneered multi-station desktop Linux with a unique technology that lowers both capital and operating costs by providing up to 10 users with 10 independent workstations using just one commodity PC. After significant research and in response to evolving customer needs, DiscoverStation 4.0 enhances central management and end-user features, and increases compatibility with a broad array of computer peripherals.

DiscoverStation and other Userful Multi-station desktop Linux solutions are currently in use in libraries and public computing venues around the world, including several locations in Alberta.

Userful will demonstrate DiscoverStation 4.0 at LinuxWorld San Francisco 2005 Exhibit Hall Booth #138 from August 9-11.

For more information, see:

Userful DiscoverStation: http://www.userful.com/products/discoverstation

LinuxWorld Product Excellence Awards: http://www.linuxworldexpo.com/live/12/media//news/CC844071

About Userful

Userful's products provide robust platforms to deliver cost-effective multi-user Linux desktop workstations to public computing venues world wide. Userful's Desktop Multiplier software is included in its DiscoverStation to deliver up to 10 Linux workstations from just one standard PC.

Founded in 1999, Userful's strong growth is fueled by vigorous demand for public computing and desktop Linux world wide. Userful continues to gain momentum in a market anxious for affordable alternatives to traditional computers. Userful was recently named Alberta's 15th fastest growing company under $20 million in revenue. Userful is a privately held company.