Customers Report Change to Linux Easier than Expected

Customers Report Change to Linux Easier Than Expected

CALGARY, AB (March 30, 2005) - Userful's Fall 2004 customer survey showcases the ease with which libraries have been migrating their public computers to Linux. Responding to questions about DiscoverStation's usability, patron acceptance rates, and ease of transition, Library Directors and IT staff reported that ninety-one percent of their patrons had a trouble-free transition to DiscoverStation.

Steph Johnson, Assistant Systems Administrator at the Flathead County Library (MT), said, "The biggest evidence of our patrons' happiness with the change to DiscoverStation is the infrequent need for staff assistance. DiscoverStation is straightforward, intuitive, and there is not much difference with the interface as compared to Windows, which has definitely helped with the transition."

Newcomers to Linux found the transition to DiscoverStation much easier than expected with seventy-five percent reporting the switch went "Better" or "Significantly Better" than expected. Respondents also weighed in on how easy patrons found the system to use. Eighty percent reported DiscoverStation's usability "Better" or "Significantly Better" than their previous solution.

Tim Griffin, President of Userful explains how the company offers a far richer computing experience for library patrons. "Our solutions are much closer to a patron's 'at home' or 'at work' computing experience than a typical library's public computer. Once the library has finished locking down a station and making it suitable for public use, the computer no longer has the open feel of a personal computer. DiscoverStation is secure for public use, yet it allows patrons to do everything they'd ever want to do on a PC - everything they've become accustomed to doing at home and in the office. Libraries report their patrons lining up to use DiscoverStation computers, while nearby Windows computers remain vacant."

For complete survey results, please visit http://userful.com/press/survey-results.

About Userful

For the past three years, Userful has been transforming the world of desktop computing with their unique 1-Box Desktop Multiplier software. With this ten-to-one advantage, Userful has gained a strong presence in the public computing market. Its company mission is to become the dominant platform for affordable desktop computing worldwide.

For more information about Userful, visit Userful's online newsroom at http://www.userful.com/press/