userful.com— Have guests and relatives visiting? This free software lets 2 users share a single computer box. All you need is a dual head video card and an extra USB keyboard.
Dec 17, 2005View in Crawl 4
I don't think its about having 10 desktops performing exceptionally. Its about give 10 different users access to the internet, such as an internet cafe, school computer lab. But yea a nice 4 CPU server with RAID would be able to run a few copies of openoffice and firefox just fine.
I tried the betwin. Kinda slow performance, very picky about the video cards in the system, and their trial is very anoying (it logs all users out after 2h, I lost a lot of work testing out their software :-). This software is a lot cleaner. Plus it looks like they are working on starting to build an Open Source community as well<a class="user" href="http://openUserful.org">http://openUserful.org</a>
I'm surprised about the comments here, I thought digg readers where more open minded that just saying "It's for linux, why not for a OS that people use".
I'm using Thinsoftinc's Betwin at the high school I work at. WXP, single head geforce cards, belkin usb hub. Working fine with 4 monitors/stations, have nine of these systems in use. One issue is that once it's set up, any change to the mice/keyboards messes things up (easy to fix reconfigure it though). It didn't like DLink hubs, some caused intermitteant problems. Tech support is good about answering email ovenight. Usually takes them a few days to come up with an update when windows has a new patch.
We have been installing Windows versions of this using 2, 4, or 8 headed video cards and USB hubs (for kbds/mice/sound) in schools for a year. www.trsc.net/zlink.htm is the website. The comment regarding Linux Xorg and doing it yourself is exactly right. It is just really complicated. We have an installer for the Linux version also. Video runs very well on this as opposed to LTSP or Citrix/Terminal services because it is streaming directly from the video card and not being packaged as TCP/IP packet. I'm working on a MAC version.
apotropaicDec 19, 2005
I don't think its about having 10 desktops performing exceptionally. Its about give 10 different users access to the internet, such as an internet cafe, school computer lab. But yea a nice 4 CPU server with RAID would be able to run a few copies of openoffice and firefox just fine.
Closed AccountDec 19, 2005
"All you need is a dual head video card and an extra USB keyboard." and linux
boltronicsDec 19, 2005
"The software is free...."Nope! It's a non-free license. Saying "Free software app" is very misleading.
timbottDec 19, 2005Submitter
Ooops forgot to include the link here's the page for developers: <a class="user" href="http://userful.com/developers">http://userful.com/developers</a>P.S. Also they have a version called DiscoverStation designed for Libraries, schools, internet cafe's etc. (there doesn't seem to be a free 2 user version of that, there is a free trial)<a class="user" href="http://userful.com/products/discoverstation">http://userful.com/products/discoverstation</a>
timbottDec 20, 2005Submitter
I tried the betwin. Kinda slow performance, very picky about the video cards in the system, and their trial is very anoying (it logs all users out after 2h, I lost a lot of work testing out their software :-). This software is a lot cleaner. Plus it looks like they are working on starting to build an Open Source community as well<a class="user" href="http://openUserful.org">http://openUserful.org</a>
mybotpikoDec 20, 2005
I'm surprised about the comments here, I thought digg readers where more open minded that just saying "It's for linux, why not for a OS that people use".
pgphilipDec 20, 2005
Noooo!! I had this exact idea! I can't believe it!!!!!!!
jayrtfmDec 20, 2005
I'm using Thinsoftinc's Betwin at the high school I work at. WXP, single head geforce cards, belkin usb hub. Working fine with 4 monitors/stations, have nine of these systems in use. One issue is that once it's set up, any change to the mice/keyboards messes things up (easy to fix reconfigure it though). It didn't like DLink hubs, some caused intermitteant problems. Tech support is good about answering email ovenight. Usually takes them a few days to come up with an update when windows has a new patch.
pathdaemonDec 20, 2005
Want Mac version!!
zerolinkDec 29, 2005
We have been installing Windows versions of this using 2, 4, or 8 headed video cards and USB hubs (for kbds/mice/sound) in schools for a year. www.trsc.net/zlink.htm is the website. The comment regarding Linux Xorg and doing it yourself is exactly right. It is just really complicated. We have an installer for the Linux version also. Video runs very well on this as opposed to LTSP or Citrix/Terminal services because it is streaming directly from the video card and not being packaged as TCP/IP packet. I'm working on a MAC version.