Indiana Schools Kick Off Program to Provide Desktop Linux Computers to Every High School Student

ELKHART, Ind., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Linspire, Inc. and Wintergreen Systems announced today that Indiana high schools are currently testing desktop Linux machines in school systems across the state as part of a plan to provide every public high school student with a computer. If successful, the plan, called the Indiana Access Program, will provide each high school student in the state with an individual desktop Linux computer for instructional use in each classroom they visit during the day -- meaning a potential 300,000 Linux machines could be deployed over coming years.

"Indiana schools aren't just talking about desktop Linux -- students and teachers are actually using it every day," said Kevin Carmony, president and CEO of Linspire, Inc. "We're thrilled that a desktop Linux solution is being evaluated in Indiana with such success, and we're confident that other school systems will look to this deployment as an example for their own classrooms. This is a way educators can give every student quality, well-equipped computers at a price the schools can afford."

Over the past three years, thousands of Linspire and Wintergreen machines have been deployed in dozens of classrooms across the state to explore the benefits of one-to-one classroom computing. The program is already having an impact in the state: Randolph Southern Jr./Sr. High School, in the eastern Indiana town of Lynn, is one of the schools that has been using the Linspire/Wintergreen computers for the past three years. There are about 125 systems in the school -- one computer for every student in each of three English Language Arts classrooms, as well as one Biology and one Social Studies classroom. Annette Wilson, technical director for the school, estimates that approximately 90-95 percent of the 300 students at her school will be exposed to the new computers this year.

"The kids are so excited to have their own computers during class," Wilson said. "They're able to do all of their projects and explore the Internet on these systems -- they even use them to take notes during class instead of using notebooks. It makes no difference to them if they are using Linux or another kind of system -- they just want computers that work, and these do."

A new deployment to three school districts will be complete by the start of school in August 2005 and will provide many classes in the pilot school districts with individual systems. The model program uses desktop Linux operating systems and standard hardware configurations to keep costs low. Currently, the Linspire/Wintergreen combo is the leading desktop Linux system available for the schools.

"Many schools across the state have already had the chance to try out desktop Linux, and everyone seems excited to get this program going," said John Levy, CEO of Wintergreen Systems. "This groundbreaking initiative makes it possible for schools to afford computers for every student, something that makes a huge impact in their overall education."

The Indiana Access Program is designed to provide affordable classroom computers for every secondary student. This program makes these systems available with the partnership of Indiana-based companies, benefiting the local Indiana economy. Wintergreen Systems, based in Elkhart, Indiana for five years, provides high-quality computer systems pre-installed with the Linspire operating system.

"We're glad local businesses have the opportunity to make such an impact with students across the state," Levy continued. "Supporting this program provides for a computer in front for the kids, but also helps sustain the businesses that will shape the future for Indiana families."

Schools across Indiana that have not yet had a chance to try the Linspire operating system should call or email Linspire at edu@linspire.com for a free evaluation copy. For more information about the Indiana Access Program, Linspire, or Wintergreen Systems, please contact: Heather MacKenzie

Linspire, Inc.

858-587-6700 x263

858-587-8095 (Fax)

pr@linspireinc.com About Linspire

Linspire, Inc. (http://www.linspire.com) was founded in 2001 to bring choice into the operating system market. The company's flagship product, the Linspire operating system, is an affordable, easy-to-use Linux-based operating system for home, school, and business users. Linspire pioneered CNR (click and run) Technology, which allows Linspire users to download and install thousands of software programs with just one mouse click. The more than 2,000 software titles available in the CNR Warehouse (http://www.linspire.com/cnrservice) include full office and productivity suites, games, multimedia players, photo management software, accounting tools, and more. About Wintergreen Systems

Headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., Wintergreen Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of computer products. Wintergreen Systems, Inc. sells Intel- and AMD-based computers through a network of mass merchandising, indirect resellers, and catalog resellers. Linspire, CNR and CNR Warehouse are trademarks of Linspire, Inc. All other marks herein may be property of their respective owners.