OpenLab 4 (Perdita) - Release Anouncement

OpenLab International (www.getopenlab.com) proudly announces the international 
release of  OpenLab4. OpenLab4 is an all-encompassing GNU/Linux software 
distribution,  catering to desktop, power and server users alike.

OpenLab started development in 2001, with OpenLab1 released in April 2001 in
London, UK, as a thin-client, disk-less computer centre solution, based on
Linux Terminal Server technology. The initial release was based on Mandrake
(now Mandrivia) and catered to the education market.

Says AJ Venter , Chief Software Architect, "OpenLab has evolved immensely
since the first public release in 2002. It was really with OpenLab3's release
in 2004, particularly 3.2.8, that OpenLab started to get international
attention, having reached the balanced blend of simple end-user appeal and
functionality, and powerful back-end services. OpenLab 3 was developed on the
base of Slackware, and this tradition has continued with the release of
OpenLab4".

OpenLab4 allows for the use of varied computer technologies, ranging from
obsolete to state-of-the-art, from stand-alone PC, fat-client to diskless
workstation configuration. "You will be surprised at the new lease on life
given to older PCs through this solution. Old PCs can perform as new,
enabling schools and community facilities with limited resources to bridge
the Digital Divide", says MD of OpenLab International.

Brandjes adds, "The solution, based on the Free and Open Source Software
models, comes bundled with a range of relevant desk-top productivity
applications and back-end server software. OpenLab4 has a look and feel just
like that of other graphical desktops, based on KDE. For the educational
sector, server-based, browser-based, platform-independent, specialist
educational software and a range of applications ensure that the tools are
available for an effective and meaningful educational experience".

OpenLab4 is distributed across a number of CDs. The base distribution is
OpenLab4-LIVEcd, which is available for free download or low-cost CD. LIVEcd
contains the entire Operating System, and all basic applications including
KDE, OpenOffice and Firefox, all on a single cd. What is unique to OpenLab is
the fact that OpenLab4-LIVEcd contains both a LIVEcd and an installable
system, all on one CD. Thus, you get to try OpenLab4, booting on your own PC,
with the security that all your data and files are safe! Even better is the
fact that LIVEcd installs in a fraction of the time it takes to install the
equivalent Linux or WinX-based products. Says Venter , "From 10 to 20 minutes
for a complete environment install is quite impressive!"

LIVEcd is complimented with 2 further CDs. POWERcd contains loads of Desktop
add-ons and all the server services, including thin-client. KARMAcd includes
loads of language packs and games, to 'bring balance to life'. The full set
of 3 CDs or 1 DVD is available as a set, at low cost from the OpenLab store.
In addition, OpenLab offers various value packs, suited for particular
markets. These load on top of OpenLab OS, and provide content and specific
solutions for particular markets, including the education sector.

OpenLab solutions are distributed on-line, or through appointed partners.
These include Olamandla Technologies in South Africa, and SchoolNet Namibia
in Namibia. OpenLab has now been implemented in over 500 sites throughout
Africa, with downloads recorded as over 3,500 since April 2004.

-- 
"80% Of a hardware engineer's job is application of the uncertainty principle.
80% of a software engineer's job is pretending this isn't so."
A.J. Venter
Chief Software Architect
OpenLab International
http://www.getopenlab.com
http://www.silentcoder.co.za