Microsoft announced Wednesday that it is ready with Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, a product that lets schools run a classroom full of systems using just a single computer.

Based on Windows Server 2008 R2, Multipoint allows up to 10 different set-ups, each with their own keyboard, mouse, and monitor to run from a single server.

Windows Multipoint Server allows a multiple students to work off a single PC, each running their own applications and using their own keyboard, mouse and display.
(Credit: Microsoft)

"We heard clearly from our customers in education that to help fulfill the amazing promise of technology in the classroom, they needed access to affordable computing that was easy to manage and use," Microsoft vice president Anthony Salcito said in a statement.

Microsoft had said in November that it was working on the product.

NComputing, which already offers a similar approach using both Linux and standard versions of Windows, said it will incorporate MultiPoint Server across its product lineup.

Hewlett-Packard, ThinGlobal, Tritton and Wyse also plan to build products based on the software.

by Ina Fried