This new client software was developed specifically to meet the requirements of Internet cafes and training classrooms. At present, SiteCafe Client can only be run on Windows XP.
Main Features At a Glance
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License once, use on any number of clients at the same location
You pay for only one license per installation location (e.g. Internet cafe) irrespective of the number of clients you use.
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Work as if you were at home and enjoy maximum freedom
Thanks to PROVISIO's DriveBack ™ technology, users can work on the client as if they were sitting in front of a regular desktop PC. There are almost no restrictions to any available functions. At the same time, the computers are protected from any permanent changes.
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Conveniently change settings
You can use SiteCafe Manager to adjust all important client settings, e.g. usage fees and news, from one central location.
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Installation
The SiteCafe software package (version 2.0 or greater) contains the installers for SiteCafe Server, the MyPublicHotSpot, and Ticket Station. To facilitate installation, we recommend that you copy the software you downloaded to a USB drive. Start by installing SiteCafe Server on the designated computer/server.
This allows you to use the server to manage the different client computers: SiteKiosk clients, MyPublicHotSpot clients, and SiteCafe clients.
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Fig.: SiteCafe Client Configuration Wizard
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Configuration
Use the SiteCafe configuration tool to adjust the basic settings on every client PC.
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User view
When the installation and configuration of SiteCafe Client are complete, you will have to restart the system. After a system reboot, SiteCafe Client will replace the Windows login screen with a login screen of its own.
You can use the configuration tool to change the layout/design of this Start Page and, for instance, add your company logo.
Users can log on with a user name/password combination or a prepaid PIN code.
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Fig.: SiteCafe login screen
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Fig.: Desktop after logging in
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Once logged in, the user is shown the regular Windows desktop. An information bar integrated into the taskbar will constantly inform the user about his or her credit balance and provide other useful information.
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What is DriveBack?
DriveBack is a hard disk driver for Windows XP developed by PROVISIO. This driver prevents users from making any permanent changes to your client PCs.
However, users will, for the duration of their session, still be able to work on the computer in the same way as they would on their own computer at home. Users can install programs, change operating system settings, save files to the disk, etc.
As soon as a user reaches the end of his or her session, though, the system will reboot and automatically roll back all actions and changes made by the user provided DriveBack is enabled. This protects your system in a highly efficient manner. As the operator, you will also not have to worry about any installations of illegal software products, movies or music files.
What sets DriveBack apart from other products available on the market is the possibility to exclude certain files and folders from being protected. If a folder on your hard drive is excluded from DriveBack protection, all changes made to this folder will be saved permanently. This is a useful feature if you, for example, want to retain log files, game scores or user files after a restart of your system.
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Frequently asked questions
Question:
DriveBack protects my hard drive from unwanted changes. How can I as the operator install certain programs permanently?
Answer:
If you would like to offer programs and games, simply disable DriveBack using the SiteCafe configuration tool and reboot the system. Once the system is back up, you can make the desired changes to the operating system and install the programs you want. However, do not forget to enable DriveBack protection again.
Question:
I run two Internet cafes in my city. Cybercafe A has 50 workstations, while cybercafe B only has 5 workstations. How many licenses will I have to purchase?
Answer:
The number of licenses does not depend on the number of available clients, but on the number of installation locations/branches. In your case, you will have to purchase two SiteCafe Client license packages.
Question:
I would like to charge my customers for using their own laptops/notebooks to surf the Web in my cafe. Is that possible?
Answer:
Yes. What you will need is the MyPublicHotSpot which works in combination with SiteCafe. The module allows you to integrate an unlimited number of WIFI clients per HotSpot location.
Question:
Can I use SiteCafe Client in combination with a coin acceptor?
Answer:
No, only SiteKiosk Client allows you to directly include other payment devices. As an alternative, you can use Ticket Station, which allows your customers to purchase pre-paid PIN codes in exchange for cash.
Question:
Can I charge different rates at different times of day (Happy Hours)?
Answer:
No, SiteCafe Client only lets you charge for usage time on a linear scale at a rate of your choice (per hour or minute). Again, only SiteKiosk Client lets you charge other rates and include services or provide certain Web sites for free.
Question:
Can I charge for each page of a print job?
Answer:
No, you will need SiteKiosk Client if you want to charge your customers for printing out pages. SiteKiosk Client even lets you charge different rates for different printers. In general, you may want to use one or several SiteKiosk clients in addition to your SiteCafe clients so that you can offer other services including printing, CD burning, etc.
For more information, log on to our
Support Center.