Announcing Multiplicity
Control multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 by Stardock Central | Discussion: WinCustomize News
A typical configuration would be 2 or 3 computers, each with its own monitor connected to that computer. The primary computer would have the keyboard and mouse hooked up to it. The secondary computers receive input via a network connection about the mouse's location. When the mouse passes onto their screen, the user is in control of that PC.
"It's totally seamless," said Brad Wardell, Product Manager of Multiplicity. "I can be playing a full screen game on one screen and have an instant messaging conversation going on the other computer. I just move my mouse over to the other monitor to type a response and then move it back to continue controlling my character in the game I'm playing."
Multiplicity also provides a universal clipboard between machines. Users can copy images or text from one machine, move their mouse over to another monitor, and paste it. The Pro version of Multiplicity allows users to also copy and paste files and directories between machines.
Stardock plans to target engineering firms, testing centers, power users, gamers, and other markets that tend to have people that may have multiple computers.
"If you've ever sent yourself an email to move a file or piece of data in the same room then you need Multiplicity," said Wardell. "If you are currently in an office where there's keyboard and mice taking over your desk or table, you need Multiplicity."
Multiplicity will come in two forms, standard and professional. Multiplicity standard version will list for $39.95 and supports controlling two computers. Multiplicity Pro will list for $69.95 which supports controlling up to any number of computers as well as supports copying files and folders between machines.
Stardock expects to release Multiplicity by the end of February. Its home page is https://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity
Versions:
Multiplicity Standard: $39.95
Multiplicity Pro: $69.95
Requires: Windows 2000 or Windows XP. At least two computers with at
least 1 monitor on each computer.
Developer:
Stardock Corp. (www.stardock.com).
17292 Farmington Rd.
Livonia MI 48152
About Stardock:
Stardock is a Midwestern Windows software development company. It is best known
for creating software that extends and enhances to functionality of Microsoft
Windows. Its principle product is a suite of desktop enhancements called Object
Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com) which includes its popular utilities
WindowBlinds, DesktopX, ObjectBar, IconPackager, SkinStudio, RightClick,
Keyboard LaunchPad, and much more.
It also runs the world's most popular desktop customization website called
WinCustomize.com (www.wincustomize.com) which receives over 3 million unique
visitors each month.
Stardock has also developed popular PC strategy games such as the award winning
Galactic Civilizations (www.galciv.com) and The Political Machine (www.politicalmachine.com).
Its game software is available at retail as well as through its innovative
electronic distribution network TotalGaming.net (www.totalgaming.net).
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Reply #2 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:18 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:21 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:22 PM
The Synergy project does the same thing for free and works with other OS than windows.
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/about.html
Reply #7 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:37 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 1:13 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 1:13 PM
Unless I am mistaken, it's a software version of a KVM. When you think of one person running multiple systems, it looks like Multiplicity is about sharing K and M. However, what most people want is to share the V, since it is the most expensive of the three. Especially when you escalate to four- or eight-way setups.
What I really need is a four-way K((2V)MAU.
A keyboard-multimon-mouse-audio-usb switch.Reply #11 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 1:26 PM
... Sign me up!!!
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 2:05 PM
| Will this be a part of Object Desktop, or is it another additional thing we OD subscribers will have to buy? |
It's a tool for sharing input between multiple machines, not a desktop customization tool, so I would say no. Also Stardock has added two additional pieces of software to ODNT in recent months right-click and enhanced dialog....isn't that enough
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 2:12 PM
NO!
lol Kidding, great applications mentioned there, and this app. sounds coolbeans to.
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 2:13 PM
Alphadog I recommend re-reading what it does, you are obviously fairly confused about it. MP allows you to control multiple computers(Including their monitors) with a single keyboard and mouse. Not sure how you misread that to be that it shares mouse and keyboard.
Whoever wrote that press announcement, I recommend the following changes:
Requires: Windows XP or Windows 2000/2003. At least two computers with at least 1 monitor on each computer and networking cards.
(Note, move WindowsXP before 2000, and mention that it does need a network, or at the least, networking cards. Pretty important to mention that as it is a hardware requirement of Multiplicity)
Finally, there are some stark differences between Multiplicity and Synergy, namely the file copy features, and the ability to work in almost every game out there(which Multiplicity does). Synergy at best, has connection issues, and is flakey in games. In fact, there are several Multiplicity-Like products out there, and before they come up, let me address them.
(Supports pocket PC's as well, up to 32 computers in various locations. However, it is quite difficult to setup and does NOT work well in most games. Also there are no facilities for file sharing between machines.)
http://www.apteryxware.com/singlecontrol/
(Works in almost all games, but is very expensive at $179.00. Does not support clipboard or file sharing.)
Please note, I don't work for Stardock, this is merely my impressions and opinions.
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 2:22 PM
Reply #16 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 3:20 PM
Reply #17 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 3:23 PM
So far I have not found one utility that works in EQlive (Everquest 1). EQlive does not want to let the mouse go and it still appears on the master machine and it then moves around in sync with the client mouse. Very distracting. I am hoping multiplicity is able to get this game working. If it doesnt't Multiplicity is still a better choice.
I see stardock also has an alternate site at Link I assume this is the same product
Scott Adams
Not Dilbert, Adventure!
www.msadams.com
Reply #18 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 3:39 PM
Comparing it to Synergy is like comparing Photoshop to the Gimp.
It has a lot to do with usability and features. On paper, a car and a 18-wheel semi are pretty darn similar. It's when you decide you want to drive to the store that the practical differences come into play.
Reply #19 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 3:43 PM
BTW, there will be a demo version of Multiplicity. So anyone who has any doubts on why you would use Multiplicity over something else will be able to see for themselves.
I thought of another example: There are "freeware"/open source alternatives to WindowBlinds too. I'm not talking uxtheme hacks I mean real genuine open source skinning programs. But in practice, people don't use them because they're flakey or hard to use, or lack features.
And one last example: ObjectDock Plus. There are LOTS of programs that, on paper, do the exact same thing as ObjectDock Plus. There are free things out there that do what ObjectDock Plus does. But any ObjectDock Plus user who has used it and those other programs can tell you the difference here.
Reply #20 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 4:19 PM
Generally, with freeware, you get what you pay for, and I can sum that up as:
1) Underdeveloped products.
2) Less than stellar support.
3) Infrequent updates/stalled development.
4) Less than responsive developers.
Now I do have some first hand experiance with some of these things. For the last few weeks i've been emailing various freeware authors of some nice products to buy the rights/code out from them. Few, if any, have valid email addresses, much less bother to answer email about their products.
They are free for a reason.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:14 PM
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/about.html