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 #22 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:14 PM
Reply #23 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:26 PM
I am sitting here typing this from yet another wonderfull LinuX LiveCD Unbubtu, and if it wasn't for OSS Development that wouldn't be possible. There is an over abundance of support out there for many given projects, and usually is only an IRC Chat away. People are getting very lazy when it comes to Software trouble shooting, and they are coming to think that a problem should be solvable in a single phone call or email.Do not mistake StarDocks Support of its' products to be the norm, anywhere. Your over generalization is a disservice to the OSS Movement. Do not let your experiences predjuidice your entire outlook, because of a few problems you encounter. Remember this and take it with a grain of salt... A lot of OSS software is developed by Students, entering the IT Field, or hobbyist (sp?) Students move, leave schools or change Host Accounts frequently, add and drop accounts or loose their hosting for Services. They might not be reachable. Also remember the dev factor of something is at the leisure of the Authors/ Developer. It is the samme with skinners, and their artwork. Just ask the folks that want to port the Turtle II LS Theme (or something similar.)
Reply #24 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:28 PM
I mean I use PCAnywhere, and Remote Desktop on a Daily basis. Give me a comparison if you would.
Is it possible to get some sort of comparison chart as a refference? Kinda like a shoot out.
Reply #25 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:38 PM
Reply #26 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:40 PM
This is totally different to Remote Desktop, PCAnywhere etc.
This app allows you to have 2 or more computers (and screens) in your office, but only 1 keyboard & mouse. So you could have a work PC and a irc machine for example. Want to control the irc machine, just move the mouse off the side of the work machines screen & you are controlling it. Or you could use a hotkey to switch.
Your desk becomes less cluttered and personally I have found it increases my productivity by quite a lot.
Reply #27 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:43 PM
Reply #28 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:43 PM
Remote desktop, radmin, VNC, and the like are great solutions for bringing the remote desktops to your main PC.
Multiplicity needs another monitor hooked up to secondary PC (up to 6 of them). There's no getting around that for the moment (by design). If you don't have 2 PC's and 2 monitors, it's of no use to you.
Let me give some examples. Until you've used it, imho, you don't even realize that you've been missing something without it. Which is what the trial version will be for!
- Have you upgraded your main PC at home but the other one isn't quite ready to collect dust in the corner of your office? Have you ever emailed yourself a file or burned a CD to get it 6 feet across the desk to another machine?
- Do you have a laptop or a tablet? Are you on the road and when you come back to the office, you want to control everything from one place?
- Would you like to play games on one PC will still being able to surf the web and IM on the other? Or play multiple accounts in a MMO game at once (yes, people do this, I was surprised too!).
- Do you develop software for a living or hobby and need to test it elsewhere? Are you an artist and want to be able to work on something else while a render or filter happen?
- Do you have to test software on multiple configurations? Some people do have a half-dozen mice and keyboards on their desk.
- Do you need more "desktop" to monitor something that can go on a secondary machine while you continue to work uninterrupted in your main one?
Kris [who works for Stardock and can't do without Multiplicity]
Reply #29 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:02 PM
| Frogboy 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. |
Will Multiplicity ever support anything other than win2000 and xp? (Non-window's)
Reply #30 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:12 PM
Using OS X as a secondary (machine without the keyboard and mouse) is in the near-term plan. Whether that makes the 1.0 release or comes after, we'll see.
Reply #31 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:23 PM
| I dunno Night Train I didn't see where that was possible. |
It changed.
Reply #32 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:36 PM
Reply #33 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:38 PM
Guess I should have grabbbed it when I had the chance.Reply #34 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:52 PM
For example at the company i'm starting work at in a couple of weeks, when I took a tour of the department I would be running, I was FLOORED at how many stations had multiple PC's. But that wasn't the bad part, the bad part was looking at the multitude of keyboards and mice stacked on the desks or laying off to the side. Now to them, this was normal since this is how they've always done business.
Selling it to them would be another story. It might even take an on-site demonstration to convince them. Because they are so atuned to doing things the normal way, its hard for them to envision using a product that would make them so much more productive. Thats the delima with the corporate sales of Multiplicity IMHO. You can't just call someone on the phone and expect to sell it. This is even more evident with the general confusion among the people on this forum about "What it does".. (We've seen it incorrectly compared to KVM, RA Software, even Video Switches)
Its a unique product, that I think will require a unique selling strategy for business penetration. My 2Plat for what its worth.
Reply #35 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 8:41 PM
This multiplicity still utilizes an additional monitor. So in effect you have a machine with no hands or feet.OK.. so this allows you to maintain a seperate machine Identity and Usage. How does it work in a Virtual PC environment?
Reply #38 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 9:34 PM
Reply #39 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 10:06 PM
Reply #40 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 10:06 PM
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Reply #21 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:14 PM