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 #62 Wednesday, February 23, 2005 7:50 AM
I love the fact that this loads before Windows starts, before I log on. I wasn't sure about that.
I love that there is no lag time when I move from PC to PC, wireless (802.11b) or wired
Ctrl-Alt-Delete acts a little goofy at work (I'll need to test at home later). I found that when I did a ctrl-alt-delete with the secondary in focus, the
Shutdown/taskmanager/lock computer shows up on both computers and I lose
mouse on both and lose keboard on secondary.
By tapping "Esc" on the primary I was able to clear the window and resume
mouse control on the secondary (where the lock window still was). I then
shut down and rolled back to the primary.
Reply #63 Wednesday, February 23, 2005 9:26 AM
| Ctrl-Alt-Delete acts a little goofy at work (I'll need to test at home later). I found that when I did a ctrl-alt-delete with the secondary in focus, the Shutdown/taskmanager/lock computer shows up on both computers |
I read that happens if you are on a Domain. Dunno where I read that
Reply #64 Wednesday, February 23, 2005 10:49 AM
| Q: How do I logon to my machines after rebooting? A: After the secondary machines reboot, it takes a few seconds to a minute for the service to load (varies by what else is installed on the machine). Once it has loaded, you can move the mouse onto the secondary and logon to the Welcome screen (XP) or domain logons as you normally would. Pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del to logon to a domain will work, though it may bring up Task Manager on your primary PC. To bypass that, you can press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace when on the secondary PC's to simulate a Ctrl-Alt-Del. |
Thanks Woodbridge
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Reply #61 Wednesday, February 23, 2005 7:22 AM
One minor hiccup though. My primary machine is running XP Pro SP2 while the secondary is running Window 2000 SP4, and the mouse cursor was invisible on the secondary machine. To fix it I had to plug in a mouse to the secondary machine and all was well again.