Announcing Multiplicity

Control multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse

https://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity
from WinCustomize Forums
LIVONIA, Mich.----Feb. 9, 2005--Software developer Stardock Corporation announced a brand new product today, Multiplicity, a program that allows users to control multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse. For users, it's much like using a multiple-monitor setup - when the user moves their mouse to a monitor connected to a different PC the user is then controlling that computer. It is not a remote control solution.

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).

37,015 views 64 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How would this be different from the Open Source (and Free) project "Synergy"?

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/about.html
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow, this sounds pretty useful. One stupid question. If you have 2 pc's and they both have monitors, keyboards and mouses, will the program still work or do you need to unplug the mouse and keyboard from the other pc's?
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Will the trial be available for download on the 21st Feb ?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Interesting but I'll stick with kvm solution...
The Synergy project does the same thing for free and works with other OS than windows.
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/about.html
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've heard of Synergy before, but I use Win2VNC to do the same thing (other than actual file copy/paste functions, but network shares solve that). I'm already running VNC on all systems anyway so Win2VNC just connects to that.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A Silent Killer .... Great app.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Will this be a part of Object Desktop, or is it another additional thing we OD subscribers will have to buy?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not sure how big a market there is for this. How many people need to share mouse and keyboard but not monitors?

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 #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"Also Stardock has added two additional pieces of software to ODNT in recent months right-click and enhanced dialog....isn't that enough"

NO!
lol Kidding, great applications mentioned there, and this app. sounds coolbeans to.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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.

http://www.neslosoftware.com/

(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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I used ShareKMC in the past for this purpose, but recently started using Desktop Rover - which, while not free, also supports control of a PocketPC. So I can move my mouse/keyboard from my main desktop to my laptop on the left and my PocketPC on the right when they're here.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally I have come to trust Stardock products. When I have a problem I talk with the developers directly. No BS. To me that's worth quite a bit. Support is what most most companies lack. I might just have to check it out.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Desktop Rover and Synergy do not work at all in Everquest 2. Once you are in game the mouse flies all over the place. SingleControl does work but is twice the price of Multiplicity.

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Essentially there are freeware versions of almost every product out there - even Microsoft Office!

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.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I work for stardock, so I am bias, but I ran senergy for quite a while, and it would constantly just stop working. I have been running Mutipicity now for a few months and it has worked so well that I just forget its there. It just works. I cant live without it anymore.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have been using a program at http://www.radmin.com/, for over a year now. $35 I use it to control 2 of my computers on my home wireless network. I really don't know if this is even in the same boat with the above mentioned program? I can control the screens on my main screen and transfer files etc.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Kobrano you are just spreading FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.) For shame on you.
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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How is this different from WindowsXP Remote Desktop or Full Blown Terminal Services?
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.