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Announcing Multiplicity

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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).

37,016 views 64 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use multiplicity for simple things that used to be highly annoying.. For example, ever install a product on one computer, then type in a rediculously long CD-Key. Then 2 minutes later you want to install the same product on the computer next to it, and don't want to retype all of that? Clip and Paste between machines solves this quite nicely.


Gasp... careful not to get in trouble!
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My use is simple and multiplicity is perfect for it.

Running multiple characters in MOGs. And yes there are many of us hydra players out there. Folks have many reasons to run hydras in Massive Online Games.

1) no waiting on groups
2) having all the utility spells at your beck and call
3) No sharing loot
4) No arguing with pick up groups
5) freedom to make your own mistakes without effecting others
6) challenge of multiple characters at once

And yes I am very social too, I run the 3rd largest guild on my server and have lots of friends I play with. Frequently I will either add them to my mini group or break out just one or two characters and play with them.

Scott Adams
www.vindicators.net
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Or for example, I will be on one computer messing around, my wife will be on the other, and she will run into trouble, or not know what to click on in whatever program she is working in. I just swing my mouse over to that machine, and do it for her or show her how.

Kobrano, it the above situation, I would assume that your wife is sitting right next to you, so you can see her monitor?

I also assume that she is using a mouse and keyboard, do you take control of her cursor when you move from your primary to her PC?

What happens if she uses the connected mouse at the same time?

Only ten days until release.
Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Running multiple characters in MOGs


It will be interesting to see how Stardock markets Multiplicity to gamers . . . not a HUGE demographic you see at WinCustomize (unless you count Brad as a huge demographic ). It almost seems like a fit in TotalGaming.net.
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I saw one other mention of Win2VNC in the above discussion. I hadn't used it, nor Multiplicity. But, if I was wanting a solution like that, I would probably at least look at both. I do use regular VNC for remote control. And, yes, some Open Source projects die out due to nobody willing to work on them, and others do well. VNC seems to do well. I don't know about the Win2VNC incarnation. But given that it is based on VNC, I would expect it to be fairly good. I'm not trying to rant, I'm just curious about people who have tried Win2VNC and how well it works.
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
its a totally different system, but how about being able to use a laptop screen as a secondary screen over a network? I know theres software already out there but id much rather trust stardock to make it. if it already does this, im sold, just tell me
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Today is the scheduled release date.

How's that whole multiplicity thing going?
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am in love!
The setup was a breeze! The flow of mouse from PC to talblet is seamless! The copy and pasting of text just works!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My Multiplicity serial arrived in my inbox. Just need to wait untill I get into work to start using it
Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just downloaded the trial version - linked my laptop (Primary) to my desktop (Secondary) using the wizard in just a couple of minutes, including rebooting. All seems to be as it should.
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Installed and up and running and every thing works great, I've even cut n' pasted a 200Mb CAD model file from one machine to another and it worked

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.
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Observations so far:

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
From the FAQ Link
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