Announcing Multiplicity

Control multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse

Published on February 9, 2005 By Stardock Central In WinCustomize News

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).

Comments (Page 3)

NightTrainthedark

on Feb 09, 2005

I dunno Night Train I didn't see where that was possible.

It changed.

Nakor

on Feb 09, 2005

NightTrain, that page wasn't supposed to be accessible anymore.

NightTrainthedark

on Feb 09, 2005

Guess I should have grabbbed it when I had the chance.

Kobrano

on Feb 09, 2005

It seems like its difficult for people/companioes to understand what multiplicity does, and how it can seriously impact your performance at home and work. I mean, if you've never worn shoes before, you really don't know how cool it is to wear shoes. This is pretty much the story with this product.

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.

CygnusXII

on Feb 09, 2005

I dunno, I have 5 machines here in my room, and all but one are headless and have neither keyboard nor mouse. The one being my laptop. I use RDP on them all, and short of a Major incident requiring a reinstall, I hardly touch them with KYB's or Mice, or Monitors. I do everything RDP. I used to use vnc, but it is too touchy for my needs (read too slow.) Now I use Native RDP from XP Pro, and PCAnywhere when I have sound issues ( I use one machine as a MP3 JukeBox, and MS Terminal Services gets funky for some reason and will not play sound properly, so I have to use PCA)

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?

PICHIN

on Feb 09, 2005

One word "KVM Switch"....

river55IL

on Feb 09, 2005

hmmmm

Nakor

on Feb 09, 2005

CygnusXII, I don't understand your VirtualPC question.

ZubaZ

on Feb 09, 2005

OK. Placed my order. Only twelves days to delivery. The Tablet awaits . . .

CygnusXII

on Feb 09, 2005

well if I have a virtual PC running on a diff machine, how does it react when I move to that machine with multiplicity, and then try to control the VPC?

Nakor

on Feb 09, 2005

Cygnus, it controls the VPC like you were using the local mouse connected to the secondary (diff) machine.

Frogboy

on Feb 09, 2005

One word "KVM Switch"....

No, it's not like a KVM switch. We use KVM switches here too. It's a totally different type of use. KVM switches are great if you want to have ONE monitor, ONE keyboard, ONE mouse with lots of computers.

Multiplicity is designed to let a user make use of multiple computers at once. Each computer has at least 1 monitor hooked up to it still. It's a productivity app for letting the user integrate their computing power together.

Kobrano

on Feb 10, 2005

I still say Multiplicity screams to be shown in a video. Do a before, with you trying to run a game and chat and stuff at the same time, moving from keyboard/mouse back and forth. Then have you install multiplicity, showing it installs in seconds, and then show you tossing those extra keyboards/mice in the trash and doing it all with multiplicity. Some people just have a huge difficulty understanding what it can do for them, and constantly refer to it as simple KVM switches or Multimonitors. Used to drive me crazy.

To put it bluntly, after using multiplicity, i'd rather have my arm chopped off than do without it. I'm not kidding.

Hehe.

c242

on Feb 10, 2005

It is like Multi-Monitor. Just with the power of 2 or more machines.

Like said in another thread :

I have a stand-alone main machine and 3 other machines connected to a KVM-Switch with a secondary monitor, Mouse and Keyboard. This is nevertheless quite handy. Using Synergy at the moment, but I think this one is worth a switch.

nanotitan

on Feb 10, 2005

$70 for the pro version?!! If they're going to be targeting engineering firms and the like, they could get away with charging a WHOLE lot more which will allow them to develop even better and cheaper programs for the lot of us!

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