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 4)

Essencay

on Feb 10, 2005

Requires: Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

On both machines or just the machine that multiplicity is installed on?

Nakor

on Feb 10, 2005

32-bit Windows XP, 2000, or 2003 is required for the primary machine (the one with the keyboard and mouse).

The secondaries can be 32-bit XP, 2000, or 2003 at present. The installer needs some updates, but before 1.0, it'll support 64-bit XP and 2003 as secondaries. Post 1.0, 64-bit XP/2003 should be able to be primary's as well.

OS X support as a secondary is in development. Linux, we'll see what happens in the future.

Multiplicity does not support Windows 95, 98, ME, or NT4.

alphadog

on Feb 10, 2005

Kobrano: I do understand what Multiplicity does. You're haughtiness doesn't help the product though.

Multiplicity is basically a combination of K(no-V)M and some remote desktop features into a somewhat unique product. The K and the M are, in fact, shared, contrary to your protests. If you have one peripheral that can influence multiple machines, you are sharing that peripheral.

At any rate, I read Frogboy other article and find that many of the questions posed are also solveable through either KVMs and/or multimonitor setups.

To the smart buyer, Multiplicity will only be of benefit in scenarios where there are:

a) Few computers, likely four or less. Any more, and the cost of that many monitors will heavily weigh in on the 'con' side.
c) One user executing multiple tasks where one or more said tasks must (or really should) occur in the same time. (concurrency)
d) And/or, the same user executing tasks where one or more said tasks take some time and tend to occur at the same time and consume a lot of one system's resources.

This is a very rare occurence indeed. I'm a developer and think that I could maybe make use of Multiplicity. But, I realize that my computing habit and those like me constitute a small market.

Somehow, I think chopped arms are more frequent in the general market.

- alphadog

Kobrano

on Feb 10, 2005

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.

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.

I have dozens of day to day examples of things like this.. You really start to take this stuff for granted after installing Multiplicity. Seriously, I consider it as essential to my computing as having a desk chair. But maybe i'm different? People I show Multiplicity to, seem to fall out of their chair in excitement and are clamouring to know where this cool application can be purchased.

culverSE

on Feb 10, 2005

OS X support as a secondary

WOW, oh please let it come quickly. This would MAKE it the best value of all. (I can never seem to get synergy to work on osx)

cakeypower

on Feb 11, 2005

Gasp... careful not to get in trouble!

ScottAdams

on Feb 11, 2005

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

ZubaZ

on Feb 11, 2005

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.

ZubaZ

on Feb 11, 2005

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.

caseagainstfaith

on Feb 11, 2005

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.

Surj

on Feb 11, 2005

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

ZubaZ

on Feb 21, 2005

Today is the scheduled release date.

How's that whole multiplicity thing going?

ZubaZ

on Feb 22, 2005

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!

Woodbridge

on Feb 22, 2005

My Multiplicity serial arrived in my inbox. Just need to wait untill I get into work to start using it

Alternate Setting

on Feb 23, 2005

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.

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