How do you use Multiplicity?
Multiplying your computing power
Tuesday, July 12, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: Windows Software
So what exactly is Multiplicity and why should you use it? Multiplicity is a program that allows users to take multiple computers in a given room and use them together as if they were one mega-computer. It's not quite "distributed" computing but in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing, it can come pretty darn close.
The idea behind Multiplicity is that each computer in the room still has a monitor hooked up to it. But only a single "master" computer needs to have a keyboard and mouse. The computers are connected together via a network connection (wireless, direct ethernet, firewire, whatever). Multiplicity can detect other computers that have it installed and allow the user to choose the physical location of the other computer (to the left or right of the master computer for example). When the user moves their mouse cursor onto a screen connected to another computer, the user is then controlling that computer. It's not remote control. The monitors are still connected to their respective computers. You're just using one keyboard and mouse to handle your various computers. Multiplicity then sets up a universal clipboard between the machines which helps them work together as one.
What makes Multiplicity special is its reliability and ease of setup and management. It's incredibly easy to set up and manage and has a lot of usability options that can help make people highly productive.
Multiplicity is used by all kinds of people. We've sold copies to test centers where a single person might want to be using several computers at once. We've sold it to IT departments where the IT administrator might want to clear off their desks of various keyboards and mice and use just one set to control the various computers under or on their desks. We've sold copies to graphics designers, 3D modelers, software developers, and power users. We even have a lot of people using it to help them play games.
So how is Multiplicity used? Here are some specific examples:
| Scenario 1: What do do with the old machine?
So you've got a new computer, but your older computer still has some life in it. Do you just let it collect dust? And what about getting all those files off of it? Multiplicity can solve that. Just get a cheap old monitor and hook it up to the old computer and use it right next to your new machine. As you need a file from your old computer, just right click on the file, choose copy, and then paste it onto your new machine's desktop. |
| Scenario 2: The laptop of tablet PC user
Your main desktop has the better mouse and keyboard on it. But you have a laptop (or tablet PC) that you use heavily. Multiplicity is very handy for this. You can use your main desktop machine's keyboard and mouse to control your laptop or tablet PC (if you have a tablet PC, Multiplicity is a must-have). |
| Scenario 3: The testing lab
Do you ever have to test something on multiple hardware configurations? Multiplicity lets you r clear your work area of excess keyboards and mice and lets you run those various computers from a single keyboard and mouse. If your desktop has more than one keyboard and mouse on it, you need Multiplicity. |
| Scenario 4: The Artist
If you use 3D Studio Max or Maya you should think about getting Multiplicity. Have one machine dedicated to rendering and another one that has your graphics editing package (Photoshop or whatever) and a third machine that you use that is your more casual office machine. You get the resources of all 3 machines, you can move graphics and such between all machines, etc. |
| Scenario 5: The software developer
Do you write software? Having one computer that is doing the actual debugging and coding and the other one that you use for everything else can be very handy. On a personal note, when writing Galactic Civilizations II it was very handy to be able to take screenshots on the development machine and then paste them into my Word document on the other machine to let me get ready for E3. But it also comes in handy because I never lose work due to "Bad things" happening to my other projects because debugging locked something up. I used to use SMP boxes and multi-monitor setups, never again. |
| Scenario 6: The Gamer
There's a bunch of scenarios for gamers. Whether that be the MMO player wanting to have two characters at once. Or the user who likes using Instant Messenger a lot but doesn't like getting interrupted while playing games. Or the gamer who wants to be able to surf the web for hints or whatever while they're playing but also doesn't want to give up any memory or CPU to other programs while playing. |
Multiplicity really does transform how you use your computers. Right now, as you read this, if you've got more than one keyboard and mouse on your desk, or you have a laptop and a desktop PC, you should definitely check out Multiplicity.
For those of you who have Multiplicity, let us know how you use it.
Reply #2 Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:40 AM
Reply #3 Wednesday, July 13, 2005 10:06 AM
Reply #4 Wednesday, July 13, 2005 10:13 AM
I hate my powerbook's keyboard and want to use my nice MS Natural keyboard and ergo grip Logitech mouse with it instead, and not have the extra stuff cluttering my desk.All I need now is the iCurve from GriffonTechnologies to get the laptop up off my desk and I'll be set!
Reply #5 Friday, July 15, 2005 2:44 AM
Also, not to make it too hard or anything, the software would need to at least run on Windows and Linux.
Ah well, I can dream. Multiplicity as is still sounds pretty cool, especially the drag&drop from machine to machine. I wish x2x did that!
J.
Reply #6 Friday, July 15, 2005 10:37 AM
Currently, I have 3 PC's I use daily - all hooked up via Multiplicity Pro; I have a fairly beefy main PC which is my primary followed by a slower PC and a year old laptop as my 2 secondaries.
The primary I use for day-to-day things like pcA, VNC and remote desktop sessions whilst looking after servers and troubleshooting issues on client PC's, the slower secondary PC does the support inbox and the laptop I use as a web browsing PC (amongst other things) so I don't clutter up the primary with too many open windows.
I can honestly say I've had no problems with Multiplicity - setting up the slower PC and the laptop took about 10 minutes apiece (including 2 reboots - one to update Stardock Central to the latest version and one to finish the Multiplicity installs on each of the secondary's).
Although I've played around with the settings I seem to be comfortable with the defaults ie, the mouse flows from one screen to the next as long as it's motion is above a certain velocity.
The shared clipboard is a real beauty - I can't remember the last time I had to dip into My Network Places to shift files from machine to machine.
Multiplicity has been a good buy - no two ways about it.
Reply #7 Sunday, July 17, 2005 1:50 PM
I plan to get a new Macintosh shortly and when that happens, I'll be able to have my PC and Mac side by side and use them together.
Reply #8 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 8:27 AM
I have three PC's but mainly use one that's set up for 3D graphics and a laptop beside it for everyday tasks plus watching important videos. My KVM witch was getting a real workout.
I found installation was a breeze, having finished in about 15 minutes. After rebooting, the mouse and keyboard worked perfectly....but habit still is forcing to reach for the KVM switch!!!!
Multiplicity is one of those purchases that has already paid for itself in the short time I've had it, just because it's simplified another task.
Reply #9 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 11:48 PM
Now that ive replaced my work desktop and my old lappy with a much better lap top, i only use MP when i'm at home with the two computers. Three monitors on my desktop + the 17" laptop screen = A LOT OF REAL ESTATE
i can work on four documents at the same time, with my lappy dedicated completely to one use and the more powerful desktop doing a few more tasks.it is also great if i'm lying in bed working on the laptop while the desktop is across the room playing a movie. I can take my wireless keyboard and mouse with me to the laptop and control the desktop like with a remote control.
overall, it saves you a lot of heartache, and it was just so easy to set up. i've been recommending it to everyone who multi tasks between two computers.
Reply #10 Tuesday, August 9, 2005 3:10 PM
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000190053747/
Reply #11 Tuesday, August 9, 2005 3:24 PM
Reply #12 Tuesday, August 9, 2005 3:53 PM
Project UNIX name: synergy2
Registered: 2002-08-02 19:27
http://sourceforge.net/projects/synergy2/
Also the history page:
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/history.html
Now if only one of these were peer-to-peer and not 1-server, lotsa-clients..
Reply #13 Wednesday, August 10, 2005 12:14 AM
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Reply #1 Tuesday, July 12, 2005 10:56 PM
great stuff!