Share single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems.
Synergy (64-bit) lets you easily share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems each with its own display without special hardware. It is intended for users with multiple computers on their desk since each system uses its own monitor(s). Redirecting the mouse and keyboard is as simple as moving the mouse off the edge of your screen. Synergy also merges the clipboards of all the systems into one, allowing cut-and-paste between systems. Furthermore, it synchronizes screen savers so they all start and stop together and, if screen locking is enabled, only one screen requires a password to unlock them all.
The only solution for me to share Windows and mac KM.
Pros
Easy install, fairly easy configuration.
Only product I could find to share one Keyboard and Mouse with my Mac and PC.
Cons
Occasional hiccup with typing.
Once every couple of weeks I have to turn off the service and restart it.
Summary
I have been using Synergy for about 6 years and it has been a life saver. I don't have to switch back and forth between two keyboards and mice when I want to use my Mac and PC. Every time someone new sees what Synergy does they are impressed and want to download and configure it.
Works until it doesn't
joecairns
Pros
I'm an advanced user and found installation fast and painless. Configuring my macbook pro and win7-64 machines to work together was relatively easy as well. I was using my single mouse and keyboard for both machines within minutes.
The app is relatively light and wont take up a lot of valuable system resources.
Cons
Everything worked great. For a while. Once I started heavily using the setup though, bugs and flaws started to emerge. For instance, the windows machine would lose the keyboard, apparently after using Facebook in Chrome.
Restarting the program would *usually* fix the problem. Other times it required a full system restart.
Also, there is no intelligence in the app for disabling the sharing if one machine is disconnected or removed from the setup. I would have to start and stop the program on both machines.
The last problem is there is no built in way to run the app as a service or a background task. You'll need to configure and set that up yourself. It's not completely daunting if you're a knowledgeable user, but it will be out of reach of most.
Summary
Once they bugs and glitches with Windows 7 are taken care of this will be a useful utility, but it is not without its rough edges. There are lots of little bumps in the road that reminding you that it's there. Losing your mouse and keyboard as a reminder can be a little jarring.
With more polish and cleanup this could be a fantastic app.
Unable to get it to work.
wrlangston
Pros
Downloaded and installed easily, seemed well thought out.
Cons
I need it to work between two laptops using Win 7 Pro one one and XP Pro on the other. but could not get it to function.
Summary
Programs "saw" each other, but I never was able to get the mouse to "move" between computers, not with any rearranging of "locations."
Didn't work for me
najrellim
Pros
It wouldn't install on Windows 7 64 bit
Cons
It wouldn't install on Windows 7 64 bit
Summary
I've been using TeamViewer for months now and I just wanted to see if there is anything better. Apparently not since Synergy would not install on my Windows 7 64-bit laptop. After two tries, I deleted the download and am perfectly happy with TeamViewer which is an excellent, dependable application.