Multiplicity

Besides helping a friend, there are other advantages to remote control utilities. On rare occasions, you may need to work on multiple computers at the same time. Controlling them remotely will spare you from running around, from one computer to another, but you will encounter some drawbacks. Your computer's performance will be affected considerably, you will have a low quality view of a remote desktop. If you need to control two or more computers remotely, you will have to connect and reconnect each time you want to switch between computers. When there are more than one remote computer involved, Multiplicity is one of the best choices you can make. It lets you control up to 9 computers simultaneously (including your own), using a very smart method, which does not use too many resources.

Unlike other remote control applications, Multiplicity comes in a single setup package. Instead of installing a client module and a server module, you can install the same application on all computers. The procedure is very straightforward, but you must not rush blindly through the settings, otherwise the setup wizard could make some changes to your web browser.

When using Multiplicity, you should have the other monitors in visual range or, if you can, you should place them one next to another. Although it does not display remote desktops on your own screen, the software provides an excellent method of taking control over another computer. You just need to move the mouse cursor past one of the screen's edges and you will instantly assume control over another computer. It feels just like using two or more monitors on the same computer.

The software lets you decide which edges of the screen will take you to certain computers. This can be done in a matter of seconds, thanks to Multiplicity's smartly designed interface. First, you need to add one or more remote computers, by specifying their names and unique pass codes, which Multiplicity provides for each computer. Once added, the computers will be illustrated as monitors, on the right side of the interface. The main area of the window consists of a 3x3 grid, where your own computer is illustrated in the central square. To connect to one or more computers, you just need to drag and drop their icons over the grid, next to your own computer.

If you place a computer above your own, you may switch to that computer via the upper edge of the screen. If you place it beneath your computer, the lower edge will grant you access and so on. The general settings menu does not contain too many options, but you can use them to activate a series of very interesting features. You may copy and paste text or files from one computer to another, using the same clipboard, but the best part is that you may click and drag files or other objects from one computer to another. Another useful feature is the possibility of enabling keyboard input for all computers. For example, if you want to type the same text, on multiple computers, at the same time, you just need to enable this option and hit the CTRL key when you are ready.

As previously mentioned, Multiplicity comes in a single installation package, instead of separate files, for client and server modules. You just need to install it once and you can use it as a client or server whenever you want. You may switch from primary mode (client) to secondary mode (server) instantly, by clicking a slider, in the upper left corner of the interface. When you are in secondary mode, you can find your computer's name, pass code and IP address in the main area of the interface. You can also find a few options to allow connections from the current subnet, allow only non-routable IP addresses or show the application as a system tray icon. You can also change your pass code and encryption key at any time.