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Surprisingly Useful Software from Microsoft

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August 22, 2019, 08:45 AM
Tim335
Surprisingly Useful Software from Microsoft
I know many here are not Microsoft Windows fans. I've used it since 3.1 and think Windows 10 is a great operating system. Now and then you run across a small utility that makes a good operating system even better. I recently stumbled across a utility on Microsoft's site called "Mouse Without Borders" and it is extremely effective and useful.

If you use two or more PCs (like a desktop and laptop), this utility lets you share a single mouse and keyboard. No switches required -- the connection works over your WiFi and it's pretty amazing. Once the software is installed and setup (the setup is a little clunky), the mouse will simply move between screens. Once you hit the edge of one screen, the cursor will pickup on the second screen. And the keyboard will type on any window that has focus, regardless of the two screens. It's a close to magic and I have seen on a PC. There's no lag or jitters at all.

I was actually looking to buy a hardware KVM switch, but this free utility kills my need for one. The download can be found here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-u...etails.aspx?id=35460

That site has full instructions for setting it up. It's not hard to set up, but it's clunky in that you have to enter a code on both PCs so they will make the WiFi connection. Otherwise, it works like a charm - or at least has for me. It also let's you copy and paste across computers (a feature Windows is adding in an upcoming update) and will let you share the KB and mouse on up to four PCs.

Hopefully, some will find this useful. And the price is right -- free!




GCO Site
August 22, 2019, 08:50 AM
wxdave
That's pretty cool for free!

I use this at work:

Synergy

If you are running different operating systems, Synergy works like a charm as well.


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Floridian by birth, Seminole by the grace of God
August 22, 2019, 08:53 AM
Patrick-SP2022
That looks interesting. I switch between multiple machines in my home office.
I'll check it out over the weekend.

Well, I just installed it on 2 machines and it works pretty well.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Patrick-SP2022,




August 22, 2019, 12:14 PM
ChicagoSigMan
That looks pretty cool.

My two machines are a Windows PC and a Mac. It would be cool to have something similar for that setup.