Synergy KM Switch

Posted May 17th 2005 9:04AM by Eliot Phillips
Filed under: downloads hacks

Synergy is a cross-platform keyboard-mouse switch. It's also one of the most well-named pieces of software out there. Here's why: I had a laptop running XP with a nice usb keyboard and mouse plugged into it. To the right of that, I had a laptop running Linux. Both computers are on a wireless network. Using synergy I can slide the mouse off of the right edge of the screen and onto the Linux laptop's XWindows screen with no lag. In the process it transfers keyboard control over to the other system too. You can even cut and paste between systems. This is a great solution for using your desktop keyboard with your wireless laptop or if your laptop is sitting in the living room you could easily use its mouse and keyboard to control your home theater pc. Set up is simple, scales easily, and works with OSX, too.

Reader Comments

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21. Back when I was doing the school year book, we had imacs running jaguar. I used this. Then I couldn't find it after I switched schools. Thanks HACK A DAY!

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by The Sponge

22. i hate to admit it, but the first time i'd seen synergy was nearly 2 years ago, when sarah on the screen savers was cutting and pasting text between a windows box and a Linux Machine. the show wasn't even over by the time i was doing the same between my winbox and one of my Linux computers. the best thing--my father-in-law has worked on computers for nearly 28 years, and this was the first time i was able to beat him to the punch on something very cool and very functional. ***for those using debian---it is available through apt-get***

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Killy Mcgee

23. oh. omg. that is fucking sweet.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by prabhuly

24. this is actually the coolest program i have seen in a while. a high five goes to the programmers, and the guy who brought it to my attention, i'm now running seamlessly from my pc to ibook, and i've never been happier... just one little problem... no GUI on the os x version?

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by James Keane

25. This kicks ass. Copy/Paste between machines? Finally!

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Edward

26. Audio Sharing with Synergy: It's funny cause I thought of the same thing, I have two macs, both running Panther,(synergy only works in Panther and above). The Macs are close enough where I could join the 1/8" audio jack outputs with a 'Y' cable that cost about $5.99 at Radioshak. Then I plug my subwoofer/speakers into the tail of the 'Y' cable. Easy Sleazy.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by leandroc76

27. How is this a hack for the day? It is a item for Linux Journal or PC Magazine, not HaD This is so lame.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by tgs

28. Synergy is an incredibly elegant solution to a seemingly complex problem. It works well and I felt it was underexposed. From the other comments I think most people agree. I'd post something else, but the tips haven't really been coming in. So, unless you want underwear hacks from here out send in some links. P.S. tomorrow's post came from a great tip; I guess it isn't all bad.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by eliot phillips

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