One Computer, Two Sets of Peripherals (Part 2)

Virtual who with what for two of each??

Is this a server?

My home laptop has 3 mice connected, and 2 keyboards... The touch-pad, one USB laser mouse, and one USB wireless laser mouse (yep.. its pure laziness.. I watch my movies/TV Via the comp/flatscreen... so I enjoy a mouse on the couch)

I also have the "stock" (laptop) keyboard, and a wireless USB keyboard. All of these devices work silmotaniously... which is actually quite fun to mess with someone with the wireless devices (as long as they don't know you have em) by moving their cursor around whatever it is they want to click on.

So I guess my response to your question is... well I'm not sure actually, cause all I did was plug in all the devices.. the computer did its thing (XP), and they all work fine...

Whats your problem again?

Oh and for dual monitors.. thats a function windows should be able to take care of as long as your video card supports it. I have two screen which show two different things. One screen is the "stock" laptop screen, while the other is the large HD flat/wide-screen hanging on the wall. I'll usually have some video of some kind (Daily show for example) playing on the big one, while the "surfing" is done on the laptop screen to find the next show.

Thank you for replying swiftly.

My main interest is being able to use two sets of peripherals independently, ie having one mouse/monitor set being used in MS Word and the other set employed in Auto-CAD on one computer simultaneously.

An option would be to look into reverse KVM switches (Keyboard Video Monitor).

A sample of one is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817107305

This capability is available within Windows XP and later versions.

Let's say you were bumping both mice at the same time, how would that work? If you were working and your neighbor were working independently, would this function or would the quad core computer choke?

Sounds to me that you should either just set the computer up with two screens.. one for each program, and use one set of human interface devices.. Thats what I do at work... One screen with Solidworks/AutoCAD, and the other surfing the net/word/excel etc. I switch back and forth, but use one mouse/keyboard.

Is this for gaming? sounds like its for gaming to me.

The other easy solution is to just get two computers...

I guess what I can't understand, Is why you would want to do what you want to do, when there are many really easy inexpensive, and most likely more stable ways of doing this. I'm confused.

It's not for gaming, it's for an office, Ted wants to view markets and weather and Martha needs to use Excel and Quicken to accomplish their work.

Why is it possible to have one program in use on a single core computer and not possible to have two programs in use simultaneously on a quad core computer?

I guess what I can't understand, Is why you would want to do what you want to do, when there are many really easy inexpensive, and most likely more stable ways of doing this. I'm confused.

Such as?

If you contract with a satellite TV provider you can get a DVR and have capability to of two or more TVs running different programs all at the same time. Why don't you need to have a DVR for each TV? Why do we need a separate computer for each workstation?

Ah, if you're talking multiple people with simultaneous use, you're talking about needing a server operating system that allows simultaneous access. That's more than just simply hooking up multiple periphials to a Windows computer.

There are server with remote terminal solutions. I've used such at work. But recommending hardware / software is beyond my knowledge base. At one place, a Windows 2003 server was remotely accessed by multiple people at the same time via other PCs and Unix boxes using a Windows Terminal emulator.

Q: Why is it possible to have one program in use on a single core computer and not possible to have two programs in use simultaneously on a quad core computer?

A: It is entirely possible... I run 10+ Programs on one machine using multiple monitors to display each program. For example, right now I have Solidworks, AutoCAD, In-Design, Communicator, Outlook, excel, and IE running at the same time. On my left screen I have this IE window, on the right screen I have Solidworks, I run them both at the same time. I do the same at home on a daily basis...

Q: "Why do we need a separate computer for each workstation?"

A: You don't, you can set up a server with dummy terminals if you wish... But your simplest, most cost effective, safest, most stable way, is to have separate computers at workstations with each having an automatic backup external drive. When Martha's computer freezes up in excel or quicken, do you want Ted's drawings to freeze up with them, and be lost? I guess I live in a data sensitive world, where data safety is #1.

What is wanted is to have two pointing devices on one computer... silmotainiusly... which is just silly if you ask me.

I'd stick to the KISS principle on this one.

What is wanted is to have two pointing devices on one computer... silmotainiusly... which is just silly if you ask me.

The term PC - personal computer signifies a oneness eh?

Ya we do immediately after you click save the new is added to backup entity...