Comments on: Synergy is My New Favorite Thing

By: Ran Cossack

Ran Cossack — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:05:11 +0000

@Serge Madenian: Tell Synergy not to sync the screensavers. Put this in your config file:

section: options
screenSaverSync = false
end

Personally, I’d rather have Synergy than Quicksilver, but both are very nice.

By: Serge Madenian

Serge Madenian — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:55:05 +0000

As you mentioned in your post Quicksilver changed the way I use computers. I’ve also been using synergy for quite some time to switch between my linux and windows machines.

When I got it working on mac as well, I was thrilled. That is until I left my desk and the systems went to screensaver mode. When I came back, I noticed Quicksilver had crashed. At first I didn’t know why, but I’ve figured out that when synergy goes to screensaver mode, it crashes quicksilver and I’d rather have quicksilver than synergy. That’s why since then I’ve uninstalled synerg.

If anyone has a solution, please let me know.

By: Mathias Källberg

Mathias Källberg — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:47:24 +0000

Chris Parker: Maybe you could let Vista be the server instead (and connect the KM to Vista of course). That should work until Synergy gets a new version out…

By: Chris Parker

Chris Parker — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:13:23 +0000

Synergy, coupled with SynergyKM (as mentioned above) is incredible. Ive been using it at work to share the keyboard and mouse between my Mac and Vista PC for about 6 months now and couldn’t survive without it.

Was an absolute nightmare to set-up without SynergyKM and I still need my Windows mouse handy when Vista pops up UAC messages since Synergy doesn’t work on the secure (ha!) desktop. If anyone knows a workaround that doesn’t involve disabling UAC let me know.

By: SouthernVic

SouthernVic — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:04:31 +0000

Would be great to follow a tutorial on the installation for-the-not-so-savy terminal users. SynergyKM still rather buggy. Perhaps you could put something together, Nick? Two screencasts?

By: Intrepidsilence

Intrepidsilence — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:30:35 +0000

Actually, as cool as Synergy is, it is actually easier to use OSX2X (http://homepage.mac.com/mdales/osx2x/) which works the same way basically but requires no extra installation on the Mac and only requires the other sysytem be sharing its display with VNC or be an X11 server (like Linux). It is not CLI based and is quite easy to use. Check it out!

By: ferhat

ferhat — Thu, 31 May 2007 23:11:43 +0000

I loved it ! Thats just perfect except one thing the Turkish characters are not recognised while using the servers’ keyboard on the clients… Anyway, it is just cool to have only one mouse control over three different computers; ubuntu (on the left), xp (center), os x (on the right [which is an iMac G4 with 700Mhz and i am using CS3 with it it is amazing !]).

By: Jono

Jono — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:53:55 +0000

Here’s a quick screencast showing Synergy in action http://quicksynergy.sourceforge.net/#toc1

By: awmyhr

awmyhr — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:38:52 +0000

I’ve been using this for several years now, from job to job and at home. Right now, I’m useing it at work it between my PowerBook, Linux desktop, Solaris desktop, and Windows desktop (that’s right, four screens accross four computers, one keyboard and mouse). Previously, I used it at work with my Powerbook, Solaris desktop, and Windows laptop with external screen (I used both the built in and exteranal screen) - again four screens, but just three computers. It’s one of those “first things” I install whenever I get access to a new system.

By: Francisco

Francisco — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:44:27 +0000

I have used it with three computers, 2 monitors and one 46″ Sony Bravia and it works brilliantly. It even copies text from clipboard to clipboard and you can sync screensavers.

By: Matt J

Matt J — Thu, 31 May 2007 09:38:13 +0000

Don’t forget QuickSynergy. Nice GUI wrapper, and Universal.

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:55:55 +0000

One more thing: Synergy Config

You can set the corners of the screen to remain on the pass-through side, allowing to keep hot corners on the MAC. I keep 150 pixels of corner reserved for the Mac; and the area inbetween passes through to the PC screen. See SWITCH CORNERS below:

Sample Config:

# sample synergy configuration file
#
# comments begin with the # character and continue to the end of
# line. comments may appear anywhere the syntax permits.

section: screens
MyPCsName:
MyMacsName:
end

section: links
MyPCsName:
left = MyMacsName

MyMacsName:
right = MyPCsName
end

section: aliases
MyPCsName:
192.168.0.3
MyMacsName:
192.168.0.6
end

section: options
switchCorners = right
switchCornerSize = 150
end

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:43:21 +0000

Synergy has made my workstation ROCK! I have a MacPro with 2 20 inch monitors, and right next to those is a 17 inch lcd connected to my PC/WindowsXPbox. Synergy allows me to slide my cursor off the right edge of the mac monitors right onto the PC. The keyboard operates the pc when the cursor is there. You can even cut and paste between the two.

As a web developer, I have all my dev sites on the Mac (Apache), and serve them to the network. I can check my sites in 6 Mac browsers, and 6+ PC browsers with one KB and mouse.

While off-topic, I have Multiple versions of IE running on the PC - 7, 6, 5.5, 5.0, 4 and 3. See: http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE

By: Charles Barilleaux

Charles Barilleaux — Thu, 31 May 2007 01:25:36 +0000

I’ve been using it for a few months now. First, I used it at work, when I was configuring a laptop while doing my normal work. It was a cheesy old Dell, with a cheesy trackpad. I was able to use my laptop (another WIntel) and real mouse. It was also nice for my flow–I could pop over to do something on the Dell while working on other stuff without moving my hands.

At home, I can use my MacBook, and pop over to my daughter’s computer to do something for her (she’s two and a half). Again, don’t move my hands. Before, I practically had to get up.

Definitely a favorite app.

By: Nick Santilli

Nick Santilli — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:58:09 +0000

ShadowBottle - thanks for the link - good to know!

Abelara - now that you mention it, I have heard of that before, but had forgotten about it. It wouldn’t help in my setup, but it’s a good resource for the mac-only users out there. Thanks!

By: Nick Santilli

Nick Santilli — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:49:41 +0000

Jono - as with anything I’m super hyped about, my first thought was a screencast. But there’s a couple logistical pitfalls:
as you mentioned, a camcorder would be necessary, so less a screencast, than a video production.
And really, once you see it, it’s just watching the cursor move from screen to screen.

but I’ll maybe do a config post - if there becomes any demand for it.

a side note - May’s sorta been a slack month for me blogging wise. I’ve got a BUNCH of posts on the back burners, as well as several screencasts I’ve been wanting to do. So they’ll be back…promise!

By: abelara

abelara — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:49:05 +0000

if you have a ‘mac only’ setup like i do; you can use teleport by Abyssoft. works just as good and much easier to setup.

By: flysi

flysi — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:32:14 +0000

Sounds very sexy - I use Teleport to accomplish the same thing between my Macs at home, but I don’t know if Teleport works in a multi-platform environment. One of the nice things about Teleport is clipboard support (ie. copy something on one machine, and paste it in the other), and drag-and-drop between machines.

By: Jono

Jono — Wed, 30 May 2007 22:35:51 +0000

Sounds good. Any chance of a screencast showing it in action?
I guess it wouldn’t be as straight forward as your usual ones, would need a video camera for this?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 30 May 2007 22:33:47 +0000

I’ve been using Synergy in my classroom for a few weeks and love the control! I tend to use hotkeys, though, as opposed to the sides of the screen to make sure I avoid accidental changes. You can also set it to wait at the edge of the screen.

Synergy is the coolest app I’ve seen in a while, but it needs some fixin. Sometimes it will crash and the entire config goes away so be backin up that config file every once in a while.

Chris

By: ShadowBottle

ShadowBottle — Wed, 30 May 2007 22:29:12 +0000

This is a must have when using synergy with OS X - http://software.landryhetu.com/synergy/

It’s a gui wrapper that provides a synergy menuling. And yes.. synergy is