Say you have a multi-computer system at home where a mobile workstation docks, and that same laptop travels with you to work to another multi-computer environment (both with multiple monitors). Of course, if you have a mobile computer, I am unclear, and the site to me is unclear, about how the definition of '2 computers' is handled. It does carry a higher price tag (recently amended to more of a subscription base - 1 license can deal with 2 computers (further discussion below) for about $8/yr if you go with a 5 yr subscription - not really a bad deal vs the previously ludicrous $24 USD license which was required on each machine you wanted to connect). One issue with SM is that should a client be VPN'd to another network, all bets are off whether mouse/keyboard can be shared with that particular machine. It pretty much connects to other systems in the network on its own.

Instead of the user having to specify IP addresses, the licensed copy of SM looks for clients within the same network on a single UDP port (all clients must be listening into the same one). Sharemouse is a product which addresses the screen location problem. Still, Synergy is a super easy program to use, and with a bit of extra documentation and perhaps some 'templated' config files (in addition to getting a bit more granular on screen location config), I think even less tech (meaning script, network communication knowledge) savvy users would adopt synergy (and DONATE) far more than the single platform or multi-platform paid options. This is where intuitive cursor movement in my experience doesn't always work so well, and my 2 neuron brain simply can't remember when/where the cursor was last. Now raise your hands if you have them going in 2D (some stacked, some across,etc,). The one gripe I have with it is that the software does not detect a hierarchy of monitors, which would allow simple configurations to move a mouse cursor across screen edges regardless of their actual relative positions (seriously, how many of you just have side-side monitors?

I've yet to see it go bonkers on me with proper installation on any OS. Nick Bolton has spent a ton of work and time to develop Synergy with his group. It just can't be, whether it's pre-processing *nix side components to be compiled in Mac or Windows, or the need for multi-OS testbeds, it can be hard to keep it simple. Joking aside, there are few of us who work in just one OS. Now sure, Synergy in my opinion is the one open-source project us in the uber multi-tasked 5 OS 16 screened desktop productivity wackos need to support :).

This is an older post, but one that continues to progress. Of course, as always, these products you can try before you buy (synergy is open-source, but donations do help progress).

Sharemouse standard vs pro