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Use Synergy to Manage Multiple Monitors With a Single Mouse

Among power computer users, dual monitors are quickly becoming the rule rather than the exception. It's incredibly handy to have multiple computer screens to manage dozens of browser windows but it doesn't take long to get quickly get irritated at switching back and forth between them all the time. Synergy is a great little open source tool for getting your computer screens working together so you can manage all of them with a single keyboard and mouse.

Once installed, Synergy lets you arrange screens on top of each other, side-by-side, or perched on opposite ends of your desk. Use your mouse to make the cursor jump effortlessly from screen to screen, and even cut and paste between screens without any hassle. Synergy also makes sure all your screen savers start and stop at the same time. If your screen saver requires a password to shut off, you'll only need to enter it on one screen to access all of them.

Synergy can easily be temporarily disabled by toggling Scroll Lock so it won't get in the way if you need to use your cursor for gaming, drawing, etc. Hot keys let you assign functions, and if you use a hot key to switch screens, it will restore the last cursor position.

Synergy is licensed under the GNU GPL and works on Windows (no official support for Vista, however), Mac OS X 10.2 or higher, and Unix. All systems must support TCP/IP networking.

If you use multiple monitors, you really must give Synergy a try. It's an awesome little app that makes life so much easier instead of struggling to find space for two or three more keyboards and mice on an already overcrowded desk.

• synergy
• dual
• multiple
• monitors

by Jack G on Nov. 17, 2009

The Mac makes this so easy. Unfortunately you cannot add more than 1 monitor easily. This is tough because I would love to have a few more monitors connected. I heard the new 27 inch iMac now can be treated as an external monitor too, which is sweet!

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