But I must admit it feels really cool to work on two computers at the same time. I'm not sure it's worth it though, what with all the file management.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Two computers
Temporarily I have two computers on my main desks. Monday I'll get the adapter which will allow me to connect both displays to the newer computer.
But I must admit it feels really cool to work on two computers at the same time. I'm not sure it's worth it though, what with all the file management.
But I must admit it feels really cool to work on two computers at the same time. I'm not sure it's worth it though, what with all the file management.
I know you love your Macs, but for what it's worth, the new Windows 7
ReplyDelete(which I've been testing now for several months) has a feature called 'HomeGroup' which enables you to link two computers through a common switch (simply a set of connector sockets for joining them up to your common feed from the incoming web) and once both are plugged into that 'switch' and the internet connections program has enabled each, they can 'see' each other in HomeGroup, and once they do, you can exchange files, folders, pictures or whatever between them. Not only that, but if you're on one computer, you have complete access to everything on the other's hard-drive, not just documents folders or personal stuff, but the program files as well. So you can work on both machines from whichever one you're now on, if you wish.
That's why I was a bit upset when my newest one died after just 30 days, because I'm trying to get these two both running on Windows 7
so that I can do all this in case I want to. With that setup, you can also synch files or folders on each, and keep everything on both right up to date.
I babble on here about that just in case your Macs might have such a feature as well. Then, you're all set. Whichever one you're on will let you control both, as long as they are both up and running.
Hmm, does Windows 7 manage a licence key for the software? I thought software had a book licence, and you could only use it on one machine at a time (years ago Adobe software used to look across Appletalk, and only run one instance). For years everyone has just installed on every machine in the house, only registered one, and uses on multiple machines at a time. Now you say you can install on one Win7 machine, and use from a neighbouring machine. Great, but can the missus fire up the same app at the same time?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you have a USB licence dongle, can it manage that across the network, or would I need to go with a licence server?
And back to EO's issue. You can't drive more than one monitor? That's just crazy. I had three screens off my Powermac back in 97, and two off it's predecessor.
As for two machines at once. I used to have a Sun workstation and a PC with a KVM on my desk. I found it almost better when I had a single PC, then Go-Global or Hummingbird Exceed to hop onto the Sun.
(not to brag, but in 95-96 I had an A5000 with an Arm3(forgot I had an A4 as well), a Mac (2 screens, but the second was B&W) and a PC on my desk, and be working on all three).
If you want to drive your old machine from your new one, look into RealVNC. It will allow you to remote in to your slave system. With some versions you can even copy the clipboard over.
Eo, I think you're all set for a flight simulator, (;-))
ReplyDeleteLicenses:
ReplyDeletePlease bear in mind that at present and until October 22 when it goes retail, Windows 7 is still in its RC phase, during which these Key Codes for licensing are free for the asking and will work on any copy of Windows 7.
After October 22, when we can buy and use the official retail releases, each computer using a retail copy of Windows 7 will of course require its own separate Key Codes, and these need to be unique to each machine, just as its Mac Address (Physical Address)
is unique to that individual machine. And that's one of the ways Microsoft can tell if you're running pirated software, I think.
During the beta testing period and also during this final Release Candidate period, there have been a special series of Windows Key Codes issued just for use by those who are running the test or 'evaluation' copies of Windows 7,
and each of these enables the user to have full use of the operating system for a specific period of time, with a specified expiry date.
These RC versions, for example, are licensed for full operation until March, 2010 without any interference from Microsoft. But after that, and until Microsoft shuts these down completely, these will go into a phase where they will need to be rebooted every two hours of use, to remind us that our freebie treats are coming to an end, and encourage us to get the
regular versions. For now, though,
we can use the same license key codes on more than one computer running a Windows 7 evaluation copy. This was designed to let us try out and use all the features of Windows 7 Ultimate, which is the test version we have been using. And it worked - I'm sold on it. In fact, I could write a commercial for Windows 7, and that surprises me, because until it came along, I was one of Microsoft's biggest critics. They have cleaned up their act, though, and Windows 7 is the proof.
I can't tell you if your Aunt Nellie or The Bitter Half can be using the same program on the same machine as you are from a remote one, because there's only one of me here, and I've never tested that possibility, because I can't be in two places at once anyway.
The place I'm at is bad enough!
I hope this explains it for you...
Eolake, I look at your non-ergonomic keyboards and wince. As a keyboardist all my life, as well as a musician, my fingers, hands, and wrist are going all the time.
ReplyDeleteConsider this, as I tell my friends and coworkers, place your hand on your current keyboard. Now move your hands to the ergo fingering remembering that the two side of the keys will now be in a slight V. Note the stress reduction particularly at the wrists.
As with anything, getting used to this will take you about a week, but it is worth it. I sometimes type hours a day. I was experiencing pain with the old keyboard like yours.
Be well.
Having worked in the field of man-machine interfaces I see another point of ergonomics worth to be checked:
ReplyDeleteI see the books under your monitors in order to achieve a certain height ... aside from stability ;-) I don't know, at which height your eyes are, when you are sitting on your chair, but ideally, when sitting upright with upright head (the most relaxed sitting position for your upper part of the body), your eyes should be about at the height of the upper border of the display, so that your line of sight is about 10-15 deg downwards when looking at the center of the monitor - that's also the most relaxed position for your eyes. Of course, the position of your legs should be also relaxed ...
So many points to look at - but I think the most important is that you have fun working on your computer(s) ...
:-)
BTW I also have two complete and independent computer systems - one for the serious work and the other one for checking out something like deeper experiments on the OS-level, or trying out some new hardware or software ... and if something goes wrong, I simply play back the last working image, and start again the next experiment.
ReplyDeleteIt really feels cool to give them both some work, then going to take some coffee or something else, to come back and watch them working ... very nice, like being a manager of a whole company, but without any bad consequences for coworkers or the environment ;-)
The Dissonance, thanks for your concern, but my keyboards are really comfortable for me. Maybe my hands are build differently, but I don't have to twist my wrist.
ReplyDelete---
I had neck problems a couple of years ago, and that's when I elevated the screen, and got the Rollermouse instead of a regular mouse. I've not had the problems since.
"It really feels cool to give them both some work, then going to take some coffee or something else, to come back and watch them working"
ReplyDeleteYep, just so.
Then again, multicore macs and new OS are so good at multitasking, that it's very rare for me to feel any slowdown at all, even when the computer is doing like seven things at once.
multicore macs and new OS are so good at multitasking, that it's very rare for me to feel any slowdown at all, even when the computer is doing like seven things at once.
ReplyDeleteMy computers are some years old, and I can't afford the newest high-end machines - so, e.g reconverting a ratDVD movie and doing a major backup on external USB-drive at the same time I'm on the limit, not to speak about "dangerous" experiments deeply in the machine on OS-level ...
I've been using the ergonomic keyboard for years and find the normal ones very, vary cramped. And I just have normal sized hands. They're huge bricklayers hands but they're not carny hands either. I can't go back to the regular kind and hate having to use anyone else's keyboard if it's that type.
ReplyDeleteThere's not twisting of the wrists or anything. Your hands reach the keyboard at a slightly different angle but unless you've got some weird phsiological abnormality it shouldn't be uncomfortable for you and doesn't put any stress on anything.
For someone typing hours a day this type of keyboard is an absolute necessity.