1 computer, use as 2? (1 box, 2 monitor, 2 sets of mice/keyboard)?
My computer can pull at lease 4 workstations (i tried) but i’m not shore how to do it from a single box.
Heres what i have:
- Gigabyte X38 intel motherboard (8 back USB’s for thouse mouse/keyboard/UI stuff)
- Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 (OC’d to 3.6GHz/core)
- ATI Radeon 3850 (has 2 DVI+1 S-Vid)
- Alot of ram… many gigs
- 2 very nice looking 
22" monitors
- 2 mouse
- 2 Keyboards
- 3 hard drives
- 1 DVD drive (can get 1 more)
I just need to be able for 2 people to use the comp at once. One of them only needs to be able to chat.
I also don’t mind buying some extra equipment for the job. (maybe another graphics card? since i have 2 PCI-E slots, dosn’t realy matter)
Thanks in advance for your help guys.
thanks for your help guys. I’ll just buy me GF another computer then … sounds easier
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3 Responses to “1 computer, use as 2? (1 box, 2 monitor, 2 sets of mice/keyboard)?”
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Sure, you can share one computer with many users. Amazing that most Windows users think this is "impossible"! Each user will believe they’re alone on the powerful machine - using a very minimal separate "terminal" or cheap computer. What you need to do is Google for "thin client solutions".
The other users need some kind of separate "terminal" - a junker computer box will do, and - if the display card is suitable for what you expect to do - you can use your extra monitor, mouse and keyboard.
WallMart sells very basic [Linux] computers more powerful than you need for around $100 - $200. A used computer [the motherboard box only] can be found for almost free at garage sales. If it turns on and puts some display on your monitor - it’s good enough. Missing the Ethernet card? Grab one for $15 at Office Depot.
Windows is not licensed or designed to do a good job at this. Linux is. Basically, you can share powerful computers with very cheap - even diskless - computers over a local network.
With Linux - it’s part of the inherent capabilities. It’s free. I’ve used these techniques since 1993 myself privately and commercially - and for schools and charities.
With Windows - you’ll buy hardware and software that still won’t do what you had in mind. You’ll also violate the Microsoft Windows EULA.
An example of one computer allowing many users - though not local - is Yahoo! Yahoo basically runs on Linux. So does Google. So does the Stock Exchange. Think of the power of Google tapped by you.
That’s what a basically "dumb" terminal can do using your computer for your other user - or a dozen of them - on your one powerful computer - with Linux. For free. Including the other user burning DVDs - accessing the Internet - printing and scanning - everything, every piece of software - just works - with security and privacy for every user.
Hubs and Ethernet cable aren’t quite free - but almost. In fact - with just one connected machine - a crossover Ethernet cable will eliminate the need for a $25 or $30 hub.
Adding and using Linux on your computer is easier than converting from XP to Vista. You’ll find HowTo’s on setting up Thin Clients that compare to baking a casserole in difficulty.
The Linux I recommend for those with a Windows background is at http://getpclinuxos.com/KDE/ and the ISO burning software is free at http://imgburn.com - so do it!
The CD you burn is a Live CD of Linux - so you can test everything and learn Linux without touching Windows. You can even keep Windows - dual-boot is explained at http://www.ehow.com/how_2147183_add-linux-windows-computer.html
Finally, here is a PDF document to save on how to do thin clients - it will download the PDF to your hard drive or open your PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader probably):
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/pdf/Thinclient-HOWTO.pdf
Good luck.
AFAIK, you can’t have 2 people working on a single CPU… since if you insert 2 mouse or 2 keyboard, there will be a conflict between the two…
although you can set 2 monitors in a single CPU wherein the other monitor is for viewing purposes…
There really isn’t anyway to do what you’re looking to do…the two keyboards/mice will conflict with each other (i.e. both would have control of the mouse at the same time) Sorry…I’d like to tell you otherwise but it just can’t be done. If you were looking to use a single set of keyboard/mouse with multiple computers then that would be possible…using a KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) adapter, but not to do what your looking for. Sorry!