Use MacBook to control Windows box (keyboard/mouse)?
I have a MacBook Pro (OS X 10.6.3). Across the room sits a Windows 7 box, using my HDTV as its display.
Both machines are on the same LAN.
I would like to use the keyboard and trackpad on the MacBook to operate the Windows machine. That way, I wouldn't have to bring out the Windows machine's wireless keyboard and mouse every time I wish to use the Windows box with the HDTV.
What would the Experts suggest?
Cheers,
Steve
Both machines are on the same LAN.
I would like to use the keyboard and trackpad on the MacBook to operate the Windows machine. That way, I wouldn't have to bring out the Windows machine's wireless keyboard and mouse every time I wish to use the Windows box with the HDTV.
What would the Experts suggest?
Cheers,
Steve
ASKER
Hi larsrohr,
I do use the Mac RDP client to connect to the Windows box, but that doesn't provide me with the ability to use the Windows machine with its own display output (HDMI connection to my HDTV). With RDP or VNC, I can only see the Windows box on my Mac's display. That's the problem.
I would like to use the MacBook's keyboard and trackpad to operate the Windows box over the LAN, while still viewing the Windows machine on the HDTV -- not on the MacBook's display.
I don't know if this is possible.
Cheers,
Steve
I do use the Mac RDP client to connect to the Windows box, but that doesn't provide me with the ability to use the Windows machine with its own display output (HDMI connection to my HDTV). With RDP or VNC, I can only see the Windows box on my Mac's display. That's the problem.
I would like to use the MacBook's keyboard and trackpad to operate the Windows box over the LAN, while still viewing the Windows machine on the HDTV -- not on the MacBook's display.
I don't know if this is possible.
Cheers,
Steve
Well, there is something for Mac called Teleport (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14042/teleport) that works very cool, but for the Windows box, I'm not sure. There is a mention of 'Synergy' in the reviews, but haven't tried it.
isn't there a "switch" in VNC to allow the display to display console locally? (actually it's a switch to switch off local display as I recall, it's been a long while so apologies if not.)
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ASKER
I haven't been home to work on this and it looks like it'll be a few more days. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will come back to update and award points ASAP.
Cheers,
Steve
Cheers,
Steve
I would second either the VNC or Synergy solutions. Both of those software programs would meet your demands in different ways.
ASKER
Well, despite following the instructions, I couldn't get Synergy+ to start its server on the Mac:
Synergy+ 1.3.5 Server on Darwin 10.3.0 Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.0: Fri Feb 26 11:58:09 PST 2010; root:xnu-1504.3.12~1/RELEA
cannot read configuration "/synergy.conf": read error: line 1: found data outside section
synergys: no configuration available
Obviously a problem with my synergy.conf file. I will continue to work with it as time permits.
The VNC suggestions also seem promising. I haven't touched VNC in years, and didn't know that it offered the specific facility I was looking for. I have experimented with it for a short while today. I am able to view the Windows machine with its own display using the Mac's keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard works well, but the pointer is very, very slow to respond on the Windows display, and seems to have a mind of its own (e.g., it moves itself all over the display with absolutely zero input from me). I would imagine that some tweaking with the prefs, and experimenting with various client/server combinations, will ultimately result in the desired outcome.
Points for both suggestions -- I appreciate everyone's time!
Cheers,
Steve
Synergy+ 1.3.5 Server on Darwin 10.3.0 Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.0: Fri Feb 26 11:58:09 PST 2010; root:xnu-1504.3.12~1/RELEA
cannot read configuration "/synergy.conf": read error: line 1: found data outside section
synergys: no configuration available
Obviously a problem with my synergy.conf file. I will continue to work with it as time permits.
The VNC suggestions also seem promising. I haven't touched VNC in years, and didn't know that it offered the specific facility I was looking for. I have experimented with it for a short while today. I am able to view the Windows machine with its own display using the Mac's keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard works well, but the pointer is very, very slow to respond on the Windows display, and seems to have a mind of its own (e.g., it moves itself all over the display with absolutely zero input from me). I would imagine that some tweaking with the prefs, and experimenting with various client/server combinations, will ultimately result in the desired outcome.
Points for both suggestions -- I appreciate everyone's time!
Cheers,
Steve
Both have MacOS clients.