'Mouse Without Borders' controls multiple PCs

Computer users who have just one mouse and keyboard can now "control" up to four computers without need for extra hardware, thanks to a new tool from Microsoft. Microsoft said its "Mouse Without Borders" also allows a user to move files between networked computers by dragging them from one desktop to another. "You can control up to four computers from a single mouse and keyboard with no extra hardware needed – it’s all software magic, developed by Truong Do who by day is a developed for Microsoft Dynamics," it said in a blog post. It said the new utility also allows a user to lock or log in to all the networked PCs from one PC. The utility even allows a user to customize the Windows logo screen with a daily image from Bing, Microsoft's search engine, as a "whimsical bonus." "Mouse Without Borders" is a product of Microsoft's "The Garage" initiative, where employees are encouraged to build what they dream up. So popular was the tool that Microsoft released it as a standalone public download. "99.9% of the Garage projects either ship as part of a Microsoft project or remain internal, but every once in a while there’s a project that doesn’t fit into any existing Microsoft product which will get a lot of request from employees who want to be able to share it with their friends and families. In exceptions like this, the Garage community will rally together to and publish it as a standalone public download," it said. A separate article on PC Magazine said the download is 1.1 mb, and will have to be installed in the PCs to be controlled. The PCs to be controlled should also be part of the same local network. "Microsoft suggests users utilize a wired Ethernet connection rather than connect over a local Wi-Fi network, as the former is generally considered more reliable," it said. Flaws But PC Mag reported some issues with the mouse, when its sensitivity "turned up to an unplayable level" in a game on a neighboring laptop. Pausing the game also tended to freeze the computers, it added. "Mouse Without Borders is a Windows-only utility, so Mac users will have to stick with Teleport and multi-platform users will have to stick with Synergy to support their mousing needs," PC Mag added. — TJD, GMA News