One PC serve two operators?

[TC2]

Is there a way with XP to either add a second keyboard, mouse, and monitor,
or use an old Win98 box as a thin client? I know there are expensive add on
boards that can serve multiple operators. I'm trying to find an inexpensive
way to give both my kids access to word processing without having to buy a
whole extra computer.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Hi,

You can only ever have one keyboard and one mouse active
on a single PC. I assume you would like both of your kids
to have independent access to a wordprocessing package so
they can type away at the same time ....

On a network server you can run Terminal Server which
allows lots of virtual users on the same box but this
software is expensive (and each user still needs a thin
client pc with screen and keyboard). I would opt for a
Thin Windows98 client. You can go for a relatively low
spec system for not a lot of money.

Regards,

Tim

 

[Vic]

Well, technically you can hook up two keyboards and mice to a single
computer using USB, and you can even hook up a second monitor if you
have a second monitor card. ( I have worked on a computer that had
three monitor cards, so thats not so far fetched.) The problem,
however, is that you only have one cursor and I am not sure there is
anything you can do about that. Both keyboards and mice can be used to
input data, but it would all be input at the same time. (I.e. if Sally
moves the mouse to the right and Junior moves the mouse to the left,
the mouse doesn't move at all. If one child enters 1234567 and the
other enters abcdefg, you will see on the screen 1a2b3c4d5e6f7g.) I
doubt that is the solution you are looking for.