Considering upgrading from Keyclone to ISoboxer

[enviri]

Hey all,

This is meant as a very honest question from a long-time multiboxer who hasn't posted around here much. I've always used Keyclone, since it was the only thing when I started, and ever since the my main issue with going to anything else is that barrier transition/learning curve.

I'm curious if anyone would be able to give me a few unbiased, honest answers:

1) If I am going to change from Keyclone to ISoboxer, what changes would I need to go through in terms of in-game stuff? Currently all my macros/etc are designed to run pretty much through my Naga (using numpad setting) so I run all commands off the 12 Naga buttons and Keyclone broadcasts that. What would I really be changing going to ISoboxer?

2) How does ISBoxer handle multiple computers? At home I run with 3 machines with 5 clients spread across them. Using Keyclone this means that I have 3 keys, so if ISboxer was the same I would have to have 3 keys as well, which is pretty harsh with a subscription service, but if that's the model that's cool.

3) Would there be any issues with continuing to use Keyclone at home while using Isboxer at work (my work computer is better than my home computer, yay graphic design and can actually run 5 clients unlike at home)? In particular I'm worried about macros, etc getting messed up between the two.

4) What things do you think ISboxer does better than Keyclone (don't say everything and please be specific).

Thanks in advance, just wanting some honest advice.

-Longtime boxer, rare poster
10 level 85s - Horde
10 level 80s - Alliance
4 sets of 5 boxes, 10 different classes both sides

[Lax]

1. In terms of in-game stuff, I am just guessing that you have your in-game macros configured with your targeting/assisting built into them. With ISBoxer, you usually want your macros to be the same as they would be when playing the character solo, and whatever method of targeting can be performed outside of the macro. (Because the assist button can get pressed for you, before your macro) This is what you would really be changing. You can use your existing macros if you want, either way. You don't have to switch to ISBoxer's targeting/assisting methods, but using ISBoxer's method lets you interchange different characters in different teams easier (i.e. without changing all of your macros in the game).

2. One license (subscription) allows use on up to 5 PCs. Some multiboxers have 6, that's fine -- the limitation is to help prevent abuse not to force you to buy another license just to add that 6th PC.

3. ISBoxer's macros are designed to not affect anything when you're not multiboxing. That's because the macros are installed by the ISBoxer Addon (created by ISBoxer on demand), and the ISBoxer Addon isn't going to interfere with anything if you're not launching through ISBoxer.

4.There's plenty of threads with answers from lots of people on this one if you're worried about me injecting bias in the answer (googling keyclone vs isboxer comes up with http://www.dual-boxing.com/showthread.php?t=31275 from 2010 and http://www.dual-boxing.com/showthread.php?t=23192 from 2009)... but the most common example is real-time mouse broadcasting -- Try dropping a Hurricane, Blizzard, Death and Decay, Rain of Fire or Earthquake with Keyclone. The other most common answer is support -- Rob hasn't posted on dual-boxing.com since last December (his profile: http://www.dual-boxing.com/member.php?u=774). Conversely, I develop and support ISBoxer full time and I've been selling multiboxing software since 2004.

Although honestly if you're looking for people to give you reasons why you should use Keyclone rather than ISBoxer, you're probably going to think everyone's answers are biased...

[Zzc2]

I went from keyclone to ISboxer so I'll try and answer some questions

1)the way isboxer does macros, you might be spending a good portion of time setting up keymapping in ISboxer. ISboxer does assisting following and other things within the program so some macros might need to be changed, expect at least 1-2 hours setting this up but once its setup, it runs really well

2) multiple computers works with ISboxer, with 1 subscription you get to use 5 computers so no problem there. There is a problem if you are using something like synergy or octopus to use 1 mouse across multiple machines. It doesnt like to follow when you go to a different computer. So if you are on your main monitor and switch to a second computer to control, the toons on your other 2 comps wont follow. There is a work around, but it requires more fine tuning within ISBoxer and if you have long character names, 1 character might get left out. ( check the isboxer forums for more info on this)

3) I still use keyclone, but for certain characters. I use isboxer for my pvp characters and keyclone for pve. You could use the same characters on both, but might run into problems with macros. using different specs for different programs might get around that, or using different bars.

4) I really like ISboxer for pvp. I was having lagging issues, and assist issues with keyclone in pvp so thats why i tried ISBoxer and really like it for that. for PVE, i didnt want to take the time to redo keymaps in isboxer for all my different characters so i still use keyclone for that since i dont have any issues in pve with keyclone.

Hope this helps

[Apps]

Dude, you can Trial most all of the MB software now. Try it out yourself.

Using the wizard for fast group setup, along with Jamba, you can be up and rolling with the basic stuff very fast, with minimal invasion into the wow keybind menu.

Theyre both decent software. I prefer ISB for support (Lax), and that its far more versatile. It does have a learning curve... but as stated with the Wizard... Lax has made it much much simpler and less of a curve IMO.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

There are three areas where ISBoxer excels:

1) useful mouse click and cursor broadcasting (though there are problems with multiple PCs)
2) (semi) Automatic FTL setups (auto in WoW, needs some manual assistance in initial setup in Rift and possibly other games)
3) Configurable multi-step macros/round-robin

Probably the most useful feature of all of this is the FTL stuff. Coming from having to create separate assist macros for each toon in the past, the "auto" FTL stuff makes life soooooo much easier. And it isn't that hard to configure. Try the trial and go check out the guides on isboxer.com and you should be able to get it running well enough to make an informed decision.

And ask in this thread again if you need pointers to guides or helpful links.

Good luck. ;)

[Akoko]

Wow, Lax, I didn't realize that ISBoxer was a full-time job! Multiboxing for a living definitely sounds like a dream job to me :D Where do I sign up?

[enviri]

Can I just say how awesome all these replies were? Thanks for the advice and tips everyone.

Funnily enough, this didn't make the decision any easier, but I really understand where the programs both stand a lot better. I'm hopeful that ISboxer only needs 1 subscription for all 3 (well 4) computers I would want to run it on and that's one of the big draws. Currently I'd have to pay to use Keyclone at work since it'd be a new license. Might as well upgrade hehe. Maybe once my next paycheck hits :D

[Khatovar]

I'm hopeful that ISboxer only needs 1 subscription for all 3 (well 4) computers I would want to run it on and that's one of the big draws.

1 ISBoxer sub should cover either 5 or 6 individual computers, IIRC

[enviri]

Now I just have to hope that this trial gets approved with enough time for me to try it at work before I have to head home today!

[enviri]

So I'm using this a bit at work so far, playing around with it. The reviews above were very accurate. It starts out very easy but as I start tweaking it I can see the power, but it is fairly complicated.

One big question I have so far is: can ISBoxer be used to combine multiple computers? I haven't found anything in the FAQ or any options for that yet.

[Zzc2]

http://isboxer.com/index.php/guides/22-using-multiple-computers

start there

[enviri]

Apparently I'm an idiot because I can't seem to get keymapping at all. Heck, all I really want is for my keyclone whitelist to work, but use FTL instead. Apparently this is rocket science cause I've spent 2 hours working on this and still "press Num4 to follow leader" is freaking impossible. :(

I have 3 different FAQs open, and none of them seem to work. I'll get to the end, save/export, go back to the characters, and just nothing. What am I doing wrong here?

edit: nevermind, I just restarted fresh with a new wizard, this time accepted "give me basic dps keys", started editing them to what I want, and that seems to have worked ;)

[Zzc2]

hah yep. like i said in my first post, it takes some time to get used to and took me about an hour to get the hang of it. Check some of the other posts on this site for some more advance things you can do.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

"Combine multiple computers," as in multibox on multiple PCs? If so, yes.

http://isboxer.com/index.php/guides/22-using-multiple-computers

[edit] But you will need to use Input Director or something like that to be able to use your mouse/keyboard in a "KVM" style (where you can mouseover to the other PC to control those individually. ISBoxer only does key/mouse broadcasting, not KVM functions.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

edit: nevermind, I just restarted fresh with a new wizard, this time accepted "give me basic dps keys", started editing them to what I want, and that seems to have worked ;)
Once you can visualize how keymaps translate what's in the keymap list to which key(s) it sends, it's pretty straightforward. Just wait til you start setting up conditional multi-step keymaps...it can get interesting, especially if you typo or screw up something in the middle of a complex one. :p

[Kang]

Apparently I'm an idiot because I can't seem to get keymapping at all. Heck, all I really want is for my keyclone whitelist to work, but use FTL instead. Apparently this is rocket science cause I've spent 2 hours working on this and still "press Num4 to follow leader" is freaking impossible. :(

I have 3 different FAQs open, and none of them seem to work. I'll get to the end, save/export, go back to the characters, and just nothing. What am I doing wrong here?

edit: nevermind, I just restarted fresh with a new wizard, this time accepted "give me basic dps keys", started editing them to what I want, and that seems to have worked ;)

Keymaps was the biggest learning curve for me. Changing from key binds to key maps takes some getting used to, but once it sinks in its very easy to use and very powerful.