Comparison of Octopus and Keyclone

[Temor]

Having been a registered user of Keyclone for three weeks, I really got fed up with all of the bugs I ran into and none of them being recognized each time I reported them. Others have reported the same issues that I've had. In searching through the descriptions of the different key replication programs on here, the best description appears to be Keyclone. Why? Because at first glance, you think that a product with good support is a good way to go. I'm here to tell you, that's a wrong assumption. Below are my findings in using Keyclone versus now using Octopus:

1. Keyclone occassionally has runaways. This can occur at any time and cause your character(s) to die as a result.

2. Keyclone has a key registration server that can be down sometimes. What if the company goes out of business and shuts it down? All those copies sold no longer work.

3. Keyclone sometimes causes your focus of your application to change from your game. This can occur with full screen or windowed. I've seen it several times. Didn't bother reporting that one because I didn't get any acknowledgement that my previous posts were actually bugs. In fact, the support I received was 'are you sure you're not running out of memory?'. I had to post several times my memory configuration. A simple post later after I had provided all of the requested information was 'I'll look into that one, others have reported this problem too, etc.'

4. Keyclone occassionally will lose connectivity between machines and not work. Restarting it fixes it. But when you're in a battleground, this means death because of a lack of a solid product. In 3 weeks, this issue happened maybe about 7 or 8 times. Sometimes it showed 'program not responding' in the title bar. But other times, as others have posted as I have, it wouldn't show that, it would just not work.

After being completely frustrated with Keyclones issues and dying in the battlefield, I looked at the 'Comprehensive list of Software tools' again. When I tried Synergy before, I didn't get it working, but only spent about 5 or 10 minutes. So because I use multiple machines, I looked at Octopus. Downloaded the required software to my machine ( MS.net 3.5 and vc redistributable 2000 ) for my Windows Vista machines and got it set up within about 20 minutes. The entire key to getting it working is that you must run it as Administrator on Windows Vista. If you don't, it won't run, just closes with no message.

Octopus has NONE of the issues listed above. In fact, it has no issues so far that I've run into. And on top of that, it does things that Keyclone doesn't do. A really BIG one is that capitalization works across machines. Keyclone doesn't support capitalization.

So my question is, is it better to have a product that has good product support or a product that requires no product support? And on top of all those issues and support question, Octopus provides the source code! So if you want, you can look at it, recompile it, and be secure knowing there isn't any questionable transmission of data.

If you have any questions about how I came to the conclusions here, I'll be more than happy to provide the results that I've found in working with both of these programs. My posts on dual-boxing.com show the issues I've run into and the responses to them. To be fair, I've not used any mouse logic between either Keyclone or Octopus so I don't know how that compares. All my use of the programs is using the keyboard because that's how I play for the fastest PvP play time.

[0xdeadbeef]

I've also tried both, but currently using Keyclone, there are a couple of features missing in Octupus (or I haven't figure out how to use them in Octupus.)

a) Round robin
b) Picking a processor affinity when launching copies of WoW.

I know C# and driver development quite well but I don't have MSVC 2008 at home. I wish I could use Express editions and I would add these features myself and give them to the author.

Keyclone works OK for me -- my biggest complaint is the white-list bug still isn't fixed causing me major headaches.

I might end up rolling out my own, compared to the stuff I do at work this is cake.

[mrmcgee21]

I have to say, when you run 5 or 6 heroics a day and at the end of the day you realize you wiped, say 15 times. Well for me about 75% of my wipes are ( or were ) caused by the key hanging issues with keyclone. Keyclone does not pass modifer keys properly which causes a lot of issues. Mainly any hotkey you pass that has a modifier ( ie alt w ) when the mod key is lifted before the normal key this causes a lot of issues. For example, I use ctrl 1 to fire my dps classes nukes. Say I accidently ( because yes im hitting keys very quickly ) release ctrl before 1 once, that means when I go to hit shift 1 ( my cc hotkey for my first mage ) it isnt going to work until I hit ctrl 1 again. So the result is me going into a panic smashing shift 1 realizing its jammed as I have a shattered hand beserker smashing my priest face in, realize I have to hit something to unjam it guessing keys until finally I hit ctrl 1 again ( priest dead now ) and then interrupting my nuke spell and FINALLY resheeping said mob. I have tons and TON of colorful storys like this one to tell, of chars running off into packs of mobs, casting nukes when they should be casting cc spells, spinning in circles or just doing nothing at all because my autofollow key is jammed ( shift 4 ). So yes after reading this post I went and got octopus, no more key jams, it does seem to have a steep learning curve but what doesnt around here. Keyclone got me started and I do like the program and don't regret buying it, however for higher end highspeed play the keyjams are simply brutal and unless you only use like 10 hotkeys at any given time and just want to move all your chars at the same time all the time ( wont fly i n heroics trust me ) then you'll run into this same issue I have.



I will say I play 5 different classes so maybe its just an issue with me because I have more "individualized" hotkeys.

PS: thanks for the post you've saved me a LOT of aggravation, I hadn't even looked at octopus before today, which is ironic because skarlot's vidoes are what got me started 5 boxxing

[elo]

Wow, so you guys have been here less than 2 months and already laying into one of our veterans pretty hard, nice manners.

I'm not going to get into a technical debate on the issue but you need to understand that Rob (Keyclone) is one of the most important people in this community and trashing him and his work like this is rude and narrow sighted. Rob has done an incredible amount for this community and has objectively guided hundreds into their multiboxing adventures. He is constantly on here providing support for not only his product but for multiboxing in general. I'm sure that keyclone has it's problems, all software does, but attacking such a veteran and contributing member openly on the forums is not the way to address them. Should the problems be 'white washed' and all of us push keyclone on every new user because Rob's a great guy? I'm not saying that either. Just exercise a little tact.

[Eteocles]

1: Runaways can happen with autohotkey too; it's simply the way windows handles it more than how it's sent.
2: I kinda worry about that too fair enough, and being told "it's been up since 97 no worries" isn't what I wanna hear, never know what'll happen in the future :p So I can agree with you on there to an extent, though the subject of protecting the software is a touchy one that's not really solvable either
3: I've not ONCE had my window focus switch, ever. Sure yer not just holding alt for a skill and hitting tab to target by accident? :p I've done it before, it's simply habit for alot of us. Other than that explainable reason my windows stay where they're supposed to and the front one stays on top unless I tab to another.
4: Can't comment on that as I use a single machine :p

Now opinions are fine and all the software options have their good points just as keyclone does; but don't go putting down some of the above when it doesn't happen to everyone; computers are mysterious sons of bitches and really picky about how well they work and for how long and with what programs, and it varies from comp to comp even with similar/same specs.

[keyclone]

so, you've had the software for 3 weeks, found something you didn't like, and i didn't respond to what? a post? wait, i did.

i guess you wanted what? more? i saw you bitch that v1.8f didn't have the changes YOU wanted... thanks for being self centered. the update list for v1.8f had 14 items on it. sorry if i'm not working fast enough for you (insert wilbur here)

as for the concerns here:
1. there is nothing i can do about pip swap performance. that is a wow issue when resizing due to internal rendering engines
2. shift and alt modifiers... yes, i know that one.. yes, i'd like it fixed.. but there are work arounds and other things to do for now. it is currently on the top of the list
3. run-aways... well, besides tacking your head to the desk, there isn't much i can do to improve your play style. considering the wall-of-text, i imagine you to be a massive masher. so... it's on the list (funny how i can play for hours with no run-aways, but then again, i'm not a masher)
4. focus change ... turn off 'focus follows mouse'
5. losing connectivity ... move out of the motel 6 and stop using a wireless network
6. cursor glitch between borders .. turn off 'focus follows mouse'

this is the list of bugs i have. total. and some aren't bugs (1, 5 and 6).
i am also putting out different features and requests from other users (*gasp* no... he must listen to ME!!)

anyhow, thanks for the wall-of-text ...

wilbur-translator ( "have a nice day" )

edit:
re-reading after the morning caffeine, and i realize my tone might be a bit ... harsh.
i'll boil it down to "thanks, your concerns are noted and i'm working on it" .

my time is limited. as is, i don't get to play much... instead putting that time into support and coding. i do what i can, improving the software the best that i can as i go.

as an fyi, anyone being 'demanding' usually rates extremely low in my book...

[mrmcgee21]

I'm not trashing anyone, I'm giving an objective review of a product I bought. In no way was I narrow minded, the program has some issues. Like I said I don't regret buying it but in certain cases it is extremely frustrating to use. You can't fix problems if noone speaks about them, and noone will speak about them if you get so emotional over it, this was in no way a trashing nothing I said above was out of anger or hate I just wanted people to know that hey .. there are some problems and as it goes octopus is a great program to get around them depending on your situation. If thats taken around here as a trashing then I guess I won't post anymore.

PS: this is not a random issue, pass any key combo ie shift + w, let off shift before w and you will find the W key is stuck on whatever window you passed it too, the same is true for any modifier key combination octopus does not have this issue as it apparently is able to read key commands weather they are passed or not and decide if it should use them. Point is, pass one key at a time? keyclone is the way to go, have lots of modified keybindings? you should probably use octopus for now

I've spoken to rob on the phone about this, he is working on it but my god if i can use octopus for now and save myself the trouble of dealing with the bugs I sure am going to, and if rob does implement a fix then yes, I'll use keyclone again sure .. but up to this point it doesnt seem to be acknowledged as a bug, just something you have to work around as the poster above has itterated yet again .. and octopus actually fixes this .. had the original poster not posted I wouldnt have known that.

-Thext

[Tehtsuo]

You are trashing someone, namely Keyclone and his software. If the software doesn't work for you that's fine. You would even be within your rights to ask for a refund, or post a thread to let people know how well Octopus is working for you, and explain that it has a lot of the functionality of Keyclone. However, this topic sounds like slander. You seem to be trying to dissuade people from trying out/using Keyclone, and I'm sorry but you're in the wrong forum for that.

I have no doubt that if Keyclone ever decided to turn off his registration key servers, he would release an unprotected version of his software. However, as long as that doesn't happen, anyone who wants to complain about his methods of protecting his intellectual property will get no sympathy from me.

::edit:: - I suppose you weren't trashing Keyclone like I said, just reread the thread, and I think I was confusing you with the OP. My apologies to Mrmcgee21, but the majority of my post still applies to the original poster. :S

[geoffdavison]

wow runaways.. woo big deal.. take a second get them back.. no biggies..

I'm not sure about the alt modifier thing.. i use it all the time with my g15 keyboard with the UI mod for it and haven't had a single issue.

[Xorn]

3. run-aways... well, besides tacking your head to the desk, there isn't much i can do to improve your play style. considering the wall-of-text, i imagine you to be a massive masher. so... it's on the list (funny how i can play for hours with no run-aways, but then again, i'm not a masher)
I played all day long my last weekend, running instances like crazy and I got not even one runaway the whole time ... I put shift+WASD / alt+WASD and strg+WASD on the blacklist
-> works just fine, for me. ;)


my time is limited. as is, i don't get to play much... instead putting that time into support and coding. i do what i can, improving the software the best that i can as i go.
And you're doing a hell of a job rob! I'm sure almost everybody will agree with me here. :)

Xorn

[Temor]

so, you've had the software for 3 weeks, found something you didn't like, and i didn't respond to what? a post? wait, i did.

i guess you wanted what? more? i saw you bitch that v1.8f didn't have the changes YOU wanted... thanks for being self centered. the update list for v1.8f had 14 items on it. sorry if i'm not working fast enough for you (insert wilbur here)

as for the concerns here:
1. there is nothing i can do about pip swap performance. that is a wow issue when resizing due to internal rendering engines
2. shift and alt modifiers... yes, i know that one.. yes, i'd like it fixed.. but there are work arounds and other things to do for now. it is currently on the top of the list
3. run-aways... well, besides tacking your head to the desk, there isn't much i can do to improve your play style. considering the wall-of-text, i imagine you to be a massive masher. so... it's on the list (funny how i can play for hours with no run-aways, but then again, i'm not a masher)
4. focus change ... turn off 'focus follows mouse'
5. losing connectivity ... move out of the motel 6 and stop using a wireless network
6. cursor glitch between borders .. turn off 'focus follows mouse'

this is the list of bugs i have. total. and some aren't bugs (1, 5 and 6).
i am also putting out different features and requests from other users (*gasp* no... he must listen to ME!!)

anyhow, thanks for the wall-of-text ...

wilbur-translator ( "have a nice day" )

edit:
re-reading after the morning caffeine, and i realize my tone might be a bit ... harsh.
i'll boil it down to "thanks, your concerns are noted and i'm working on it" .

my time is limited. as is, i don't get to play much... instead putting that time into support and coding. i do what i can, improving the software the best that i can as i go.

as an fyi, anyone being 'demanding' usually rates extremely low in my book...
Response:

Firstly, how should I report issues with a product and not receive support for that product? Once again, your response is assuming I'm doing things such as using the mouse for replication which I am not.

1. Don't have any idea what you mean by pip swap performance. As far as I know I'm not using that. I'm using the minimal part of the product to only send keys from one of my machines (the main) to the clone machines. I don't use asdf or any keys for movement. I only use the arrow keys. I don't use any mouse replication from the main or any clones. I'm only using the basic functionality of the product.

2. Fair enough. Appreciate that you acknowledge the issue and that it needs to be fixed.

3. Could be. In PvP, things happen very fast, but not to see runaways maybe that you don't often run on separate machines and that is where the problem may be.

4. Once again, not using the mouse. In fact, this problem occurs on my clones which happens when I don't press keys on those keyboards. It happens randomly where the window (when I was using windowed mode, since switched to full screen to see if some of the issues would be resolved, but they weren't) will switch to any other application that is running such as the Internet Explorer or Task Manager. This doesn't happen with Octopus or when only WoW is running.

5. Not using a wireless network at all. My wired network is as solid as you can get it. All machines are right next to each other and there is no issues with any connectivity between them that I have experienced in 5 years.

6. Once again not using the mouse for replication. Focus follows mouse is not clicked. Here are the settings in Keyclone that I had set after installation: 'do-not-pass', added TAB, LEFT, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, NUMLOCK, TILDE on my main computer. For the clones, checked 'white-list'. On the clones, checked 'auto-connect' and entered the IP address of the main computer which has not changed. I've not enetered or changed anything in command editor, general, keymap, mouse-map, proxy, round-robin, sound events as I am not using any of those features so the issues I've noted are not with any that functionality.



I'm not demanding anything from you. You can do as you please, it's your software. I've moved on to what I have observed is a much better product without the 'issues' your product has. I'm not bashing you, it's not my intent. All I'm reporting to the community is my observation on the products I've used for multi-boxxing. That's all, it's not my intent to flame here, just report on the findings that I've seen in the products. That's it, if you feel otherwise, I can try to explain the best I can, but this is what I've found and feel it's necessary to report it.

[keyclone]

how should I report issues with a product and not receive support for that product?report an issue... hmm... let's see... PMs, emails, phone calls, irc, vent.. nah. public forums to air your rant-fest, that's what you chose each time.

you've only made a few posts.. and the majority of them are participating in... highlighting bugs (otherwise known as bashing). (posts: http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?form=Search&userID=3917)

not once did you send a PM requesting information, but instead choose to air it publicly. i see that as whining in public in an effort to influence me and get what you want. personally, anyone that behaves like that.. in my book... believes themselves above others and expect their desires to be met immediately.

you will get the opposite response from me... every time.

as for problems with it disconnecting or it just stops working... well.. do you have a registered copy on each machine?

[tooboxinit]

I have had my char runaway too many times to count, almost wipe my group and stand in place and spin around for no reason until i bash the fuck out of the WASD keys and it fixes itself.....and that is when im NOT using keyclone, that crap only happens when im smacking my movement keys like crazy [IE-dealing with another undead rogue........] in my opinion that is a wow issue, maybe keyclone is part of the problem for you who knows. i have no problems with keyclone and since i have started using it rob has promptly fixed any issue people complain about that really matters. Its ok to compare programs, but your entire post (the original poster) wasnt talking much on the plusses of octopus but rather just slamming keyclone over and over. The program is great and the support is as good as it comes. I hope no new boxers read your post and let it sway them from this awsome program, i refuse to dual box without it or even give another program the time of day due to how efficient this program is for me

[Gurblash]

Octopus has NONE of the issues listed above. In fact, it has no issues so far that I've run into. And on top of that, it does things that Keyclone doesn't do. A really BIG one is that capitalization works across machines. Keyclone doesn't support capitalization.

So my question is, is it better to have a product that has good product support or a product that requires no product support? And on top of all those issues and support question, Octopus provides the source code! So if you want, you can look at it, recompile it, and be secure knowing there isn't any questionable transmission of data.

I'm glad to see you took the time to make a thoughtful and insightful comparision between the two products :wacko:

I have been using keyclone on my laptop for about 4 months now. Im running 5 instances of wow up and am utilizing the PiP function. Great software and in my time using it, I've never ran into any issue Rob couldn't solve. Hell he even helped me out with my Regions getting them all to the correct display ratio :thumbsup:.

So before you come in here and rant and kick down Keyclone and try to compare it to another product... bring more valid points about their cons and pros. Not your pitiful comparison.

[Tehtsuo]

Here are the settings in Keyclone that I had set after installation: 'do-not-pass', added TAB, LEFT, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, NUMLOCK, TILDE on my main computer.That's all? No wonder you're getting runaways!

[Tehtsuo]

Here are the settings in Keyclone that I had set after installation: 'do-not-pass', added TAB, LEFT, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, NUMLOCK, TILDE on my main computer.That's all? No wonder you're getting runaways! Look, I don't want to scare away any business for Keyclone, but it sounds like it's not for you. There's a lot more configuration to do than what you've mentioned to make it work the way you want. If Octopus is that much easier to configure, go for it. Leave Keyclone alone though.

[Ellay]

Less hostility :) I <3 you all~

[Temor]

Here are the settings in Keyclone that I had set after installation: 'do-not-pass', added TAB, LEFT, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, NUMLOCK, TILDE on my main computer.That's all? No wonder you're getting runaways! Look, I don't want to scare away any business for Keyclone, but it sounds like it's not for you. There's a lot more configuration to do than what you've mentioned to make it work the way you want. If Octopus is that much easier to configure, go for it. Leave Keyclone alone though.What other option is there to tell it NOT to pass a key? I pressed LEFT one time on my main computer and all of my clones turned around to the left. They kept turning to the left until I press the LEFT key on each of the machines for those clones. Please explain what other option is there to stop the runaways? If you're saying that's all I did, please let me know what it is to stop them. I didn't press SHIFT, I didn't press any other keys. Another time, I pressed UP ARROW and my main and the clones which were on auto follow all went forward and when I stopped with my main, all of the others kept going. It wasn't until I press UP ARROW on each of the clones that they stopped. You're saying there is more configuration to stop this from happening. Why is there not that information that you're saying is included in the configuration posted here on the forum where others have presented this problem? There are many others that have posted this same issue and there is no information about what other configuration options are needed to stop that behavior.

[keyclone]

the run-aways happen with strict hardware setups as well.. no software. odds are, it's internal to wow. that is not to say that i may find a solution, it's just that it's not specifically a keyclone problem.

there is a whole thread on this, and many other topics... which you might have known had you used 'search'

thus, you deserve a piece of advice i have not given in a very, very long time (decades even...)

RTFM

(and with that, i am done with this thread.. PM me if you have actual questions)

[Temor]

how should I report issues with a product and not receive support for that product?report an issue... hmm... let's see... PMs, emails, phone calls, irc, vent.. nah. public forums to air your rant-fest, that's what you chose each time.

you've only made a few posts.. and the majority of them are participating in... highlighting bugs (otherwise known as bashing). (posts: http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?form=Search&userID=3917)

not once did you send a PM requesting information, but instead choose to air it publicly. i see that as whining in public in an effort to influence me and get what you want. personally, anyone that behaves like that.. in my book... believes themselves above others and expect their desires to be met immediately.

you will get the opposite response from me... every time.

as for problems with it disconnecting or it just stops working... well.. do you have a registered copy on each machine?bashing??? So you're saying that every person that has posted an issue on these forums is bashing your product? Whatever.

[Tehtsuo]

He's done, you're not going to hear from him again. You've also pretty well alienated yourself from many people here. I recommend you cut your losses.

[mrmcgee21]

The only problem I've ever had with keyclone ( worth mentioning ) is the key modifier issue I highlighted above. Didn't realize this was going to turn into such a heated arguement, honestly I just wanted people to know that if they have the same problem octopus is a work around for the time being. I've never dealth with this "runaways" thing, I know exactly why it the key jams happen and how to prevent them, problem is when your probably passing over 50 keys a minute theres a good chance that just one of them could create a key jam if a mod keyed is lifted before the normal key.

That being said I would like to say I've used keyclone for about 3 months, leveled 3 alts from 1 to 70 and had really no issues with it. I've 5 boxxed every normal instance and about half of the heroics using keyclones and it wasn't really until heroics that this came up as an issue with me because I found I simply was required to mash keys about twice as fast, sometimes more frantically than others.

-Thext

[Ughmahedhurtz]

This thread is a case in point that poor communications and bad assumptions result in a lot of needless flak. To wit:

1) the OP might have started the thread in a more "hey, anyone else have these issues with keyclone?" manner and saved the "I'm now using octopus with no issues" for later if the end result was the same. Fixing bugs isn't easy or fast, especially if it's difficult to reproduce the failure in the developer's environment. This all probably started with a very terse bug report that was unproductive in reproducing the failure. Might be worth investing some time in a bug report template users could fill out to save time later (assuming this doesn't exist; :P).

2) Those of you saying the guy is bashing him because YOU don't have those issues are making some ASS-umptions. Namely, that he A) didn't report them previously, B) Didn't have his config setup properly, C) didn't attempt other communication methods first and D) can't be seeing real bugs because you've never seen them. You might have actually asked if he had things setup the way you're assuming before you go bashing HIM for not "doing it properly." This forum is pretty good about helping things along, even if the threads started off a bit rocky. You guys aren't helping the situation.

3) I can understand the developer's frustration with having stuff like this come off as a bash post but I doubt flaming the guy will help matters much. As a business, you have to expect that not everyone will be happy with your product. /shrug

To reiterate, as far as I know, keyclone is a solid product with a developer that provides excellent support for most users. It also is not infallible and requires some work to get set up correctly (nature of the beast when doing non-standard stuff like this) much like the other products that do similar things. Finally, don't fall for flamebait if you think that's what it is. Suggest it be taken to PMs and let it go at that. No need to start flamewars, especially when you do NOT have all the data required to come to a correct conclusion as to what exactly happened. People are human, after all.

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/funny-pictures-cats-dramatic-cats-lights-sunshine2.jpg

[Khayos]

I have had run-a-ways with one wow window running and no Keyclone at all, this was Pre multi-boxing.
I have no problems with the software at all.
I got a new system and wanted a liscence transfered, I rang Keyclone personally, he suggested a cheaper way of contact from the off as he realised I was calling long distance and we sorted out transfering it in no more than 10 minutes, was very helpful, polite and even stopped after to ask about me and my multi boxing, asked if there was anything I'd like to see in the software and talked about up-coming ideas he had and bug fixes. I haven't ever in my life met someone so helpful and dedicated to something he does on the side, this isn't his main job remember.
He has made some software for us to help with multi-boxing at from where I am, it works great.
As I have always said, if you think you can do better or like something else more, then do it yourself or use the different software.
Rob couldn't be any nicer with concerns over his software and more helpful either. There are a ton of new members, older members and external people probably PM'ing him all the time, as well as coding, having a RL and doing other humany things, give the poor guy a break.

Keyclone, you do a great job for me, thankyou for your software and don't listen to any of this ear bashing.

Khayos

[geoffdavison]

I've actually had the spin/move thing happen before I started dual boxing.. its just more of a pain in the ass to fix when you have to control more characters...

ok now lets all gather round and have a group hug

totally hetero non homo hug btw.. not that there's anything wrong with that ;)

[Vyndree]

Less hostility :) I <3 you all~

QFT.

Instead of "Comparison of Octopus and Keyclone" why not "Highlighting benefits of Octopus"?

Because Keyclone and Octopus cannot coexist nicely? As you said -- would you rather set up Octopus on your own and, since you have source code, be your own product support? Or would you like a code-free run-and-go fully supported product like Keyclone? The OP has the right to his opinion as does those who are happily using Keyclone. Just try to be less confrontational when discussing what you like/don't like (that means everyone in this thread).

These boards are not a multiboxer software resource competition. We're SHARING information, and the first part to SHARING implies SOCIAL SKILLS. Try to be nice, people.

If you want to share what you like about Octopus, make a share what you like about Octopus thread.
If you want to share some repro steps for bugs in Keyclone, either PM Keyclone directly or start a Keyclone bug thread.

These two pieces of software are pretty different by nature -- one being open source and the other being a dev-supported purchaseable product. If you'd like to contribute to the knowledge base, I'm all for it. Just be nice when you do it.

[geoffdavison]

If you'd like to contribute to the knowledge base, I'm all for it. Just be nice when you do it.Preach sista!!!

[Wilbur]

...Its not a competition?

Dang :-S

[Djarid]

What Vyndree said! ;)

I avoided posting here, naively hoping this topic would be shuffled down onto the other pages asap :(

[Havelcek]

As an aside, there is definitely an issue in core-WoW where a following character will seem to lose sync with the main character and break follow on its own. I have dual-boxed for a long time with no software help, literally just following and hitting keys on both computers and this happens to me every once in a while. Its likely a lag issue and a packet gets dropped that causes follow to stop without the character getting a "stop moving" command back from the server.

[PyrostasisTDK]

Having been a registered user of Keyclone for three weeks, I really got fed up with all of the bugs I ran into and none of them being recognized each time I reported them. Others have reported the same issues that I've had. In searching through the descriptions of the different key replication programs on here, the best description appears to be Keyclone. Why? Because at first glance, you think that a product with good support is a good way to go. I'm here to tell you, that's a wrong assumption. Below are my findings in using Keyclone versus now using Octopus:

1. Keyclone occassionally has runaways. This can occur at any time and cause your character(s) to die as a result.

2. Keyclone has a key registration server that can be down sometimes. What if the company goes out of business and shuts it down? All those copies sold no longer work.

3. Keyclone sometimes causes your focus of your application to change from your game. This can occur with full screen or windowed. I've seen it several times. Didn't bother reporting that one because I didn't get any acknowledgement that my previous posts were actually bugs. In fact, the support I received was 'are you sure you're not running out of memory?'. I had to post several times my memory configuration. A simple post later after I had provided all of the requested information was 'I'll look into that one, others have reported this problem too, etc.'

4. Keyclone occassionally will lose connectivity between machines and not work. Restarting it fixes it. But when you're in a battleground, this means death because of a lack of a solid product. In 3 weeks, this issue happened maybe about 7 or 8 times. Sometimes it showed 'program not responding' in the title bar. But other times, as others have posted as I have, it wouldn't show that, it would just not work.

After being completely frustrated with Keyclones issues and dying in the battlefield, I looked at the 'Comprehensive list of Software tools' again. When I tried Synergy before, I didn't get it working, but only spent about 5 or 10 minutes. So because I use multiple machines, I looked at Octopus. Downloaded the required software to my machine ( MS.net 3.5 and vc redistributable 2000 ) for my Windows Vista machines and got it set up within about 20 minutes. The entire key to getting it working is that you must run it as Administrator on Windows Vista. If you don't, it won't run, just closes with no message.

Octopus has NONE of the issues listed above. In fact, it has no issues so far that I've run into. And on top of that, it does things that Keyclone doesn't do. A really BIG one is that capitalization works across machines. Keyclone doesn't support capitalization.

So my question is, is it better to have a product that has good product support or a product that requires no product support? And on top of all those issues and support question, Octopus provides the source code! So if you want, you can look at it, recompile it, and be secure knowing there isn't any questionable transmission of data.

If you have any questions about how I came to the conclusions here, I'll be more than happy to provide the results that I've found in working with both of these programs. My posts on dual-boxing.com show the issues I've run into and the responses to them. To be fair, I've not used any mouse logic between either Keyclone or Octopus so I don't know how that compares. All my use of the programs is using the keyboard because that's how I play for the fastest PvP play time.Strange, I have been using keyclone in WoW and EQ2 for about 4 months now and have experience none of the issues you have mentioned. I understand your frustrated but Rob has never been anything but extremely helpful with me and people I have seen. Im sorry you feel otherwise.

Best of luck with your multiboxing =)

[Temor]

As an aside, there is definitely an issue in core-WoW where a following character will seem to lose sync with the main character and break follow on its own. I have dual-boxed for a long time with no software help, literally just following and hitting keys on both computers and this happens to me every once in a while. Its likely a lag issue and a packet gets dropped that causes follow to stop without the character getting a "stop moving" command back from the server.

With all due respect, that's not what happened when I used Keyclone. What happened was even if I just pressed Left Arrow which is in the 'do-not-pass' list, Keyclone passed it to all of the clones. How would I know this? Because all of them turned to the left and spun around and around until I pressed the left key again.

The author of Keyclone even posted and said that WoW did it. With all due respect guys, think please. That's ridiculous. WoW doesn't know about other wow games on the network. It's not programmed to know that. It doesn't send keystrokes between WoW machines. The problem is not just that the characters moving. The problem is that Keyclone sometimes sends characters to other clients from the main computer when it isn't supposed to. Even after all of this description and explanation, people are trying to defend software that in my opinion doesn't work as it should. I feel I owe the community that information. You can either accept it or reject it. Your choice. With multiple machines, Keyclone is not the software to use for multiboxxing until the issues listed are fixxed. Others have posted the problems also, not just me.

[Temor]

Less hostility :) I <3 you all~

QFT.

would you rather set up Octopus on your own and, since you have source code, be your own product support? Or would you like a code-free run-and-go fully supported product like Keyclone? The OP has the right to his opinion as does those who are happily using Keyclone. Just try to be less confrontational when discussing what you like/don't like (that means everyone in this thread).

These boards are not a multiboxer software resource competition. We're SHARING information, and the first part to SHARING implies SOCIAL SKILLS. Try to be nice, people.

If you want to share what you like about Octopus, make a share what you like about Octopus thread.
If you want to share some repro steps for bugs in Keyclone, either PM Keyclone directly or start a Keyclone bug thread.

These two pieces of software are pretty different by nature -- one being open source and the other being a dev-supported purchaseable product. If you'd like to contribute to the knowledge base, I'm all for it. Just be nice when you do it.
To answer your first question since you asked, I'd rather have a product that doesn't require product support. Which is what I have now and am very happy with it.

The question about open source versus non-open source, that point in my original message thread is just another addition. It's not the full point of the software. It's a bonus to it. Not a necessity. The necessity is that the software works and in my view one of the products mentioned in this message thread worked, one of them didn't. That's the information sharing that I am providing to the community. Whether you view it as nice or not, that's your choice.