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Multiple simultaneous users on one Windows computer?
Hello. I am thinking of upgrading our family's two computer systems, which are about 8 years old. To build/buy a decent computer will cost about $500. Could be done a bit cheaper, but then two computers will double the price.
So, I was thinking. Most modern computers have multiple output video cards. Most computers have multiple USB ports. Would it be possible to plug two keyboards, two mice, and two monitors into one computer and have two people using that computer simultaneously? This should work just fine from a hardware perspective. With USB hubs and multiple video cards, maybe 4 or more people could use the same computer simultaneously. I would like to do this on Windows 7.
I come from a UNIX background and this sort of thing is done all the time on UNIX systems, either text mode or graphics mode. The available hardware is very ripe for this type of usage. Its easy to get multiple monitors and multiple keyboard/mouse connected to a computer. Even multiple sound cards. CPUs are powerful and multi-core. Memory is cheap and plentiful. I think this would be a very good use of multi-core CPUs.
I would think this situation is very common. Several people in close proximity to each other would each like to use a computer. Why should they each have their own computer at increased cost, when modern computers and operating systems are so powerful? They could share one computer.
Does anyone know how to configure Windows 7 to do this? Thanks.