Rating: Summary: Swich works great Review: I have a PowerBook and on old Mac G3. I use the laptop for work and the G3 is a family computer. Becasue I have limited space, I wanted to use the G3's monitor and keyboard for the laptop when I have extended or complicated tasks to do. The switch works great and allows me to use monitor spanning and an extended keyboard when I am working on large Excel spreadsheets or on PowerPoint presentations. Yet a simple push of a button allows the rest of the family to use the G3.I prefer mechanical switching betweeen computers to a screen/keyboard based switch, because the former works with lots of different systems -- not just Windows. Although the instructions were not clear on this, the switch comes with 2 cables, each of which includes a monitor cable and an USB cable. Therefore, you shouldn't have to buy any cables other than those that you already have connecting the monitor and the keyboard to your main computer. The 6 foot cables are heavy, which probably reduces signal loss but makes them a little awkward in my confined space. The switch is small but heavy, suggesting that it is probably well made. Hooking up the switch is so simple that no directions are needed. That's good because the instructions were not clear and seemed written for a different switch. All in all, a product that does what is is supposed to.
Rating: Summary: Swich works great Review: I have a PowerBook and on old Mac G3. I use the laptop for work and the G3 is a family computer. Becasue I have limited space, I wanted to use the G3's monitor and keyboard for the laptop when I have extended or complicated tasks to do. The switch works great and allows me to use monitor spanning and an extended keyboard when I am working on large Excel spreadsheets or on PowerPoint presentations. Yet a simple push of a button allows the rest of the family to use the G3. I prefer mechanical switching betweeen computers to a screen/keyboard based switch, because the former works with lots of different systems -- not just Windows. Although the instructions were not clear on this, the switch comes with 2 cables, each of which includes a monitor cable and an USB cable. Therefore, you shouldn't have to buy any cables other than those that you already have connecting the monitor and the keyboard to your main computer. The 6 foot cables are heavy, which probably reduces signal loss but makes them a little awkward in my confined space. The switch is small but heavy, suggesting that it is probably well made. Hooking up the switch is so simple that no directions are needed. That's good because the instructions were not clear and seemed written for a different switch. All in all, a product that does what is is supposed to.
Rating: Summary: Works very well Review: The switch works very well, even with a wireless mouse. It actually looks a little more stylish than in the product image.
Rating: Summary: Works as advertised! Review: This is a great product. My two computers are an Apple iBook G4 and a Linux workstation running Red Hat 7.3. I use a Logitech Internet keyboard and Logitech mouse. The switching is done on the unit itself, no keyboard switching so place it within reach! All of the keyboard special functions work on my Apple. I have had miserable luck with the iBook and usb hubs, but this kvm switch works great with the iBook. One thing to keep in mind, however, you MUST connect the cables in the following order: power first, then keyboard and mouse, then the computers. Linux was initially unhappy as it wouldn't see the keyboard and mouse because I didn't read the manual!
Rating: Summary: Easy tests to see if this switch will work for you Review: This is an excellent product. But first, my thanks to Miguel Grinberg, who reviewed this product here on Amazon and saved me a lot of trouble. I visited tech support for a number of other KVM switch manufacturers and they all verified the remarks made by Mr. Grinberg. Read his review first!!!!!!! I'm running two different Dell desktop systems with Win XP on this switch. I have a Sony 21" monitor. The results are excellent. TO TEST WHETHER THIS SWITCH WILL WORK FOR YOU - simply disconnect your usb keyboard and mouse from your current systems during various activities and reconnect them and note the results. If you are happy - this is the switch for you. This switch simply connects and disconnects your usb mouse, usb keyboard, and a third device if you choose from one system and switches it to another. Obviously it also switches your video but there are no problematic technical issues in doing that. I've switched 2 times just while writing this review. The switch also comes with two high quality cables which saves you a great deal of money. The beauty of this device is you can test various scenories to your heart's content and know the results long before you place an order.
Rating: Summary: No keybard based switching! Review: This would be a great product, especially for the price, but it does not offer keyboard based switching. Most of these port switchers allow you to press some key combination (like ScrollLock twice) to switch. But, this one only works with the front-panel buttons. This is very inconvienent and a deal killer for me. Be forewarned. If you do not mind having to push a button on a box, it is fine.
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