Iogear 2 PORT COMPACT USB KVM SWITCH ( GCS632U )

Rating:
Summary: Full Mac Support--NOT
Review: Possibly a fine product unless you have a new Mac system with a 23 inch monitor. According to Iogear they don't support anything larger than 22 inches. Had someone posted this little tidbit before I ordered it (from MacMall, not amazon) I'd have spent a lot less time on hold.

Rating:
Summary: Works with Linux and USB mouse with scroll wheel
Review: The printed manual mentions only PC, Mac and Sun compatibility. This device works perfectly with Fedora Core 2 which runs the Linux 2.6.8 kernel. I bought this item because my Belkin KVM PS/2 switch has problems with Linux and mice with scroll wheel. Do a Google search for "KVM erratic mouse". (...).

This switch has 2 USB ports, one for the mouse and one for the keyboard. You cannot flip the two. My USB keyboard has a builtin USB hub with 2 extra USB ports. The hub does not work through this switch. Other reviewers have mentioned the problem with the audio. I have not used used it. In summary, this device does everything that I want it to do, so I give it 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Works ok, but audio is unusable
Review: The unit seems to work as advertised, except for the audio. I bought one and couldn't get anything but very underpowered and very tinny audio to come out of my speakers. The speakers worked fine plugged directly into a computer. I spoke with tech support and they said it must be a defective unit. I returned to the store and exchanged it for a new one and have the same exact results. Based on other reviews here I'm of the opinion that this thing cannot pass thru a quality audio signal. I sent another note to tech support asking for the audio specs. If I get them I'll update this review.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad for the price
Review: This switch does a good job, easy to toggle back and forth between my Mac and Windows PC by tapping Scroll Lock twice. Devices worked perfectly from the start. However, the main reason I chose this switch over the others was the audio. Unfortunately, the audio becomes VERY, VERY tinny when sent through the switch. If you're into good sound, and I mean not awful sound, don't go with this switch..otherwise, it is A+.

Rating:
Summary: Failed right out of the box
Review: Unit Failure:
I tried everything, and I could only get one of the two USB ports to function. Tried mouse, keyboard, flash card reader... everything worked on side one; nothing on side two. Strange thing is that they all got power -- the mouse lit up, the flash card reader lit up -- but weren't recognized. Attempted on second workstation with same results. Not sure if this is a defective unit or just bad design.

Design Flaw:
The only way to switch between computers is a keyboard "hot key" combination. However, I COULD NOT GET ANY COMBINATION TO WORK. I tried everything in the book, and nothing would switch computers. I could type fine; the unit simply refused to recognize any attempt to switch. I have no idea if this is an issue with my keyboard or the switch.

Functional Quirks:
Even with the side that worked, I noticed irregularities. When I first plugged-in my mouse, my PC didn't see any changes. Even after a restart, nothing. On a whim, I unplugged the mouse from the switch and inserted into Computer, which the PC immediately recognized. I then unplugged/plugged into switch, and the PC recognized it this time with the switch. Same behavior with the keyboard. Experience was not consistent, i.e. I restarted several times afterward and it seemed to be ok.

Summary:
1. Due to the design flaw (keyboard switching), I was not able to successfully switch between computers; and, thus, could not confirm the unit would switch between PC and Mac.
2. Due to the product flaw (bad switch), I was simultaneously able to use a keyboard or a mouse, but not both at the same time.
3. Due to the irregularities of the one working USB port, I do not have sufficient faith in this unit to exchange for another one. The last thing I want is to spend two weeks getting a replacement only to have plug the mouse in and out of the PC periodically to get it to work.

Recommendation:
I do not recommend this unit or this vendor under any circumstances. Find a unit with a hard button switch to prevent any keyboard "hot key" incompatibility. You obviously get what you pay for. If any one has any suggestions, feel free to email me at [e-mail]

Computer 1: Windows XP Professional
Computer 2: new Mac Mini
Peripherals: Microsoft Natural Keyboard, Microsoft Optical Mouse

Rating:
Summary: Still seraching for a good KVM
Review: Well, I too ignored the advice of others and purchased this unit. Here is the actual problem with it. It only registers the keystrokes if you have both a usb keyboard and a usb mouse. I tried plugging my wireless Microsoft keyboard into the keyboard side, and keyboard would work maybe for 4=5 seconds, lose connectivity, then reconnect. I would then plug it into the mouse side and everything was great (provided you didn't want to switch between computers). I am returning this unit, and still hunting for one that works with a wireless keyboard/mouse and supports USB.

Rating:
Summary: Very nice with a few quirks
Review: When it works, this unit is great. However, it can be a little 'picky' about which keyboards and mice it likes... I ended up using a Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro and a Kensington Optical Elite mouse; a Logitech keyboard didn't want to work, for some odd reason.

I also had to return the first one to the store because it tended to stop working intermittently. Interestingly, that one DIDN'T like the Microsoft keyboard, but DID like the Logitech! Very strange.

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Some possibly interesting technical musings:

The 'extra' buttons on the keyboard and mouse do work as they're supposed to. As far as I can tell, when a given PC is UNelected, the KVM creates a 'phantom' keyboard and mouse -- with generic capabilities -- so that PCs will boot without incident, but as soon as the PC is selected, the 'phantoms' are disconnected and your real hardware is re-connected in its place. I think this is why you see people claiming that the KVM doesn't supported the extra buttons -- somehow the drivers only sees the 'phantom' keyboard and mouse, and doesn't 'connect' with the real hardware when it does become available. In my opinion, this is really a software design or configuratoin problem, although it's true that -- in theory -- hardware could 'fix' it. Unfortunately, on the 'net you can find a message where IOGear says hardware manufacturers have prohibited them from keeping a cached copy of the mouse/keyboard USB descriptors around so that they could use those as the 'phantom' devices rather than the generic device descriptors they do use -- hence they've been legally prevented from implementing the hardware solution. :-(

Since it doesn't have an external power supply, the KVM seems a little susceptible to the exact voltage put out by your PC's USB ports. I wouldn't be at all surprised that if the USB ports are within spec (for their output voltage) but at the very low end of the allowable range, you could take a handful of GCS632U's and only _some_ of them would work. The 'power sharing' design seems a little marginal to me.


Rating:
Summary: Dishonesty
Review: With IOGEAR MiniView Micro KVM switches such as GCS632U and GCS52U, you will lose function of the extra keys or buttons on your mouse and keyboard. And yet, you will have to try one to find out.