Advantages: Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution
Disadvantages: No manual overide or audio support

...stops autoscanning and lets you use the currently selected PC. The Belkin claims support for scrolling mice but I did find sometimes one PC would start up without recognising this facility if it wasn't the currently selected one when booting up and in extreme cases, wouldn't recognise the keyboard and mouse at all. Previous KVM's I've used send the PC fake 'There's a keyboard and mouse here' messages when not selected and it seems this unit does not, which is a pity. Conclusion The Belkin 2 port KVM is a well built unit that works nicely and provides a great way to save desk space and the cost of a second monitor, keyboard and mouse. The long leads are useful and despite the niggles with scrolling mice and the lack of manual switch. I'd say this unit is worth considering at this price if you can live with those shortcomings... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution, audio support
Disadvantages: No manual overide

...of leads in to each PC. The F1DL102P has PS/2 leads for the keyboard and mouse but a USB version is also available. The audio support is limited to a single stereo jack and microphone input but given the market this is aimed at, I can't really see the lack of multi-channel audio support to be a problem. The monitor, keyboard and mouse are then connected to the KVM to complete the set up. One bugbear is that like the vast majority of KVMs, this Belkin unit has cables going in one end and out the other making it difficult to place on a desktop without having cables hanging out everywhere. However, there is no reason why you can't just tuck it out the way out of sight as it has no parts you'd normally need to access. The leads were of a generous length allowing some room to manoeuvre on PC placement. Features As noted, the Belkin supports... Read review

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Advantages: Build quality, flexibility
Disadvantages: Too few USB ports, a bit pricy

...to switch from one machine to another. ################### ## In the Box ################### The CS1774 is a small but pleasingly heavy device that support up to 4 different computers. As well as the basic KVM function, it also includes a 2 port USB hub, stereo out and microphone in and an Ethernet hub that accepts both 10 and 100Mbps links. The kit includes a full compliment of leads for 4 PCs, a firmware upgrade cable, external PSU and full printed manuals along with a quick start guide. The build quality is excellent with quality connectors and a solid metal case. The CS1774 is well designed with all the leads connecting at the rear except for two USB ports making it easy to keep everything nicely tided away. It is also designed to stack with similar units if desired. The keyboard and mouse connectors are USB although an adaptor... Read review

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Advantages: A Second Computer (just!)
Disadvantages: Whoa! Which computer am I on!

...Why I bought one? I inherited an old Duron 800 from my daughter who is a teacher - she kept the monitor and the speakers and the mouse (I bought for Christmas!) and the strange keyboard that bends in 2. But it's a worker and I couldn't bear to see it go to waste. I saw this strange article in one of the PC Weeklies about KVM's and I thought, that will never work! but it sat at the back of my mind until the Duron turned up. KVM stands for Keyboard, Video, Mouse. The purpose of a KVM unit is to connect a single keyboard, monitor and mouse to a certain number of computers. The Switch2 just connects 2 computers to one keyboard, monitor and mouse. I believe they can be had for any number (16?) computers. How confusing can this be? (Oh and they are seriously expensive.) This version connects PS/2 connectors and the D shaped older VGA... Read review

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