Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch With Built-In Cabling

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...

ilaskey 21.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch with Built-In Cabling - KVM switch - 2 ports

Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch With Audio Support

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

...It's surprising how many people have more than one PC at home although even more surprising is that many of them each have their own screen, keyboard and mouse. In many cases this makes perfect sense but sometimes, you know you'll only ever use one or the other - perhaps one is your general PC and the other your music workstation. In these situations you can save a lot of space and money by investing in a KVM switch. KVM stands for Keyboard, Video and Mouse and allows you to use one keyboard, mouse and screen shared between two PCs. This particular unit from Belkin is unusual in that it also includes audio support and also comes with all the leads permanently attached instead of being supplied as a separate cabling set. Wiring it Up Installation is simply a matter of taking each of the two main cables and plugging the sets...

ilaskey 26.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch with Audio Support and Built-In Cabling - KVM / audio switch - 2 ports

A room with an OmniView

Advantages: Cheap, Supports PS/2, Doesn't need a Power Supply
Disadvantages: Cable layout, Flimsy Construction

...I'll let you know from the start, this review will be moderately technical and only of any real interest to folk that have multiple PCs in the same room. The reason for this is that the purpose of a KVM switch is to share a single Keyboard, Video Display and Mouse among a number of computers. If you don't have a number of PCs in the same room, you're simply not going to need one of these little beauties. Sadly, I do have a number of PCs in the same room. The investment in terms of initial outlay, desk-space and electricity to run a separate Monitor, keyboard and mouse for each one was not something to relish. I'd used KVM switches at work so I set about looking for one for my home office. PC-World had the answer to my questions. A 4-port KVM switch from Belkin that supports PS/2 keyboard and mouse sharing with VGA video between 4...

LegendaryMrDude 23.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4 Port KVM Switch - KVM switch - 4 ports

At last,a low price KVM switch with a USB platform

Advantages: easdy to use,USB connections,up to 4 pc's
Disadvantages: not pretty,

...,most previous switches used ps2 connectionsfor keyboard and mouse which was a real pain,the move to USB is both obvious and overdue and really puts the switch into the must have bracket for multi users. Im no lover of Belkin products,they often run hot and have poor documentation but the KVM switch is quite simpe to set up and dead easy to use so the manual is not a problem and as a switch it has no real heat problem. Its not a pretty thing,but switches rarely are, they have by definition 'untidy wires' sprouting out of them so they are best hidden away. The Belkin switch makes a good effort to be easy to use via your keyboard and easy to handle as far as cable plug ins go. The second point is a bit unnessary as once its set up u can forget it. Most KVM's handle only two pcs but this one will do up to four(although i havent tried more than...

coppinpr 05.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4-Port USB KVM Switch with Audio - KVM / audio switch - 4 ports

Prretty good, but confusing?

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

...details of all the various models available. www.belkin.co/uk/Switch2 The leads are long enough (just). It worked first-time - how often do you have to fiddle with stuff to get it going. Press the button - toggles between the 2 machines. Good - there is a delay of about 2 seconds when it switches between machines. There is no delay moving the mouse or keying in when the KVM is on line. That's very good. Looks very good! The button has a 2 colour LED that matches the colour on the KVM itself. Also Green and Yellow. This tells you which machine is connected to the Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse. This colour toggles with the button too. The iffy stuff! The first one I bought didn't work - I went back to PC World and after the usual charade they changed it . I now have two sets of computer leads that have snaked themselves about as...

jolmartyn 26.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Belkin Switch2 for PC USB - KVM switch - 2 ports

Too many PC's and Too little Space: A Solution?

Advantages: Allows 4 PCs to share one Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor
Disadvantages: Switching regularly can be a pain. PS2 Only

...In my job I use a lot of PCs. I have 3 main PC's, and a further 7 tied to my desk. I use at least 3 different operating systems, on 4 different models of PC, from 2 different manufacturers. I also like having a large monitor, preferably 19" or 21" minimum. Now how do you get three PC's, three 21" Monitors, three keyboards and three mice onto a desk no bigger than a kitchen breakfast bar? The answer is simple: You don't. What you do is invest in something like this Belkin Omniview E-Series 4-port KVM Switch, which provides the ability to use a single monitor, keyboard and mouse on up to 4 PCs. The Belkin OmniView I have been provided with did not come with connection cables, so make sure that if you are getting one of these, you cost in the price of cables to each of the PCs on your desk. Once I had got the necessary cables...

memorekz 15.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Belkin OmniView E Series 4 Port KVM Switch - KVM switch - 4 ports

Aten Masterview CS1774 KVM Switch

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...

ilaskey 31.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of ATEN Master View Dual-View CS-1744 - KVM / audio / USB switch - 4 ports

Great value

Advantages: Quick and easy to set up
Disadvantages: Video may get interference

...I've had this KVM switch for a number of years now, since my previous one only had two ports. I found this one fairly cheap somewhere. You're supplied with all the VGA and PS2 cables for each of the 4 connections. You can then plug these cables into your computers. The button on the top allows for quick switching. But as well as using the button for switching between computers, you are also able to use keyboard shortcuts. These are pretty common in KVM switches, and belkin manage to do it the same way as everyone else. Great for people that are already used to using a KVM switch. The KVM switch has a useful beep, which can be helpful to understand when a command was received by the switch. The switch also has a port for plugging in power. This helps improve the quality of the picture as there is more power behind it. Most...

webspot 11.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of Belkin OmniView SOHO Series 4 Port KVM Switch - KVM switch - 4 ports

a new version available, avoid this one

Advantages: small, no power supply needed
Disadvantages: very old hat, will not work with all printers,bad instructions

...I bought this item because I wanted to link my printer to a laptop (using a wireless print server) and my desk top (by cable). What was NOT made clear by the supplier (in fact any supplier on the net offering this product as far as I can see) is that this switch is as good as obsolete. Belkin should ,in my view, withdraw this product from there line as they do make a modern version at much the same price. As is often the case with Belkin it will do the job but not fully and after a lot of fiddleing about. Firstly it comes in the usual clear heat sealed package which must be attacked with a knife to gain entry,once your in and open the 'installation booklet' it says in large bold letters 'this item will not work with multi-funtion printers' Would be nice to know that BEFORE you open the packet in this modern day when a large number...

coppinpr 28.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Belkin 2x1 USB Peripheral Switch USB peripheral sharing switch - 2 ports

Two Computers?

Advantages: Easy to set up, and inexpensive
Disadvantages: None so far

...plug your existing monitor, mouse and keyboard. Coming out of the unit are two cables, one longer than the other. Each cable is for one computer, and it terminates in the the usual three colour-coded connectors. So five minutes and the job is done. Switching from one computer to the other is done from the keyboard, by pressing Ctrl (twice), then 1 or 2. Or there are other possibilities that I haven't explored. As the unit has been around for some time, there are quite a number of reviews on the net, and some say that the use of the Ctrl key causes problems if you also use it for copy and paste. I have tried but have failed to find any difficulties in this area. I plan to use the slower PC for word-processing only, or maybe I'll use it to experiment with Linux ....

robert1 12.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of NEWLink NLKVM-P2PC 2 Port Micro KVM with attached cables - KVM switch - 2 ports