Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch With Built-In Cabling

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

...has USB connections for the keyboard and mouse although Belkin do a range of KVM's so you can probably find a PS/2 equivelent if you have that sort of mouse/keyboard. The PS/2 models also include PS/2->USB adaptors so you'll also need those if you have a USB mouse and PS/2 keyboard. This particular model has no support for audio so if you need to also have your microphone and speakers switch from PC to PC, look elsewhere. 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...

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

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

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

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

USB KVM that works best with PS/2 machines.

Advantages: Take 3 monitors, keyboards and mice off your desktop.
Disadvantages: Not recommended for newer (all USB) devices.

...Overall a frustrating experience with some machines and as a result cannot recommend this device, particularly when using newer machines. I have a number of these devices and all exhibit the same problem, which suggests a common fault, in that some newer Dell machines do not seem to synchronise with this device when switched to. Ironically, older machines (Dell GX150/260/270/280) work with this device without any problems, even though they are intended to have a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. Newer machines, such as the GX620 and 745, which are all USB machines (no PS/2) have problems synchronising when switched to. There is no response from the keyboard and mouse on screen, although the keypresses to switch to another port on the KVM seem to work, yet if a USB keyboard and mouse are plugged in to the machine in question then...

dvdlcs 29.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of LINDY CPU Switch Lite - KVM switch - 4 ports

Prretty good, but confusing?

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...

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

Neat Netgear 5 port gigabit switch

Advantages: Cheap, reliable, simple to use
Disadvantages: None.

...I liked this switch so much, I bought two of them. Netgear have a reputation for cheap and reliable networking equipment, and this 5 port unmanaged switch is no exception. When I bought my two, they were retailing online for approx £35 each - but these days you should be able to get one for approx £25 (inc VAT.) The switch is more or less the size of my hand (yes, I have big hands). With 5 ports on the back - all are auto-sensing, as is the gigabit standard, so you don't have to worry about crossover cables if you're daisy-chaining switches... The only other port on the back is for power, which is the usual "wall-wart" plug in transformer you get with most home networking equipment. Given the switch is unmanaged, you can just plug desktop computers, laptops, XBOXes, network printers straight into the switch, and not worry...

sjhill 20.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of NETGEAR GS605 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch - switch - 5 ports

Port Ahoy! Cracking Belkin USB Hub

Advantages: great design, vertical ports for regular items such as memory sticks, led display
Disadvantages: maybe a bit expensive but comparrison but it is quality

...I bought this hub as an impulse purchase but based my decision on: (a) you can never have enough usb ports (b) belkin are a respected manufacturer (c) I liked the design It cost me £12 when I bought it but I think that was the stores mistake as I have seen it advertised at between £19 and £24. Even at that price though this is a good piece of kit. Bearing in mind you can get USB 2 hubs for about half the piece of this one made by companies you may have never heard of, the design and features on this device make it a very attractive and useful addition to your desktop. It has seven USB ports; five on the back and two placed nattily and very usefully on the top. The top ones are what make this great in my view. They are ideal for things you want to plug in and take out on a regular and irregular basis. I use them for usb...

fightgear 17.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7-Port Hub - hub - 7 ports

Netgear GS105 5 Port Gigabit Switch

Advantages: Easy installation, small, sturdy, quiet, auto uplink
Disadvantages: Runs quite hot

...This is a 10/100/1000Mbps switch with 5 auto-sensing ports Visual Description A compact unit measuring 16cm x 10cm x 3cm (approx) Housed in a very sturdy blue metal casing with venting slots on the side and back Looks very professional 5 Front mounted UTP sockets Rear mounted PSU socket (12 Volt, 1.2 Amp, Centre Positive) and Earth tag LED indicators to display 10Mb, 100Mb, 1000Mb connection, Activity, Full Duplex, Collisions and Power Installation The GS105 switch comes supplied with manuals, 12 Volt (1.2Amp) PSU, ethernet cable, and the unit itself. Installation is very simple and requires no configuration as this is an un-managed switch. Simply connect your existing CAT5 cables from your PC to the switch, it will detect the connection speed and cable type. No need to worry about using cross-over cables or straight through...

sj19uk 11.09.2005 (04.12.2005) · Read review
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Review of NETGEAR ProSafe GS105 - switch - 5 ports

Techie Toys

Advantages: Remote access even when rebooting
Disadvantages: Can't power down/up, terrible quality of image at times

...to a network port or switch and allows it to communicate with the rest of the network. Knew I had forgotten something! What can you do with it? ************************** Imagine you have a number of servers (Up to 16 in this case) and you need to keep an eye on them. You have three options 1) Put a monitor, keyboard and mouse on each?. that would be A) expensive and B) it would take up a huge amount of room. 2) Use one monitor, keyboard and mouse and each time you need to look at another server swap the cables over. 3) Use a KVM. Like this. Which seems easier? Aside from this you can also connect to said 16 PCs/Servers from a remote server which has the correct software installed (Called DSView). This allows you to remote the server as if you were sitting at the machine. I know?. How lazy can you be? Well, in my...

Calldean 13.06.2005 (14.06.2005) · Read review
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Review of Avocent DSR 2010 - KVM switch - 16 ports