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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...keyboard, monitor and mouse, then at £50 this is a good budget option. It's not the most ergonomic solution and, thanks to the location of the sockets and thickness of the cables, it will undoubtedly take up more desk space than you expect and leave you with a bit of a rats-nest of wiring. The other thing to watch out for is that it doesn't support the newer USB and DVI standards, nor does it switch audio. But taking it for what it is - a low-priced PS/2 KVM switch for Small Office / Home Office use it does a r