KVM switch with USB and DVI support

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » August 8th, 2006, 16:06

Can anyone recommend a good one that maybe they have used? One with DVI, USB (keyboard and mouse) and ideally with audio support as well.

This is all in preperation for my possible purchase of a Mac Mini

Post by **FatherJack** » August 8th, 2006, 16:07

http://www.kvmchoice.co.uk/ ?

In terms of brands, I've found Adder and Aten to be good, Omni and Belkin to be crap.

So, http://www.kvmchoice.co.uk/detail_switch.asp?id=10351

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » August 8th, 2006, 16:19

FatherJack wrote:So, http://www.kvmchoice.co.uk/detail_switch.asp?id=10351

That looks perfect, apart from the price but that's what you have to expect for perfection I guess. Thanks v much.

Now to check if my mouse and keyboard actually work with my current Mac.

Post by **FatherJack** » August 8th, 2006, 16:41

You can save a few quid getting a cheaper one, but I've had ones that have driven me mad. I use them absolutely all day long, so perhaps uncover errors which more casual users might not.

Post by **Dog Pants** » August 9th, 2006, 7:03

FatherJack wrote:Belkin to be crap.

This

harder than hard.

I've gone through five or six of those bastards in a row without finding a serviceable one at work. My Belkin USB hub at home was shite too.

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » August 9th, 2006, 7:17

Yep, we've had lots of problems with Belkin KVM switches here at work.

Post by **fabyak** » August 9th, 2006, 12:05

Dog Pants wrote:
This harder than hard.

I've gone through five or six of those bastards in a row without finding a serviceable one at work. My Belkin USB hub at home was shite too.

^THIS THIS THIS

the USB one I had at work was shite, it now lives in my drawer with the keyboard (the mouse has been swiped to use on a Mac with one of those stupid fucking round things masquerading as mice) and I now have a switchview PS2 KVM with 4 USB expansion slots which is WIN!

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » August 9th, 2006, 12:26

FatherJack wrote:You can save a few quid getting a cheaper one, but I've had ones that have driven me mad. I use them absolutely all day long, so perhaps uncover errors which more casual users might not.

If I got one it would probably be the one you suggested, it's not worth penny pinching and getting shit device.

It's lucky I asked the question because the only one I could find before was a Belkin.

Post by **fabyak** » August 9th, 2006, 15:20

having said that though, ive used several PS2 Belkin ones and they have been aces.

Maybe its just USB things that give machines bad aids

Post by **Dog Pants** » August 9th, 2006, 15:27

fabyak wrote:having said that though, ive used several PS2 Belkin ones and they have been aces.

Maybe its just USB things that give machines bad aids

You've been lucky I'd say. The ones I used (and it was literally half a dozen I tried) were PS2 KVMs. Some just wouldn't switch, others switched just the monitor, some worked ish but the mouse movement was all fucked up. Best we ended up with was using two mice and bypassing the KVM with them, using the KVM for the monitor and keyboard. All were brand new out of the box, so maybe it was just a bad batch. Looked quite nice though.

Post by **fabyak** » August 9th, 2006, 15:51

We had about 3 or 4 of the 4 ports and they worked fine (which was good as they were all on our servers)

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » August 9th, 2006, 16:35

Dog Pants wrote:some worked ish but the mouse movement was all fucked up.

This a good reason to get an expensive KVM if ever I heard one. Bad mouse movement would negate my ub3r 1337 h4xx0r sk1ll1z which would be a very Bad Thing

Post by **fabyak** » August 9th, 2006, 16:56

*scribbles down KVM on his excuses for being crap chart*

Post by **FatherJack** » August 9th, 2006, 17:25

One thing worth noting about Atens is (at least on the 4 port ps2 ones I've used a lot) is that a double-tap of CTRL switches it, which might cause consternation depending on the key config of your games. Most of them have some sort of shortcut keying, though - it's just being aware of what they are and not using them in a game.