This Switch provides an affordable KVM solution that saves workspace while giving you control of two USB computers from one console. Its compact design-with 8-foot, built-in cabling-saves you time on installation, space on your desktop, and money you don't have to spend on cables and peripherals. The Switch includes such features as audio and mic support, a manual port selector and software that makes switching ports easy. The unit supports high-quality video resolution of up to 2048x1536 through built-in, Belkin coaxial VGA cabling.
Advantages - Offers a complete compact solution with audio support and built-in cables
- Includes switching software (for Windows® OS only)
- Features a manual port selector
- Supports multiple operating systems
- Supports video resolutions up to 2048x1536
- Requires no power supply
- Features LED indicators
- Installs easily
- Requires no additional cables
1 Didn't detect my keyboard - no use
I tried to use this switch with two Windows machines, one ME and one XP. I just needed the keyboard & mouse switch, as the display took care of itself (one machine had VGA and the other DVI). I had a Dell keyboard and a Logitech mouse. The mouse worked fine right away, but not the keyboard. Basically, both machines said that they're detecting "an unknown USB device" and there was no way to use the keyboard thru the switch, with any of them.
I e-mailed Belkin and their response was as follows:
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KVMs will work best when there is a standard PS/2 or USB mouse and keyboard attached to the console. Ensure that a standard keyboard and mouse is attached to the console (not a Logitech, multimedia or wireless type) and that Standard drivers or HID drivers are in use at the workstations. Reseat all connections again and swap ports if necessary.
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So, a logitech mouse is not "standard" enough for them? Or a 3-year Dell keyboard? And where on the box does it say that this product only works with some, unspecified devices?!
BTW, I also noticed that the switch itself is "sticky" -- it took several seconds of nervous clicking before it moved from one computer to the other.
But anyway, I'm returning this useless gizmo to the store. A waste of time.
2 Horrible, horrible product
I use this switch with a Windows XP machine and a G5 Power Mac running OS X 10.3.8. I chose not to install the software that would enable hotkey switching since the included software is Windows-only. The only way you can switch from a Mac with this switch is by using the manual button on the switch. So I can't speak to any software issues -- all I'm trying to do is plug the thing in and try to press the button to switch from one computer to the other.
The product behaves erratically, switching between computers at random while I'm working. Most of the time, the button does not respond or will switch from computer 1 to computer 2 but immediately switch back. It is completely useless. It looks nice and it would be great if it performed as advertised, but it has not worked at all for me.
3 Works Great! No problems!
I've used this KVM switch to connect a desktop PC and a MAC powerbook. It worked great for both. Having the speakers and mic is a great feature that I did not find in other KVMs. I have not had any problems.
4 seemingly incompatible with *nix
I purchased this product because of favorable past experience with Belkin - a name I usually associate with quality and reliability. With this particular device my trust was grossly misplaced. (Note that my review is based on the second unit - the first had to be RMA'ed because it started to switch between the two machines every few seconds).
The built in cables and the audio (with microphone!) support are nice - the concept is solid, but unfortunately it just doesn't work: on the second machine I attempted Knoppix (Live), SuSE (Live) and Mandrake Linux. With all three the kvm would not maintain focus on the linux machine and would switch back to the other device. Fedora (core 3) would lose focus after about 20 seconds throughout the install but once I actually logged into the GUI (I had to type quickly) it would hold. Until I ran the update utility at which point it would not hold focus on the logon screen for longer than a second or two, making logon impossible.
Slackware 10 was the only version of linux I tested that would hold the focus as one should expect, never losing focus at any point of installation or use - but if I switched to the other box and back while Slackware was out of the GUI then the keyboard/mouse would never be detected.
Both boxes were slow to redetect the device after regaining focus - the XP machine would take several seconds to have keyboard and mouse redetect and activate.
Messages to Belkin's tech support and customer service (asking for a refund) have been ignored.
I speculate that if both boxes were running some flavor of Windows (or Slackware) the device would function as expected and reasonably well (except for the delay in redetection) so in those environments the device may be usable. But the device I purchased from another manufacturer works flawlessly and is much faster on the detection when I jump to the other box and works with every flavor of *nix that I tested.
In the end I wish had not wasted the money on this device - and Belkin's silence will make me think twice before trusting them again.
5 Not up to Belkin standards
OK, I own many Belkin products. Up until now, they have not let me down. I would recommend just about anything made by Belkin. Anything but a KVM switch, that is.
Does it work? Yes, but it has some MAJOR drawbacks:
1) Not compatible with all USB keyboards
2) Locks up occasionally, requiring you to disconnect it from all computers
3) Periodically switches your monitor off (standby) for no apparent reason
4) Causes degradation of video signal
For one, the only way you will know is to try it with your USB keyboard. But at about fifty bucks a pop for this KVM, that's an expensive experiment.
For two, this is supposed to be a KVM switch. If you need to disconnect it and reconnect it periodically, what's the point of even having a KVM switch?
For three . . . don't know what to say on this one except that it's very annoying.
Also, the picture displayed on my NEC LCD1760V 17" LCD monitor is distorted when using this KVM. It's not terribly distorted (so I know all the hardware is working AS DESIGNED), but it is noticeably distorted. Basically, if you pass video through this Belkin KVM switch, the video is darker and blurry. Bright white colors take on a slightly gray tinge and text is harder to read than it should be. It's almost like this KVM causes your monitor to lose some contrast. Yes, all cables are properly and FIRMLY connected. This isn't a hardware problem or a connection problem, it is a design problem. I suspect the cables used on this KVM are inferior quality, which is possibly what is causing the video degradation.
I think this one is a waste of money. Normally, Belkin makes great products, so I was REALLY disappointed with this KVM.
6 Avoid, avoid, avoid!
I don't think the other person who reviewed this model was talking about the right model. This one doesn't have auxiliary USB ports (just 2 for keyboard and mouse), nor does it require an AC adapter. That notwithstanding, I have almost nothing good to say about this switch.
1) Design: This is set up so that the input connectors go in one side, and the output cables go out the opposite side. Most USB switches have all the input and output on one side or two adjacent sides to decrease the obtrusiveness of the switch on your desk. Not this one. The design wizards who put this one together made sure it would be as awkward as possible. Because there are cables pulling from opposite ends, the switch stands up on its side and I have to yank it down every time I want to push the button. Which may be a contributing factor in problem #2.
2) Doesn't seem to have keyboard/mouse emulation. Every time I have to reboot one of the 2 computers connected to this switch, the switch will no longer "stick" on that computer. It will switch over for about 4 seconds, the mouse and keyboard never activate, and then it switches back to the other computer. It may just be that one of the 2 output cables is defective. At any rate, the only fix I've found is to switch the output cables between the 2 computers. Then they'll both work until I reboot one of them again. That sort of defeats the purpose of having a switch. If I wanted to switch peripherals every time I rebooted, I would have just kept doing that instead of wasting money on this junk.
The one thing I do like about this switch is that you can plug your speakers into the switch and use the audio on both computers. However, there are other brands of USB switches that have that feature...and I'll be out shopping for one today
I only gave this one star because zero is not an option.
7 finally got it to work
I finally got this KVM switch to work -- but it has some serious design flaws:
1. the KVM's compact design doesn't accomodate cords easily. The DVI cable from my monitor was a little larger than the design of the switch so it had to be scrunched -- scary -- into place. What's worse the supplied power adaptor cable COVERs one of the auxiliary USB ports -- so you end up with just a single functional auxiliary USB.
2. You still have the two USB ports for the shared mouse and keyboard. But guess what, the keyboard USB port only works with SOME USB keyboards. My Kinesis keyboard failed to work with the switch, which beeps endlessly until you plug a "proper" keyboard into it. Tech support told me that the switch doesn't work with all keyboards including the new USB keyboard supplied with the G5 Mac computer. The only solution I found was to plug another USB keyboard I had into the keyboard port, and then plug my kinesis keyboard into the remaining auxiliary USB port. Now I have NO auxiliary USB ports.
3. Belkin also sells DVI cables with USB and audio cables for this product. But the DVI cable doesn't match the DVI port on one of my computers -- tech support said there's a lot of different DVI connectors. In fact I was told that the switch wouldn't work with my DVI connector, so I was out of luck. Fortunately, I didn't believe him, so I just bought another DVI cable -- and it worked
Once I had it working -- it did what it promised. Switched keyboard, mouse and audio between two computers -- but not after a lot of work, inconvenience (I have this extra keyboard that has to always remain plugged in) and extra cash for new DVI cable
