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KVM switch woes -- any recommendations?

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ewemoa:
FWIW, what I'd been using looks like:

  http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=304101

There was one recurring annoyance which I don't recall very clearly, but it wasn't that frequent.  Currently using only one machine so the switch isn't in use.  Overall I did find it convenient to be able to use one set of peripherals to switch among various boxen.

daddydave:
Thanks to all for all the suggestions and insight. Now I have to decide.

MilesAhead:
Thanks to all for all the suggestions and insight. Now I have to decide.
-daddydave (May 04, 2010, 12:11 PM)
--- End quote ---

The only kvma switch I ever bought is the one I'm using now.  It's a Belkin for 2 PCs. It's been very reliable.  The thing is I stay with PS/2 keyboard and mouse and VGA connector for video.  I know, the thing's ancient.. but it's been working for me all this time. I have my speakers plugged into it too. Only real drawback other than hotkeying back and forth is I can't use my PC as a jukebox since the sound will switch when I switch machines. Eventually they'll probably stop making PCs with VGA connectors.  That's one reason I got this HP quad core.  The video card has 3 outputs, one of which is VGA. I'm still using a Gateway VX900 CRT.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  :)

I think I paid $6.95 at Best Buy for this switch.  Got my moneys worth.  The one thing though it did take me awhile to catch on that the "right hand side" was like the master side. If I install a new PC on the left hand side, I have to boot the PC on the right to initialize it first, or the startup won't recognize the keyboard.

3of0:
If you're on the same network and not tied down to a hardware KVM, I might suggest using a software one.  Keyboard and Mouse connected to one machine, and just move the mouse across the side as if it was an additional monitor connected to your pc.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/  Synergy is Cross-Platform and extreamly flexible for setting up how you want your displays, though not many options beyond that.  It is a little confusing at first to setup, but taking a minute to read what it's asking/doing helps a lot.  There have been a few spin-offs like Synergy Plus, which work just as well.  I personally haven't noticed the differences much.  The selling point for me here is Cross-Platform as I've got a linux & windows box side by side.

http://www.inputdirector.com/  Input director is Windows Only.  While it's not Cross-Platform and not quite as flexible as far as setting up monitors (only vertical or horizontal setup), it has a ton more options that make up for them, though you can get lost in them.  The setup is much easier to understand as well.  I used this when I had two desktops next to each other.

I would suggest Input Director if you had only windows machines.  I would suggest Synergy otherwise.

daddydave:
Unfortunately one of the computers I want to connect with it is a work laptop so installing software is probably not an option for me. The powered Iogear one seems to be getting pretty good reviews and it is self-powered so I can see how that one might be a better hardware option than what I had.

Here are some of reviews for it:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=GCS634U&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hl=en&cid=10732862475848291933&os=reviews&ei=6bXgS-2qMIqUwgXz5IW1Dg&sa=X&ved=0CAsQ9AIwADgA

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