USB switch (like KVM)

Tin_10

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Hey guys, I am here to ask a simple question. I have a laptop, and my RIG. My rig is my gaming machine, and my laptop is there for surfing the net, checking email, and [H]arding. However, I want to be able to use only ONE set of mouse and keyboard, both USB, for both of the computers. These computers are already hooked up to a LCD screen, my Hyundai L90D+ with both DVI(which my gaming rig uses) and VGA(which my laptop uses). Id like for it to be USB 2.0 compatible, but also 1.1 compatible. Why? Because my laptop usb ports are 1.1, and my gaming rig is 2.0. So they make a USB switch that makes all this possible. I know what you are thinking, get a KVM~~~I know! But I would rather not have so many cables doing around. Thanks in advance for your help!
 
I use a switched hub who's specs are.....
· Sharing 4 USB 2.0 devices for 2 users
· Fully compatible with USB 2.0 specification
· Switching power adaptor supplied
· Over current protection
· LED status indicators
· PC & MAC compatable
So they are out there....... :p

Look for two USB 2.0 type-B connecters as they are the upstream side of the switch.
From Newegg.

Luck.......:D
 
Are you just asking if they make a switching USB 2.0 KVM, because if so they do
in spades . I use one for my laptop/workstation and it works great. Even my Palm Hot Sync and Dazzle are plugged into it so if I switch PC's, the devices are detected on the other PC.

The only catch I think I'm reading in your post is the DVI. Is that the problem? I don't think they make one with DVI ports.
 
I again, dont need video, I just need something like a kvm, just without the video part
 
Then get the cheaper of the USB 2.0 KVM's and don't use the VGA ports?
 
I'd lean away from USB KVMs... just for the fact is that I have one... :(

Maybe they'll work better for you.. who knows...

I have a DLink USB KVM and the only thing that works correctly is the monitor switching. Of course it switches mouse and keyboard fine, but I loose connectivity with both mouse and keyboard constantly. Not all of my buttons are recognized, like function keys on the keyboard, and extra mouse buttons. Sometimes I have to click repeatedly on an object for it to get selected with the mouse. Sometimes the keyboard will freak out when you're typing and get stuck on a letter....

I RMAed the first one thinking it was faulty, but the second one I got had the EXACT same problems. I tried a different keyboard and mouse to verify it wasn't the ones I normally use, and it still did it.

I have done some research on the web, and find that most of the USB KVM users have problems with them.... maybe not my exact problem, but similar ones. The most common problem is the KVM not recognizing all the extra function keys on keyboards... or not recognizing the extra buttons on a mouse correctly.

Just wanted to give you a heads up...

I'm going to get a USB switch eventually ... (non KVM) to see if that resolves my problem...
 
That's really odd....

USB is natively hot-pluggable. If you unplug a USB device and then plug it back in, it plugs and plays including any of it's "special features" (assuming all of the necessary deivers are installed, of course.)

All a USB KVM does is esentially "unplugs" it from one PC and "plugs" it into another using USB's native hot-plugability.

I'm not saying you didn't have a problem. Maybe the DLink is jusst crap. But there's three of us in the office here and all three of us have the iView USB KVM. We use them all day long and nobody has complained about "losing" devices or functionality.
 
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