2 Port Dvi + USB KVM Switch with Audio
From STARTECH.COM
This 2-Port DVI+USB KVM Switch (with Audio and USB 2.0 Hub) allows you to control 2 USB-enabled multimedia computers with DVI video interfaces, using only one USB keyboard, mouse, monitor and a set of speakers and microphone. A cost-effective and versatile KVM solution, the DVI+USB KVM switch features an integrated, 2-port USB 2.0 hub that lets selected computers access shared high speed USB devices, eliminating the cost of duplicate USB peripheral purchases.The DVI KVM switch supports audio and microphone switching functions and allows you to select connected computers, USB device hub ports and audio/mic channels either simultaneously or independently, using either front-panel push-buttons or keyboard hotkeys.Ensuring high quality video capability, the DVI KVM switch supports display resolutions of up to 1920 x 1200, and offers genuine digital signal transmission over the cable, reducing the distortion that's common from conventional analog/digital conversion.
- Brand: StarTech
- Model: SV231UADVI
- Platform: Windows
- Format: CD
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: 10.00" h x 11.50" w x 3.25" l, 3.00 pounds
Good switch, poor MacOS support
I needed a KVM switch to drive a MacOS tower machine and a work-provided Windows laptop, both hooked up to a 24" widescreen monitor and a Mac keyboard and mouse. The good news is that this switch supports the basics of this setup just fine -- the 24" widescreen is supported at its full resolution (despite what the box says) and switching between the two is instantaneous, without any of the delays in USB responsiveness that you'll read about on other KVM switch reviews. It also doesn't need the provided power cable unless you want to use the built-in 2-port USB hub -- a fact that is not made entirely clear in the manual.
Unfortunately, the switch really doesn't like playing with the Mac. The DVD drive will eject on boot every time, the numeric keypad goes to numlock automatically and won't shut off, the volume, mute, and eject keys don't work any more (though F12 works fine to open or close the DVD drive), and putting the computer to sleep seems to take multiple tries. There are also times when the Mac will simply wake up without any input, sometimes immediately after putting it to sleep and sometimes after some unknown period of time.
So, if you have an all-PC setup, this switch will probably be just fine. If you need to hook up a Mac, though, then you'll probably need to keep looking, which is why I only rated the switch with 3 stars.
UPDATE: I upgraded my desktop Mac with a new Mac Pro. Using the provided Apple USB 2.0 keyboard, many of the problems described above have vanished (DVD drive ejecting, the numlock problem, and the sleep problems). The only remaining issue is the loss of media key support and the dedicated eject key, but that's relatively minor compared to the rest, and makes it a better (but still not perfect) choice for Mac users.
Great switch; not the prettiest, but well worth the money.
I shopped for quite a while (as in months) before purchasing this gem. Before this, I purchased--and then returned--2 of the Belkin products. I use this beauty with XP and Vista, and it works perfectly. It probably helps that there is no hot-key support, so there is no software to install. Some people don't like this, but I prefer it: the software written for other KVMs I've used has always been poorly written (i.e. buggy); also, I'm a hot-key person, so the most common combinations are already taken on my machines by software I use to actually do my job. As this review's title indicates, this switch isn't the prettiest thing on the market. Some might even say it's a little homely. If you want pretty, go with one of the Belkin products. I like this switch, however, because it uses DVI ports--to fit my LCD monitors; it includes audio jacks, so my laptop gets to use the big-boy speakers when I'm at home; and it supports my wireless, USB keyboard and mouse.
Very slick set up
Been using this little gem for just over a month now and it fits my needs perfictly. It is working well with my 7000 Microsoft Natural wireless USB keyboard. I have been transferring files between one system to another quickly with out networking the two computers by a thumb drive in one of the extra USB ports on the switch. Be sure to get two of the KVM cables. They do clean up the typical cable mess very nicely.
