XP Home - two computers - ONE monitor, mouse, keyboard ?

M

Mary Fowler Leek

I understand there is a switch that can be purchased that will allow one monitor, mouse and keyboard to operate two separate computers, one at a time.

Has anyone had a positive or negative experience with this switch? I have one computer I dedicate to digital processing. I'd like to use only my best monitor, mouse & keyboard for both systems, rather than have two of everything on my desktop. I'd appreciate hearing comments from those who have used this type of equipment.

I'm using Windows XP home on both computers.

Thank you for your time.

--


~Mary Fowler Leek
mleek at arkwest dot com
mmleek at hotmail dot com
 
G

G. Michael Askew

Yeah, it's usually called a KVM Switch (Keyboard/Video/Mouse).
I don't have any experience with them myself, but I'm looking for one to
play around with a second computer I have sitting doing nothing here.

Only time I've seen one in action was on TV one time (The Screensavers on
TechTV in the USA). Seemed pretty useful for running different machines
alongside each other.
 
L

Leythos

I understand there is a switch that can be purchased that will allow one
monitor, mouse and keyboard to operate two separate computers, one at a
time.

Has anyone had a positive or negative experience with this switch? I
have one computer I dedicate to digital processing. I'd like to use only
my best monitor, mouse & keyboard for both systems, rather than have two
of everything on my desktop. I'd appreciate hearing comments from those
who have used this type of equipment.

I'm using Windows XP home on both computers.

Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...

I run a couple KVM switches - they come in different vendors brands, but
KVM is the most well known. I have 2, 4, and 8 port KVM in my house, they
work great. MicroCenter (in Ohio) sells a couple units that do two
computers using PS2 connectors for mouse/keyboard, and you just double tap
the SCRL-LCK key and then press 1 or 2 for the computer you want to use,
they run about $20.
 
N

Newtechie

Hi guys -

I use one from Belkin and it works well. It allows you to connect 4
computers and use only one monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The thing I don't
like is that it doesn't have an input to use one set of speakers. Other
than that, very convenient and useful!

Newtechie

I understand there is a switch that can be purchased that will allow one
monitor, mouse and keyboard to operate two separate computers, one at a
time.

Has anyone had a positive or negative experience with this switch? I have
one computer I dedicate to digital processing. I'd like to use only my best
monitor, mouse & keyboard for both systems, rather than have two of
everything on my desktop. I'd appreciate hearing comments from those who
have used this type of equipment.

I'm using Windows XP home on both computers.

Thank you for your time.

--


~Mary Fowler Leek
mleek at arkwest dot com
mmleek at hotmail dot com
 
D

DJ Borell

Mary Fowler Leek said:
I understand there is a switch that can be purchased that will allow one
monitor, mouse and keyboard to >operate two separate computers, one at a
time.
Click to expand...

A KVM is a fairly straightforward device that works by redirecting your
single mouse/keyboard input to the currently selected system and the video
output from that system to a single monitor. They come in numerous
configurations from simple 2 port devices that utilize a "hot key" to switch
systems up to multi-port (4-8-16) devices that utilize a physical switch on
the device.

IOGear makes a useful "hot key" device in both 2 and 4 port configurations
that is aimed at the average home user that should work well for you. These
also include a speaker input to redirect your sound. You can get one at any
"Big Box" store (ie, BestBuy, Office Depot, etc.) or online.

If the two systems are networked together, another option you may want to
consider is using remote desktop. More info on that here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/default.mspx
 
Y

Yves Leclerc

Sorry! But I did give you some models. I did not know th price when I
posted them.
 
M

Mary Fowler Leek

My thanks to everyone for taking the time to post these extremely helpful replies.

--


~Mary
mleek at arkwest dot com
mmleek at hotmail dot com


I understand there is a switch that can be purchased that will allow one monitor, mouse and keyboard to operate two separate computers, one at a time.

Has anyone had a positive or negative experience with this switch? I have one computer I dedicate to digital processing. I'd like to use only my best monitor, mouse & keyboard for both systems, rather than have two of everything on my desktop. I'd appreciate hearing comments from those who have used this type of equipment.

I'm using Windows XP home on both computers.

Thank you for your time.

--


~Mary Fowler Leek
mleek at arkwest dot com
mmleek at hotmail dot com
 

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