Continued:

   Another difference between OSX and Windows shows up if you still have a 2^nd monitor connected to a system. Initially I left my 19” CRT monitor hooked up to my Windows machine, just so I could leave chat windows open while I switched between systems. During testing however, I also switched the 19” so it was the secondary monitor on the Mac Pro. Then, whenever I switched from OSX to Windows, the 2^nd monitor would simply go black. I have not been able to find any setting that would prevent this, regardless of what monitor is the main monitor in the preferences (or which port it is plugged into on the Mac) it refused to display anything.  

Setting up

2 systems connected

Nice and compact

A problem that is specific only to Windows. Every time you start up a windows system, you must make sure that the focus of the monitor, is on the machine that is starting up. If Windows loads to the point where it detects the monitor you are using, and the KVM is still on another machine, you will be stuck with 1024X768 for a resolution. Nothing I did would get windows to realize it could use a higher resolution without a restart. Even when I forced the use of a higher resolution using Nvidia’s control panel, the monitor simply displayed only 1024X768 worth of the screen. Under OSX, this is not a problem, and the system will detect the monitor resolution correctly when you finally do switch to it using the KVM.

After speaking with 2 of Aten’s Executives, they explained the reason for both of the issues with OSX, is due to the difference in how Windows and OSX deal with monitors. When Windows starts, it attempts to detect what monitor you are using, and locks itself into the settings it finds. OSX is constantly making sure of the correct settings. And because the 1762 KVM does not continue to inform a system that a monitor is still connected, OSX will try lower and lower settings looking for a correct response. While it is doing that, it will rearrange the desktop, and apparently, disable the 2^nd monitor. I still don’t quite understand why it blanks the 2^nd monitor like it does, and I have a few posts up in some different forums about the issue. I will update this review if I get an answer or a fix.

I ended up receiving two units from Aten, as the first had an additional problem with the USB ports on the back (which are suppose to be standard USB ports with no special functions). Using my Razer Copperhead, I found that I could only plug it into the top port on the back, otherwise windows would be unable to find any drivers for it (no matter how often I pointed it at the correct files, or reinstalled the drivers). It was also dropping the mouse completely when I switched between systems. Every 5^th or 6^th switch, I would have to unplug and reconnect the mouse to get it working. The replacement had none of these issues and functioned flawlessly.

When you plug in a keyboard, if you want to be able to use any of the keyboard shortcuts for switching between systems, you must plug it into the port on the front that is designed for it. No other ports listen for the commands. This is actually a good thing, because if you have a program that conflicts with the shortcut keys (like hitting Ctrl-Ctrl-enter is already bound in some other program, and you don’t have a scroll lock key) then you can just plug a keyboard into a back port.

This brings me to yet another limitation I had. Scroll lock keys seem to be far and few between these days, in fact out of the 4 different keyboards in my house, not a single one had one. The Apple Keyboard I had been using with my PC for almost 2 years (before I even thought about getting a mac) technically has one if you use the drivers under windows, however that would not send the correct signal to the KVM. So the only alternative to switch systems is using the Control key. Not all keyboards work with the KVM shortcuts, even plugged into the right slot. I have 2 Logitech MX5000 wireless keyboards that use Bluetooth, and I found out from Aten that they are aware no Bluetooth keyboard will be able to use the shortcuts. If you have a wireless keyboard that uses RF, it *should* work (according to Aten reps).

Apple = Some shortcuts

Bluetooth = No shortcuts

Basic USB = All Shortcuts

Aten fully agreed that they are going to need to fix the compatibility issue with Bluetooth and other keyboards that do not have a Scroll lock button, as both are becoming much more common. I went out to get a standard layout, wired, USB keyboard to try and get things working, but I could not find one in town. Futureshop, London Drugs, Best Buy (same as Future shop I know, but I tried anyway), and all my local computer shops just looked at me funny when I said what I wanted. If a keyboard was a standard layout, with a scroll lock key and everything else, then it was PS/2. If the keyboard was wired USB, then it was missing a scroll lock key, and probably had a different layout for some of the keys. Same deal on any RF wireless keyboard, which were far outnumbered by the Bluetooth keyboards which I knew wouldn’t work at all. When I went to my main local supplier to order in a wired USB standard layout keyboard, they actually laughed at the request, and even more so when I told them why I needed one. At least when I did get one, it worked without issue.

1.5 out of 3?

Conclusion:       

So, if you have read everything so far, I think you probably have an idea of what I’m going to say for my recommendations. For one thing, OSX/Mac compatibility is just not up to par in my opinion. The time to switch is only a minor annoyance, but having to fix my desktop and windows every time I get back is just infuriating. I also wasn’t expecting to have so many problems with the keyboards I use. The Apple keyboards I have don’t work 100% because they don’t have scroll lock keys, and the Bluetooth wireless keyboards don’t work at all with the shortcuts.

Basically, if you want to use this KVM, you should use it in a setup where you have a basic USB keyboard, with two Windows machines (OSX is the closest thing to Linux I use, so I'm unsure how it would react). For those who have a file server or second machine that isn’t used as often, the Aten 1762 would work great. When used with the simpler setups, the KVM makes life a lot easier and your desk a lot less cluttered. For my uses, it still works, but has enough issues that it keeps reminding me of it's flaws whenever I use it.  

2 systems

Nice and clean

I'm bad at hiding wires

If I can take one really good experience out of this review, it's been my dealing with Aten. Their service was excellent. They knew what they were talking about, answered all my questions, and solved every problem that could be solved. In fact, they spent 30 minutes on the phone with me after the first online agent couldn't solve my problems. If Aten makes a KVM that is more compatible with my Mac Pro, I would not hesitate to pick it up