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Introduction Nowadays, it is not uncommon for many of us to have more than one computer, or even more than two. As we constantly upgrade our main PC, older components that still work great are used to form another PC, and soon new systems are born. If you're like me, this constantly happens, as I never throw anything out, unless I know for a fact it doesn't work. And even then, I may still keep it! However, while parts like motherboards and CPUs are upgraded on a relatively quick basis, it is rare that we buy new monitors or keyboards as long as our current peripherals are working. So, we quickly run into the problem of having more systems than can be controlled by our input peripherals. True, there are programs that will allow remote control of a computer over the network, but these programs cannot offer the same degree of control as offered by a KVM switch. A KVM switch will allow you to use one keyboard, one mouse and one monitor with many computers, depending on how many "ports" the KVM has. The advantages of a KVM go beyond saving money on an extra mouse, keyboard and monitor. Having three sets of keyboards and mice would be confusing and weird, and would surely take up too much space. That's why large banks of servers are inevitably controlled by KVMs. However, these KVMs can get expensive, and not many a home user would want to invest such a large sum of money in one, and that is why companies have begun to make SOHO KVMs designed for 2-4 computers. Today, we have a KVM from Belkin that is not only SOHO-oriented, but offers only USB-support in addition to speaker and microphone switching. How does it work? Specifications Unlike the Belkin KVM I reviewed last year, this KVM is USB-only. This means you must make sure all of the computers you want to attach to this KVM properly support USB, which shouldn't matter with most people. Your keyboard and mouse must also be USB-compatible.
The look of this KVM is pretty much identical to the one reviewed before. The case is a dark grey with silver highlights and should look well on any desk, should you choose to put it there. The look of this KVM is certainly untraditional, and you may have many people asking you what exactly "that thing" is. The KVM comes with a quick installation guide, and a manual. The KVM is said to be flash-upgradeable, and a parallel-port cable is included to connect your computer to the KVM for flashing, however, little information is provided in the manual about the procedure. I had to go to Belkin's website in order to obtain any pertinent information about the procedure.
The back of the KVM is where differences between it and the KVM reviewed earlier begin. There are no PS/2 ports or inputs anywhere, and all of the control is through USB. The console, or the keyboard and mouse you will be using, must support USB, as the KVM does not have PS/2 inputs. Each PC hooks up to the KVM via ONE USB cable, so mouse and keyboard commands are sent over just that one USB cable. That will at least cut down on the number of cables you have to connect, making things a little easier. In the first picture below, you'll notice two USB ports above and slightly to the right of the console VGA connector. These are ports for USB devices, so you could plug a printer or USB headset into one of them and share the device amongst your PCs. The RJ-45 jack connects to the flash-upgrade cable whose other end attaches to the parallel port of your computer.
One thing that I immediately liked about this KVM was the inclusion of an AC adapter to power the unit. In fact, this KVM needs the AC adapter to work. This should ensure better operation of the KVM as it won't have to rely on power drawn from the connected PCs' USB ports to function. I much prefer this design over that of the previous Belkin KVM I reviewed, which did have to rely on the power from the PCs' ports. Looking at the front of the unit, we see a column of four buttons flanked by four LEDs. The buttons allow you to quickly switch between computers, as you just need to press the 1-dot button to switch to PC #1. The LED beside the button of the numbered computer you are controlling will be lit up when you are switched to it. If you choose to put the KVM out of sight, don't worry: You can also switch between computers using keyboard hot-key commands.
The KVM cover snaps on, and then slides into place, and its purpose is to neatly organize all of the cables coming out of the KVM so that they are not in one big mess. The opening at the back is not that big, and I have a feeling that with four computers hooked up you'd have a hard time getting the cover properly into place. Luckily, it's not necessary to have the cover on.
The stand sticks out backward to balance the weight of the cables, which also come out the back. The stand does an okay job of keeping the KVM in place but because it doesn't have any grips on it, it's prone to slippage if the cables coming out of the KVM are bent in a weird way. I wouldn't put the KVM too near the edges of a desk, and instead I'd put it on the ground, and because of its small size and vertical orientation it should be able to fit in lots of places. << Back to Reviews Page | Installation, Testing and Conclusion >>
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