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Posted by : Staff Reviewshed: The old switcheroodek: Belkin's OmniView KVM switch.

Do you have two or more computers on your desk, each with its own keyboard, mouse, and monitor fighting you for space? The solution to your problem may be a keyboard/video/ mouse (KVM) switch. With a KVM switch, a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse can serve two or more computers, freeing up lots of desktop space and paying for itself by eliminating the duplication of expensive equipment and the power it draws.

I recently tested a cross-platform KVM switch from Belkin, a major manufacturer of computer peripherals. One of Belkin's OmniView SOHO series, the F1DS104T ($179.95), is a four-port model that directly supports computers with PS/2 and USB input devices, as well as VGA, SVGA, and MultiSync monitors with resolutions up to 2,048-by-1,536 at up to 85Hz. With adapters, the OmniView can support older Macs using the Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), as well as LCD monitors. The OmniView can also switch microphone and stereo speaker connections, eliminating the duplication of these peripherals. The OmniView sits vertically, with a swoopy angled case that directs the cables neatly out the back and projects the switching buttons and indicator lights toward the user. In addition to switching from the front panel, the OmniView supports hot-key switching from the keyboard and has an autoscan mode that cycles between computers every 10 seconds (useful for monitoring servers).

Installation w...

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