BizNet OnLine Magazine, Get Off My Desk......

Get Off My Desk......
If your desk is anything like mine you just want to look at all that stuff and yell out… GET OFF MY DESK!!!!!

Unfortunately some stuff you just can’t get off your desk. Like your Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor. If you work with more the one computer the mess is even bigger. Two Monitors, Mice, Keyboards, etc...

There is an easy and quick way to get that "extra" monitor, Mouse, and Keyboard of your desk. Use a KVM Switch. So what is a KVM switch? It is a Keyboard, Video, Mouse switch. With this type of switch you can control two to hundreds of computers from one Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor.

Now in the world of KVM switches there are two main types. Manual and electronic switching.

A Manual switch costs less and can usually only work on a maximum of three computers. In addition the more you switch the switch, the more likely the switch will start to give you problems. Like a flickering Video. Also with a Manual Switch, when you "Boot up" an attached computer you will have to have the switch set to the computer you are " booting up". Otherwise the computer will not "see" the Keyboard or Mouse. Additionally, on most Win 95 or newer systems with a p/s2 mouse, if you only use one mouse connected through the box, when you switch from one computer to the other you "lose" the mouse. So you really have to use separate mice for each computer, or use computers that take a Serial Mouse.

An Electric switch costs more. It will last a long time unaffected by usage. Most electric switches have "Mouse and Keyboard Emulation" on them. This means that the attached computer thinks the Mouse and Keyboard are always there. So you can boot up an attached computer without regard for how the switch is set. Additionally when switching from one computer to the other you do not lose the Mouse. Note: Some switches cannot be used with a mix of computers that take different Mice. In other words all the computers must take a p/s2 Mouse or a Serial Mouse. So if you need to "mix and match" your Mouse, you need to make sure you get a written guaranty that the box will work. Another nice feature of most electronic switch boxes is that they can be switched from computer to computer by "Keyboard" commands, so not only do you not have to touch the Switch Box, you can even move the box off your desktop.

Around here at BizNet OnLine Magazine, I use a mix of three computers all day long. I get to play with two win 98 systems and my old workhorse of a win 3.1 486. So the three computers are a real mix of p/s2 mice, Serial Mice, AT Keyboards and p/s2 Keyboards.

Now the good folks over at Cybex (http://www.cybex.com/) sent over one of their KVM switches last month. The SwicthView will handle up to four computers at one time. It can handle a mix of Keyboard and Mouse Inputs/outputs. It also has electronic Keyboard switching. It took me only about 15 minutes to remove all but one Monitor etc. from my desk and get all three computers up and running though the KVM box on one Monitor, one Mouse, and one Keyboard. If you have any questions about KVM Switches give the folks at Ceybex a call at 1-800-932-9239 or check out their Web site at: http://www.cybex.com/ . The Cybex site has some good information and a nice FAQ area on Switches.

So, go ahead, Get It Off Your Desk...

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