1 Keyboard, 1 mouse, 1 monitor, 2 PC's

RSOT · 21 Jun 2010 at 00:58

I will be purchasing a new PC soon but do not need another keyboard/mouse/monitor as it will not be used much but will need to be kept on for most of the time.

I would be connecting monitor DVI, USB mouse and PS2 keyboard.

I have seen a few different products that can help, but what would be the best one to go for?

Thanks.

cmndr_andi · 21 Jun 2010 at 01:03

I assume you will be wanting a KVM switch. As to which one is best, i'm not sure. This one looks pretty decent.

RSOT · 21 Jun 2010 at 01:08

Oh thanks, I didn't realise Overclockers sold them, that one looks ok actually. I think im going to buy a new USB keyboard anyway because my current one is getting old.

Kotu · 21 Jun 2010 at 01:37

other option is to just remote desktop into it, that way the system only needs to be connected to power/network cable

cmndr_andi · 21 Jun 2010 at 01:43

You could also use some software like synergy to share the mouse and keyboard between the tow computers and plug both computers into the same monitor (requires a monitor with two video inputs) and switch between the inputs to change computers.

RSOT · 22 Jun 2010 at 12:30

Thanks guys, I think I will go for software like synergy instead of the KVM switch.

Mercutio · 23 Jun 2010 at 13:06

If you are taking the software route I find Input Director far superior to synergy. I had problems with synergy where the mouse would go nuts on the second computer while ID's stayed very stable.

dss · 23 Jun 2010 at 21:47

Synergy works great

MJinx · 23 Jun 2010 at 22:33

got to give Synergy a thumbs up also, used it for 3 years in uni with no problem what so ever with 2 laptop and a desktop (lots of multitasking) , but looking at the Input Director it seems pretty much identical from the looks of it.

Mercutio · 24 Jun 2010 at 11:33

Well, mine was for gaming (bit of wow multiboxing) synergy doesn't seem to like full screen overlay (it was fine till it was in wow, once in wow i couldn't move the camera or change characters direction with the mouse or it just went completely nuts).

Input director has so far been very good. It's occasionally a little odd about passing keys to both systems and it's not the most logical for setting this function up but for a KVM its sweet. Just roll the mouse off the corner of the screen and its on the other desktop (in your case u'd then have to push the button to switch input to your display too but...).

Speed · 26 Jun 2010 at 15:05

Synergy Plus is worth a look: http://code.google.com/p/synergy-plus/

Don't think Synergy has been updated since 2006.