One keyboard/mouse - 2 PCs

413x

413x

413x

Caporegime
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13 Jan 2010
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Is there a way to have one keyboard control 2 devices

I have my home Pc and my work laptop plus dock on my desk
Is there a way to avoid
-having two keyboards and mice
Or
-having to swap cables

I really want a USB cable that is split on the male end!
(I know you get these for powerering a hdd for example sometimes

It doesn't need to control both at the same time (but could be useful actually)

Obviously monitors are fine. Each has about 7 input options
 
Alternativley you can use software such as input director:
As long as the machines are networked on the same lan, you can move mouse from screen to screen without any extra cables or pressing any keys and the keyboard will operate which ever machine the mouse is currenlty on:)
 
UKDTweak said:
Alternativley you can use software such as input director:
As long as the machines are networked on the same lan, you can move mouse from screen to screen without any extra cables or pressing any keys and the keyboard will operate which ever machine the mouse is currenlty on:)
Click to expand...

I used to use Synergy a bit but there is a lot of potential drawbacks to this approach depending on your needs and use - especially when things start going wrong it can be difficult to get reliable input working when you need it.
 
The network option does sound interesting.
But wouldn't that need both machines on all the time?
You use software to effectively treat another machine just as Windows treats dual monitor?

Think these switches seem the best option
And iit's only one extra cable per device behind my desk

There's already about 20 to 30 back there anyway. May as well go full jungle
 
Yes both machines need to be on to share the keyboard and mouse, but if you have a primary machine that is normally on, should not be an issue, unless you sometime turn it off and use the other... The software will not stop the keyboard and mouse on either machine working independantly.

I use input director at work between my desktop running XP and my laptop running W7 64bit on a docking station, never had any issues with it, can even copy and paste from desktop to laptop with it...
The only issue i had was with windows firewall due to the domain firewall policy, so had to disable the firewall, this should not be an issue on a home network.
 
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Might have to go physical

I use my desktop for games, work etc but when I'm actually working it is my laptop that is always on and my desktop if I need some grunt
Unless I can change this method of working my desktop and laptop will probably spend a lot of time being the only device on
 
Rroff said:
What you want is called a KVM - people like http://www.aten.co.uk/ do a load of devices. Other brands like Belkin used to do cheap and compact 2 system ones as well.
Click to expand...

3UZMEx7.jpg


this 4 port usb KVM looks ideal
i found it difficult to get one without monitor sharing!
 
I must be the only tight git on here. :D

I got four USB extension cables from the bay and connected two to each pc. I then have them routed to the front underside of my desk with the ends all next to each other. All are marked so i know which goes to what pc and whether the keyboard or mouse plugs into them. All I do is shut down one pc, swap the leads over (takes seconds) and boot the other pc. Works a treat for me.
 
al4x said:
3UZMEx7.jpg


this 4 port usb KVM looks ideal
i found it difficult to get one without monitor sharing!
Click to expand...

There aren't many without monitor sharing but you don't have to use it - the rest of the functionality will work fine - I find most of them struggle with high end gaming panels (though fine for productivity type use) so I just swap sources on my monitors as needed.
 
i quite liked the one above as it has 4 inputs
-mouse
-keyboard
-monitor sd card/usb hub

the hu will be especially useful for transferring files to a memory card onto the other pc

i also like the button can be close to you with the cable jungle hidden

yeah i would prefer to use my monitors separate (especially as i use 2)
 
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pastymuncher said:
I must be the only tight git on here. :D

I got four USB extension cables from the bay and connected two to each pc. I then have them routed to the front underside of my desk with the ends all next to each other. All are marked so i know which goes to what pc and whether the keyboard or mouse plugs into them. All I do is shut down one pc, swap the leads over (takes seconds) and boot the other pc. Works a treat for me.
Click to expand...

firstly - great user name! :p

second.. my keyboard cable would be a bit of a hassle for that. and 4 cbales each time would annoy me
 
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