If you *CAN* use el cheapo switch...

     We purchased a 4-port unit from Data Comm Warehouse for $49.  I think
     the cables/adapters to hook everything up to it cost more than the
     switch box though (probably another $60).

     I thought I had ordered all of the correct cables, adapters and gender
     changers, until the unit arrived and I found out the mouse input was a
     female connector (who's heard of a male mouse?).

     -Mike Cornwell
     Abtech Systems


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re[2]: Keyboard/monitor switcher?
Author:  [log in to unmask] at Internet
Date:    3/27/97 1:03 PM


 In <199703271954.OAA01649@igw2> [log in to unmask] writes:

> VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!
>
> If you plan to use a monitor/keyboard switch, be careful to check which
> applications you plan to leave running when switching. Some applications
> will interact with the keyboard and/or monitor periodically. We have
> used two kinds of switches,  a VERY expensive 8 cpu switch (+$2000.00)
> from COMPAQ, and a cheapo  (- 500.00) whose brand I can't recall. COMPAQ
> has a 4 cpu model that I guess should cost a little above $1000.00.
>
> The important thing is this: COMPAQ's switch has intelligent circuitry
> embedded that "fools" the cpu "convincing" it that a monitor and
> keyboard are still connected. This avoids system hangs whenever the
> application left running tries to interact with the keyboard or monitor.
> We have NT server consoles on the COMPAQ switch without any problems. On
> the other hand, we tried to use the cheap switch with an application
> that controls some equipment and it always hangs.

I'll second/third Rodolfo's warning, but throw in that we use some of those
switches also - the last one I picked up (new) at a computer "show" for $24
that switches 4 monitors/keyboards/mouse(s?). I had looked into some of the
"digital" switches (which seem to run $800+) and decided I could live with
it for my purposes... :-)

If you hook it up to a box that likes to poll the keyboard, they really don't
like being "switched off"...

                        -Chris Bartram

(FYI; those of you in areas that host those "floating" computer shows like we
have here in the D.C. area; some good deals can be found on stuff, though I
don't recommend buying anything that's not in a factory wrapped package.
Among other deals, we picked up several Win95 upgrades for $65 each.)