Customer Reviews

Cisco-Linksys PS2KVM4 ProConnect 4-Port Compact KVM Switch (PS/2)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This switch is a terrific value.

I bought this switch for use at home to connect three computers in my home-office. I am very happy with my choice.

The switch supports video resolutions up to 1920x1440. In the past, I found other low-cost KVM switches show noticeable image deterioration above 1024x768.

There is a easy-to-use button on the device to switch among your machines. LED's on top tell you which machine you have selected. You can also switch between machines using the keyboard. There are three KVM switching modes via keyboard:

Switch directly:

... Go to machine N: Alt, Ctrl, Shift, {1 2 3 or 4}, Enter

Auto-Scan (3 second interval):

... Begin Auto-scan: Alt, Ctrl, Shift, 0, Enter.

... Stop auto-scan: Spacebar

Up/down mode (Make it easy to quickly switch between machines):

... Begin Up/down mode: Alt, Ctrl, Shift, 0, Enter

... Go to previous machine: Left-Shift

... Go to next machine: Right-Shift

... Stop up/down mode: Spacebar

Unlike some KVM switches, you hit Alt, Ctrl, and Shift in order, one-at-a-time. You don't "chord" the keys together. (This actually is a benefit in my case -- I use the Emacs editor in Linux, and my previous "cheapie" KVM switch had a Ctrl-Alt-key combination command that conflicted with the editor.)

The ProConnect doesn't have an On-Screen-Display that tells you the name of the selected computer. I use OSD-enabled switches for work in the datacenter; but, given this unit's price, not having OSD is an acceptable limitation for the home-office.

I've looked at a number of KVM devices (Belkin, Apex, Aten, Cybex and many others) before purchasing this one and I couldn't be happier. It's small, light, well designed and doesn't require another brick for power (it draws power from the keyboard port). Of course the fifteen cables I have coming out of three of its sides distract a bit from its elegant design (I solved that by buying high quality matching cables and tying them into neat bundles).

There isn't much to operating the switch. A big button on the front (the side opposite the blue end) manually toggles between CPUs. But using the keyboard is simpler (it also lets you hide the device and the fifteen cables out of sight). Specific keystrokes allow you to switch to a specific CPU, to switch to the last CPU used or to set the device in autoscan mode (whereby the display continuously switches between the attached CPUs).

Higher end switches offer such features as on screen displays, modifiable time interval for the autoscan mode, support for serial mice, support for non-PCs, the ability to mount the switch in a rack and sometimes the ability to place the CPUs really far away from you. On the other hand these higher end switches often require custom cables (this one doesn't) and have limited video bandwidth (this device will go up to 1920x1440). Oh yes, they also cost 10 times as much.

My only wish is for something that no KVM manufacturer seems to have thought of: Be able to share all the other things that I use with my PCs (microphone, speakers, USB ports, phone line, etc.). Maybe their marketing departments found "KVMMSUP switch" too much of a tongue twister.

For the money, you can't beat this KVM switch. I use it with a Win98 machine, 2 NT workstations, and a Solaris8 x86 box. The only thing I've had to give up were the extended functions of my Logitech MouseMan plus mouse. On the Win98 machine, I can't use the mouse's wheel or the thumb button (which I had grown very used to using). On the NT boxes I can use the wheel, but still no thumb button. On the Solaris box - well, a mouse is a mouse, so you don't lose anything there.

I especially like the hotkeys - you can hit ctrl+alt+shift [1-4] to choose screens 1 through 4. There's another that allows you to automatically cycle endlessly through all screens, and another mode that lets you switch back and forth between screens screens by hitting the shift key.

Given the fact that there are cables going into all 4 sides of the box when you're using it with 4 PCs, it's nice that there's hotkeys to switch between screens, because there's NO way that hitting the button on the box will be practical.

Bottom line is that if you're a geek like me with a bunch of PCs that you want to access with a KVM switch, this is great. However, if you're a gamer with special mouse functionality being used, or a hardcore thumb-button user, you'll have to pass on this option.

this KVM switch works fine with all the OS I have (Win98, NT, 2000,Linux,etc). On one particular NT computer, if nothing is showing on the foreground, I noticed a very very faint "wave/rainbow" patterns in the background. You will need to buy KVM PS2 cables for this unit. it comes with no cable kits. Overall, it's a terrific value for the money

BEWARE: This KVM doesn't pass the roll-up, roll-down and the thumb button on a Logitech MouseMan+ through to the computers. I would assume it has problems with the new Microsoft roller mice too.

If you don't need these, it's a nice box, but if you EVER need them, you'll keep cursing it until you replace it.

I purchased this instead of the Belkin soley on name recognition and good past exeriences with Linksys routers.

Unfortunately, their good name doesn't transfer to their other product lines. First, the video cables were M-F rather than M-M like most other switches so I had to buy new cables just for this thing. Second, after hooking up all the cables, I see how awkward it is to place this on a desktop with cables sticking out in 3 different directions (same complaint as another reveiwer). Third, the switch's hot keys would not switch between computers - instead, it would just rotate my screen 90-180 degrees! Forth, I called Linksys support and after about 5 "please wait while I look something up" I got transferred to their sales department and they said I had to buy their cables. After I told them that was unacceptable, they offered to sell me a new router... Ugh! I'm returning this POS as soon as possible.

(...) I currently use this LinkSys KVM with a Logitech USB Wheelmouse (Optical version with a PS/2 adapter). This optical Logitech mouse always seems to work well even with the PS/2 adapter for the USB mouse. The mouse always responds and works whenever the keyboard can control the KVM, which doesn't always happen.

That said, I would like to point out one of the most irrating physical features of this KVM as well as others that are designed like it. It places connectors attachments on three sides. Even with nice molded cables from startech.com, this configuration results in an 3-sided octopus like cable management problem. For those with limited desk space (or floor space) this is not a good solution ~ maybe you will mount it to your wall! I actually mounted this monster to the bottomside of my computer cart to keep it and the associated cables out of the way. I must lowly rate any KVM that uses more than 1 side for cable connections and attachments since one of the objectives is to reduce waste of working space with redundant keyboards and mice.

Additionally, although the Logitech optical mouse usually always responds whenever the keyboard also works, I've found on many different occasions that the 'Hot key' controls, [the ALT-CTRL-SHIFT-#-ENTER sequence], sometimes does not respond with PC's in certain operating conditions. This is especially true when ACPI or powersaving modes are in use on some PC's. To overcome this frustration it is necessary to manually cycle through the connected PC's with the one button (which slightly sticks sometimes). This is inconvenient compared to the KVM's with fixed buttons for every connected PC.

If I had to choose another KVM for a small office, I would choose a KVM having physical buttons for each PC connection and also having all cable connections on one side - namely the back.

Yes, contrary to other reviews, there ARE other brands of KVM in the same price range that WILL properly support monitors (with full video refresh and resolution ranges) that will also properly support PS/2 mice and keyboards. I have to laugh at those who say otherswise. (They just don't know where to find the products. C'mon, Belkin? I wouldn't buy their KVM's if you paid me.)

What are the two big things with KVM switches?? How many computers does it let you control and how is the video resolution.

Now, everyone in the world talks about "the video resolution is decent", but no one is every specific. I have been through MANY KVM switches over the years and yet to find a decent one, until now.

I got this, hopes that the good reviews were right - and that this could handle a higher resolution. It can - and it's flawless!!

In my particular case, I have a 24" widescreen monitor and wanted to control 3 machines. My preferred resolution is 1680x1050. I plugged in my machines and the picture quality, at that resolution is THE SAME as when the cable is plugged directly in. I am particularly finicky as I use my computer a lot. And I'm telling you, this KVM has virtually no impact to video quality - which I've never seen before in a KVM.

ONE BAD THING:
Just like most of the other home/small-business use KVM, they still require use of PS/2 style mouse and keyboard connections. I don't have a PS/2 mouse OR keyboard anymore - and also, the PC's don't have those connections either. So that meant a handful of little adapters. EXCEPT - the keyboard USB to PS/2 - something is screwy with it, it won't acknowledge the keyboard. I tried multiple machines and multiple keyboards. So, I'm going to have to go and try to find a classic PS/2 style keyboard as USB keyboards don't work with these units (doesn't work on the 4-port D-Link either).

BOTTOM LINE: if you are getting a KVM and your primary concern is video quality, get this one!!

I just got this KVM and hooked it up to my three computers:

1) Dell Dimension 2400 2.8 GHz, Windows Xp Professional
(1 month old).
2) Home built Linux computer with all brand new parts(1week old).
3) Dell Dimension 4100 866 MHz (3+ years old)

Monitor: Dell 2001FP
Mouse: COMP USA branded PS2 optical Mouse.
Keyboard: Dell PS2 Keyboard that came with the Dimension 2400
computer.

Right out of the box I started having problems. I would loose the signal from the Keyboard and Mouse. I would be able to switch between computers two or three time, and then I would loose the mouse and meyboard signal. After a lot of troubleshooting and just short of sending it back I replaced the new Keyboard with my oldest PS2 keyboard, that originally came with the Dimension 4100, and all of a sudden all my problems went away. Evidentally this KVM does not like the new Dell Keyboard.

I've been using the old keyboard for a day and so far so good.

The picture quality on my 2001FP monitor seems sharp on with all three computers. I do not perceive a loss in picture quality.

From a functional standpoint, this is one of the best "non-industrial" KVM switches I've used. Switches between multiple OS's (W2K/XP/Linux) with no issues. Seems perfectly happy with both my antique IBM keyboard and my brand new Logitech wireless mouse (with USB->PS2 adapter and the standard number of buttons). Ergonomically, it could be better, though. As other reviewers have noted, cables attach to this puppy on 3 of 4 sides. When set up with the max of 4 machines, it has 15 cables attached to it. Since it weighs all of a half-pound, it's pretty much sitting where ever the cables want it to be, not where you want it to be. I was able to get it to stay where I want it without an utter mess by careful routing of cables and use of lots of cable ties. Also, again because of the light weight of the device, you need to hold it in place while depressing the selector button, or it tends to walk away from you. And finally, I'm not a fan of the hotkey combination required to activate the device: Alt, Ctrl, Shift, PC#(1-4), Enter. Five keystrokes - you've gotta be joking! I'm a much bigger fan of the Belkin way (ScrlLk, ScrlLk, Up/Down). Pity their current products are so dicey.