Customer Reviews

IOGEAR 4-Port MiniView USB KVM Switch with Audio and Cables GCS634U

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

I liked the handsome unit, solid build quality, rubber non-stick base, etc. but I had problems using this switch with USB keyboards. In the end, I either used a PS2 keyboard or monkeyed around with PS2->USB converters to plug in a USB keyboard. I had no problems with my USB mouse.

But because this unit can only switch ports via the keyboard, it made it difficult to use a new USB keyboard that I liked (Logitech Dinovo Edge). Either the keyboard switching worked or the keyboard's driver worked, and I needed the driver to support the volume and touchpad controls of this fancy keyboard. So in the end, I had to buy a simpler USB switch that had a physical button to switch ports (and found that the other switch, the Belkin Flip, even supported the fancy USB keyboard drivers *and* keyboard switching).

I didn't think that I would find a USB AKVM for under $150. I had planning on getting an old PS/2 style and use a PS/2 to USB adaptor for the computers with only USB. I initially found this on newegg, but with Amazon Prime, the total price was cheaper here (no shipping).

I have it setup with a wired USB keyboard and Microsoft Optical USB mouse. I'm connection to a homebuilt PC (Pent 4) with Windows XP, Homebuild PC running Ubuntu Linux for MythTV, Dell 520N with Ubuntu (main development box), and older Dell laptop running Windows 2003 Server as a domain controller.

Every time I switch everything works. I'm using a second monitor with the WinXP and 520N boxes, switching manually with the monitors DVI/RGB switch.

The problems initially ran into were setting it up to auto switch at 1 second (Scroll Lock Scroll Lock 1 A) when trying to switch audio only. You need to switch to the PC with the audio and then ScrLock ScrLock PC# K to switch everything BUT the audio over. I finally realized that space bar gets out of weird modes. So if you have a problem, hit space bar first.

Don't know how else to say it. I love this thing. Get a fairly modern keyboard and mouse (not wireless) and you won't have a problem.

I've been using this kvm for about 6 months now. I use it with two windows desktops, a laptop, and a linux box. I have a usb keyboard and mouse.

This unit has worked almost flawlessly for me. No lockups, fast switching. The only issue I've had is that the display has to be switched to my laptop during boot-up or my laptop won't recognize it. Not a big deal.

I've used 4 or 5 other kvm's before, and they've all had quirks. This one works the best of any of them, by far.

Followup: I bought a second one of these for a friend and several of its ports had problems -- they would drop some keyboard entries and generate multiples of others (lllk thssssssss). I exchanged it as defective and the replacement works fine.

First, this product came with FOUR, not just two as advertised, KVM/USB cords. So there is no need to buy extra KVM/usb cables with this product.

This has be the slickest looking USB KVM switch in the market. It looks like a half of Mac Mini and it is very glossy and even beautiful to look at.

I use a Belkin USB KVM switch at work. Although both USB KVM switches work well, the IOgear switch is far cheaper and far more visually appealing. I highly recommend this product.

I picked this unit up as a replacement for an Avocent SwitchView that had gone bad. It works fantastic. Better than any KVM I've ever owned. No extra power brick - self powered via USB. Works well across a wide range of computers. I have a Macintosh PowerMac G5 2.7, Macintosh PowerMac G5 2.0, Macintosh PowerMac G4 Cube, and Dell PowerEdge 400SC all hooked up. This is also the first KVM I've used that fully supported extended keys on my Mac keyboard. Volume and eject buttons work perfectly. And these work in Windows as well. The styling is very close to the mac mini. If you have that unit, this will fit seemlessly with your computer.

Like other reviewers here, I found out after purchasing this switch that it doesn't work with a wireless keyboard. In my case, all the keys work (some s-l-o-w-l-y) except for the tab key. Tab has worked on occasion but never consistently.
When I called the support line they were very familiar with the problem. The choices are: get a new keyboard and mouse or get a new KVM. They lost my business on attitude alone. IOGEAR should clearly state in their packaging and product descriptions that it doesn't work with wireless keyboards - saving us the trouble of returning their hardware.

I could not be more happy. Near-instantaneous switching of video, keyboard, mouse, and audio. Extremely useful hotkeys. I really like the ability to switch everything *except* the audio too. (Handy if you have music playing on one machine, and you want it to remain audible while switching to a different machine). All cables included for hooking up 4 computers, and no external power supply necessary. I've used a number of other KVMs before, including a few Belkins, most of which have failed in one way or another. The Iogear Miniview is the one to have.

I had bought a two port usb iogear switch that worked with my Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Set keyboard and mouse. So I decided to get the 4 port switch. My keyboard does not have the usual scroll lock key (I have to use a function key to use it) So I needed to program the switch to use ctrl instead. No issue with the 2 port iogear device, but with this 4 port switch I could not do it. I called support, got connected right away, and we configured the switch by using a wired usb keyboard. I reconnected the wireless keyboard and mouse, and everything works like a charm now. So if you have a wireless keyboard you may need a usb wired keyboard to configure your device. I was very impressed with their tech support. I did not get any of the issues that were described by other users of this device. My experience with wireless keyboards is that 99% of the time problems are due to the wireless keyboard/mouse not functionning properly not KVM hardware failure or the computer itself....

I bought this product a couple of weeks ago. This product has some problems. It works fine for a couple of days and after that, it will stop recognizing one of the computers, because, the video card stopped working any more for that computer, unless I remove them and res-install them. It happened to me 3 times and I got tired of it. I thought it could be a problem with the computer. But it did the same thing with two computers. I am not using this as of now. I am looking for an alternate solution.

This switch does not work for two of my machines at work (both are Dell Optiplex GX 620, Mfg date 03-2006).

The switch drops key strokes frequently and sometimes a key stroke is repeated several times when typing. If the active machine is left idle for a while, both keynoard and mouse will be lost. One has to hit [ScrLk] [ScrLk] [Enter] to switch to other machine and swithc back to re-establish connectivity.

The keyboard used in this case is Microsoft Natural 4000 and Optical Mouse 5000.

Contacted the IOGEAR tech support, and the representitive acknowledged that this is a known problem with Dell Optiplex GX 620s (due to the chipsets on motherboard).

Returned the item and bought a MiniView 4-port (GCS1774), which works wonderfully.