IOGEAR 4-Port Dual View KVM Switch with Audio and Cables GCS1744

by Iogear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.8 x 4 inches ; 6.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009JR3UM
• Item model number: GCS1744
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Size Name: 4-port

The Dual View GCS1744 USB KVMP Switch brings dual head video functionality to IOGEARs USB KVM switch technology. Now four dual-display computers can be accessed and controlled from a single console that consists of a USB keyboard, USB mouse, and two VGA, SVGA, or Multisync monitors. In addition, the GCS1744 allows the computers to share USB peripherals connected to the USB peripheral ports, such as printers, scanners, portable hard drives, etc. Recognizing the importance of sound, this switch is also audio enabled. A single microphone can provide audio input to each of the computers, and you can enjoy the audio output of each computer on a single set of speakers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't work with Nforce motherboards, October 14, 2005

By 

M. Hovila - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IOGEAR 4-Port Dual View KVM Switch with Audio and Cables GCS1744 (Personal Computers)

Only after purchasing one and fighting with skipping and sticking keystrokes for a day did I find out from Iogears tech support that not only does this KVM not work well with multimedia and internet style keyboards (and good luck finding a non-multimedia USB keyboard these days) but it also doesn't work with Nforce motherboards, regardless of version. Thats gotta be close to half the desktops that are made now-a-days that this KVM won't work with. As of this writing they do not have a firmware fix and no ETA on when one will be released. What would possess them to release a KVM in such a buggy state is beyond me.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Caveats with your KVM, sir or madam?, December 4, 2008

By 

Netizen (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IOGEAR 2-Port Dual View KVM Switch with Audio and USB Peripheral Sharing GCS1742 (Personal Computers)

I've been using this product for about six months now. I purchased it to allow me to switch between a Mac PPC (MDD dual 1.25 ghz) and a Dell Optiplex PC. I have several mice, but the one I use most is Logitech's MX Revolution. I left one non-cordless mouse hooked up for reasons I will explain later in the review. Let me say that if you are technically challenged, you may find setting this up a bit daunting, but if you are reasonably comfortable with basic networking and the like, you won't have trouble. I don't use the keyboard shortcuts for the switch at present (maybe I will start, now that I think of it), so I can't yet comment on those.

This unit has worked very well for me. It does take some getting used to. The rocker switches on the front of the unit represent each CPU. Press once and release, and the monitor image switches from PC to Mac or vice versa. Press and hold, and your USB devices also switch.

Which leads to caveat numero uno: The USB ports on this baby are only USB 1.1 compliant, so gamers need not apply, or will have to settle for having devices requiring USB 2.0 connections wired directly to each machine. I think this is the greatest weakness of this unit, but that said, I find it livable. I do some programming and have to switch back and forth between PC and Mac fairly frequently, and this switch lets me do that with relative ease.

When switching between computers, there is a lag time as the CPU and monitor synch up through the switch. Also, if you are using a cordless mouse, it takes a moment to activate (Like 20 to 30 seconds). I leave a wired mouse hooked up to be sure that I can wake a sleeping machine, or in the rare event that the cordless doesn't activate (usually solved by unplugging and replugging the transmitter device). Lately I haven't had to use the corded mouse at all.

I had to laugh when I read the review where the fellow states that when typing at above 60 wpm the switch has trouble keeping up with him. I only occasionally hit 60 wpm, and never when filling in passwords, so I guess I'll just have to take his word for it. I will say that I have never experienced any problem with the (Mac) keyboard connection, and I do type fairly fast when I'm replying to emails or writing lightweight material.

The second caveat for this KVM is that with a set of Altec Lansing speakers and a little boom box, the volume on the speakers must be set at less than full volume. The reason for this is that the audio picks up sounds from the computer otherwise. As you drag a window, say, you get an audible "z-z-z-zzzt!" I have found that the speakers work fine if the master volume switch is set at about half, which actually allows them to play at volumes that most non-rockers will find quite acceptable, even when they wish to soar to unusual Mozartian heights for a few minutes. Perhaps this indicates a grounding problem with my electrical supply, but I mention it here so that you are aware.

One last comment on an intermittent, but minor, phenomenon. Namely a thin line very occasionally appears on the monitor (19" LCD). This disappears spontaneously, is really negligible, and in the rare instance that it persists, seems to disappear completely on rebooting either the CPU or the switch. I mention this because it has occurred once or twice, but it is rare and easily fixed. The monitor connections on the included cables are

So why put up with these several negative points? Because reading reviews for the other switches available in this price range, I found none that dazzled without problems. KVM switches seem generally to be a dodgy proposition, and you would be better off with a Mac Pro dual-core laptop and Parallels, for sure. But you knew that didn't you? You are looking at this because you aren't ready to commit the necessary moolah for a dual OS system, and this might just do the trick.

Well, I think you are right, it will. It's been great for me. I just wish that Logitech would upgrade the USB ports on the switch (two for devices, one for keyboard, and one for mouse) to USB 2.0 compliance. That would be cream on our strawberries! It is important to mention that this switch comes with all the cables you will need to hook up to CPU's to one DVI monitor. Check out the price of cables and you will be impressed with the economy of this choice, if you weren't already.

In summary, I recommend this switch to the serious user who is reasonably technically-minded, and who has a specific need for a device like this. KVM's are not perfect, but this one is good quality and is currently providing me with reliable service, thus allowing me to easily switch between systems to carry out different tasks.

Good luck!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works fine, no problems for me, September 8, 2008

By 

N. Moulton "norm1968" (Webster, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IOGEAR 2-Port Dual View KVM Switch with Audio and USB Peripheral Sharing GCS1742 (Personal Computers)

I have been using this KVM since June 2008 with no problems. I have it connected to 2 desktop PCs with dual monitors both running at 1280x1024 resolution with a USB keyboard and USB mouse. I've seen in the past that sometimes "bad" KVMs degrade the analog monitor image, but I've had no problems with this unit at the stated resolution. The monitors are LCD, so the refresh rate is only 60Hz. Both PCs are set to "sleep" after inactivity, and I haven't seen any problems related to this either. I normally use the keyboard short-cut to switch it from 1 to 2 (Scroll-Lock, Scroll-Lock, Enter, Enter) so I literally hardly ever have to touch it.

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