Amazon.com: USB Laptop KVM Switch: Electronics

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
USB Laptop KVM Switch
 
See larger image and other views
 

it in action [Flash]

USB Laptop KVM Switch

by Iogear
2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)


Available from these sellers.


What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

Technical Details

  • INCL FILE TRANSFER B/W COMPUTER

Product Details

  • Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 2 inches ; 3.5 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
  • Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
  • ASIN: B001KEIZSO
  • Item model number: GCS661UW6
  • Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

USB LAPTOP KVM SWITCH


 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:    (0)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars WARNING: Must be able to install software on both computers., April 8, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: USB Laptop KVM Switch (Personal Computers)
IOGEAR USB 2.0 Laptop KVM with File Transfer GCS661U (Black) installs a heavy load of invasive system-level drivers and remote software on both computers. This ruled out using it to connect a personal laptop and corporate workstation for the client for whom I acquired the KVM.

The description of this product is misleading because the functional scenario in which this KVM product is suggested to be used is described as a laptop controlling a workstation that appears very much like the workstations in the average workplace which is a scenario very similar to the one for which it was acquired it. Yet, most companies (such as my client's) have policies that restrict or disallow installation of low level drivers and system-level software by most users. The description on Amazon should have clearly indicated that installation of low-level software and drivers is mandatory for both computers.

But the real kicker is that in order to use the KVM like any other KVM which means the "slave" computer can be switched to whenever it is needed, the following must be done: All user accounts except a single password-less account must be deleted. Yes, you read it correctly: According to IOgear the only way to have the "slave" computer always available such as after a reboot is to only have a single non-passworded user. Deleting all user accounts but one and removing the password from that one user account is not something most people can/want to do.

But IOgear is not correct. There is actually another way to make the "slave" always available that does not require deleting any accounts or removing passwords. The way to do it goes something like this: Edit the registry to have a default admin automatically logged in on boot up. There are descriptions of how to do this which you can find with the search terms "windows auto admin login registry key". This still has the disadvantages of 1) entering a password for an administrator in the registry and having the computer automatically logged in to an administrator-level user account whenever it boots. After it has started and automatically logged in to an administrator account it can be locked just as any other computer. Of course, anyone who knows that it has enabled the auto admin login registry key will be able to restart it or shut it down and reboot and be logged in as an administrator. There may be a registry key that will automatically put the computer into locked mode after start up which would help decrease the risk.

Kudos to IOgear for putting the software in the device and making it show as a USB drive.

F- to IOgear for not clearly describing the degree of invasiveness and driver load and the need for draconian user accounts pruning.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(30)
(11)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 

Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   



Look for Similar Items by Category