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+--- Thread: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... (/showthread.php?tid=141479)
I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - john-o - 09-14-2012
...but it seems almost impossible to find! I need to be able to have two sets of monitor/keyboard/mouse hooked up to one computer, so the user can go between a sitting and a standing workstation. The real bugaboo is that I need this setup for a Dell desktop.
I've looked around, and NewEgg has something, but the keyboard/mouse ports aren't USB! I started looking at individual splitters for each component, but then got really confused and frustrated.
Surely someone here has accomplished this... What do it need to buy to get this working?
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - MGS_forgot_password - 09-14-2012
You don't need anything special for the mice/keyboards, just enough USB ports. Most PC desktops nowadays also support multiple monitors. On Windows 7, you can move windows between monitors using the Windows Key + Shift + Arrow Left or Right.
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - JoeM - 09-14-2012
Here's shareware that claims to handle it but I don't know how well it might work for you:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/free-software-downloads/control-one-computer-with-multiple-keyboards-and-mice/
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - tenders - 09-14-2012
When I've needed stuff like this I've used VNC on a minimally-configured machine to mirror the main machine. The cost of an old machine capable of doing this is probably less than the cost of a device to enable it plus an extra set of hardware.
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - M A V I C - 09-14-2012
john-o wrote: so the user can go between a sitting and a standing workstation.
Eh, I do this all day long with the same hardware. I do have a Humanscale keyboard tray I adjust so it's a bit more fine tuned based on position. The desk is high, but I've got a tall chair. You don't need an extra mouse, keyboard and monitor, just a different chair.
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - john-o - 09-14-2012
Great input all!
The only thing wrong with your suggestion, Mavic, is the cost of the chair! Could be significantly more than the cost of any other solution...
I like the thought of seeing if the machine has an extra vga port and enough USB ports to just do it that way.
I'll keep you posted!
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - M A V I C - 09-14-2012
Looks like mine is about $100. There's quite a few here: http://www.everythingofficefurniture.com/draftingchairs.html#axzz26T0O31P2
And the mouse I'm looking at buying is $100. Even if you went with a cheap mouse, keyboard and monitor, is that really that much less than $100? Plus the short chair they have can be repurposed. So does the chair + monitor + keyboard + mouse = < $100?
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - colonel panic - 09-15-2012
Very simple, get a wireless keyboard and mouse. Then you can just move them from one position to the other.
Re: I need the opposite of a KVM switch... - N-OS X-tasy! - 09-15-2012
An MVK switch?