Totally cool electronic device...where can I get one of these?!?!?!?

[daveleau]

Hi Everybody!

I was called into one of our tech's offices today and he showed me this box. Very simple and it had one green light with two buttons. Push the left button and the VGA output from a PC next to the box was displayed ont he monitor. Press the other button and the G4 Mac's signal was diplayed ont he monitor.

True the display position (horizontal and vertical) have to be moved using the monitor controls, but what a neato gadget.

The company that supposedly made this one is called Extron Electronics. only thing is, the only ones I can find on their site were very complex.

How would i go about making one of these or buying one?

Thanks
Dave

[desmocat]

sounds alot like a KVM switch but just has video. I have a belkin omni-view 4 port switch at the house 'cause i have 3 boxes and switchin' cables gets to be a pain.
Mine was about 160 bucks, but if you only have 2, they are alot cheaper.
KVM=keyboard/mouse/video
links: <A HREF="http://www.belkin.com"" TARGET=_blank>http://www.belkin.com"</A>
hope this helps http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Edit&gt; don't buy from the website,the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!! head to a local shop or Fry's to find alot better deal. The price I quoted was from a litle shop I do business with and they about passed out when they read the prices, and then talked to a distributor and got the price I qouted above.
Ultimate cool was I saw the same switch at frys for.........$175 bucks! Chalk one up for the little guy!!!

[This message has been edited by desmocat (edited 03-01-2001).]

[daveleau]

Thanks I'll check it out.

Will the KVM work between mac and PC? This worked betweent he two which is the big + here for me. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
Thanks
Dave

[desmocat]

I would think it would, all the one I use has is standard PS-2 connectors for the mouse and keyboard and a SVGA connector for thr monitor.
I think belkin has cables pre-made that you can buy just for this kind of setup.
On the back of my switch, the input for the video is a male which is opposite of what most cables are, so you might need a gender changer for that.
If you want to use your own cables, just make a list and check it twice(like santa http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif ) so you dont buy unneeded parts or not have the right ones to hook every thing up. (I speak from experience.. DOH!)
All my machines are PC'S, have 98 SE on one, W2K Pro on one, and mandrake 7.2 on the last. The 2 windows boxes don't seem to care about switching between them, but the linux box doesn't seem to like having the switch between itself and the keyboard and mouse. The video is fine though, I am still trying to figure out whats giving me trouble with the mouse and keyboard not wanting to respond .

[randy48]

Dave, I bought a 4-port manual KVM on Ebay a while back, $19.95 and another $20 for a full set of cables. The manual KVM has a 4-position knob instead of push-buttons (I can live with turning a knob to save $100) The guy has them on there all the time...just do a search under computers for KVM!

[daveleau]

Thanks guys.

I checked out ebay and it does have some good deals on manual switches. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
Thanks
Dave

[SoopaStar]

I have a 2port omni cube. works great!! I love it! Running my athlong 750 and my piii800 on it.
I have two other ones that are sitting in a corner...not sure if they work or not though.

Paul

[MiKe85]

daveleau:
Not to be a smart @$$ or anything..but you could always ask the tech office where the company got it http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif


Mike