KVM Switch - Manual v. Electronic

[ctaylor]

Which is better, a manual Keyboard-Video-Mouse switch of an electronic KVM switch? I am told the electronic ones are best (and they are the only ones I have used) but I want to know why it is better? What are the major differences between electronic KVM switches?

[skuz]

A mechanical (manual) KVM switch has mobile parts that can wear out. That means that after some years, the swith can become too sensitive or not enough. They are also made with lower quality parts. For example, my mechanical KVM had problems with video. The higher the resolution, the more it created something that looks like shades of images, icons and text. I was wondering if I had a monitor/video card problem, but I bypassed the switch and all problems solved.

[Banti]

With mech, don't you need to place it where you can touch it? My elec KVM is hidden behind my desk, all I need is a quick Ctrl-Ctrl and it switches.

Banti

[engracio]

My mechanical KVM is inexpensive and does what it is suppose to do. My problem is after a while, my mouse would acts crazy and the only way for me to get control back is to reboot.

I am about ready to upgrade to an electronic version. Use the mech as a backup. Can't fault the mech for $30.00 device compare to $150.00+ electronic.

I should be able to use my old cables with the electronic one, right????

e

[daveleau]

Same with my mechanical. I have a 2 port manual KVM and I have to reboot ften because the mouse acts funny after a while.

Dave

[eweruk]

We use both at work and now we buy electrical boxes because the mouse and keyboard controls are frequently lost after a switch. Another GREAT switch unit is from Rose Electronics. Very small and has never acted up.
http://rosel.com

[1000hours]

I have had 3 or 4 different mechanical switches. They seem to wear out very quickly and give unpredictable problems. Losing mouse/keyboard, distorted video, etc... Eventually I just give it up and switch back to multiple monitor/keyboard/mouse. I just haven't had the extra $$ to invest in an electronic one. Eventually though. Where I use to work, we had an excellent electronic KVM switch made by Raritan. Expensive but I loved it. You can find decent deals on used Raritan switches on ebay. But I haven't used any other electronic switches so I can't give an opinion on others. Avoid manual ones though!!