VanLUG Email Archive
R.W. Clark (wz297@victoria.tc.ca)
Mon, 10 May 1999 15:35:44 -0700 (PDT)
The "Rose" switch box is a good choice. You can control the switch from
your keyboard.
Randall Clark
On Mon, 10 May 1999, Bruce Balden wrote:
>
> Tim Bray wrote in message
> <3.0.32.19990510122720.0119aba0@pop.intergate.bc.ca>...
> >At 11:43 AM 5/10/99 -0700, Harondel J. Sibble wrote:
> >>good point......
> >>I do the same, I am sharing 1 monitor and keyboard with 4 computers. Cheap
> >>simple solution. You could use the money you'd spend on the monitor and
> get a
> >>good electronic switch box.
> >
> >Where do you buy them? I've seen 'em in the datacomm catalogue, but
> >never on the shelf around town here. -T
>
> [1] Smaller computer stores will generally order them for you, along with
> suitable cables
> [2] There are two types: active and inactive.
> The latter are far cheaper.
> In addition to the box itself, you need specialized cables between each
> computer and the the box (ordinary cables suffice from the box to the
> monitor and keyboard).
>
> Generally speaking, I don't switch the mice. Mice are small and cheap. The
> only thing you may need is mouse extension cables.
>
> You can expect to pay about $25 for the box itself (4 way) or slightly less
> for 2-way, or about $250 for an active box. The latter have the benefit of
> keeping the keyboard state held in buffers whilst you are typing away on a
> different machine. With an inactive device, the keyboard is re-initialized
> every time you switch. If you switch too rapidly, this doesn't happen and
> the keyboard will not work.
>
> For me it isn't a question of the cost of monitors (I already have one not
> in use), but simply of where to put all the equipment.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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