Help with external monitor and Mac / PC

[Motliest Crue]

Hello,

I only have room on my desk for 1 monitor and would like to hook my MBP and also a Windows desktop (that I use for Starcraft 2 now) to it. Is it possible to have the MBP hooked up via DVI and the PC hooked up via VGA and use them both? I would not be using them at the same time, one would always be off or I would simply unplug my Mini displayport to my MBP I jsut want to avoid going behind the monitor and changing wires if possible.

I am not sure if it was possible I thought it up on my way to work.

Any input?

 

[FourCandles]

Depending on the monitor, it's possible. There are monitors available that have multiple inputs and can switch easily between them, leaving the leads permanently plugged in.

 

[BiggAW]

Hello,

I only have room on my desk for 1 monitor and would like to hook my MBP and also a Windows desktop (that I use for Starcraft 2 now) to it. Is it possible to have the MBP hooked up via DVI and the PC hooked up via VGA and use them both? I would not be using them at the same time, one would always be off or I would simply unplug my Mini displayport to my MBP I jsut want to avoid going behind the monitor and changing wires if possible.

I am not sure if it was possible I thought it up on my way to work.

Any input?

Yes, but it gets ugly when you have to have two keyboards and two mice, and some way to switch the audio. I'd go for a VGA KVM switch if the monitor is capabable of being driven by VGA, otherwise go for a DVI KVM switch. That will handle keyboard, mouse, monitor, and depending on model, the audio too.

 

[Motliest Crue]

Depending on the monitor, it's possible. There are monitors available that have multiple inputs and can switch easily between them, leaving the leads permanently plugged in.

Thanks for the input. The monitor I was looking at actually does have both DVI and VGA thats what made me think of it.

The purpose for the external monitor would be photo editing on my MBP and SC2 on my PC without changing wires out constantly so I am not really worried about getting a switcher for audio, keyboards etc since I only use my PC to play SC2.

As far as mice and keyborads go I have my MBP on a stand and have an apple keyboard with it on the left side of my desk along with a Marthon mouse. I have my Monitor (that I will be replacing, only has VGA) in the middle of my desk with the PC on the floor. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse that I use with my PC and are only actually on my desk when I am playing SC2. The PC was actually "retired" and in my closet until SC2 came out so it really only has 1 use.

As far as audio goes I have my 2.1 system plugged info my PC but when I want to listen to Itunes on my MBP I just plug in a dual ended headphone jack to the audio-in hole in my MBP and then the audio in hole on 2.1 systems remote which transfers the speakers to my MBP, very simple.

Thanks again

 

[Motliest Crue]

Yes, but it gets ugly when you have to have two keyboards and two mice, and some way to switch the audio. I'd go for a VGA KVM switch if the monitor is capabable of being driven by VGA, otherwise go for a DVI KVM switch. That will handle keyboard, mouse, monitor, and depending on model, the audio too.

Okay after thinking about it for a while your idea is what I am thinking about doing but here is my question(s)

I won't be using the PC often but would like to use my Apple USB keyboard and Logitech Marathon mouse for both. I know that the buttons on both will be different when switching between MAc and PC?

What happens with both are on I just pick using the switch which one I want active on my monitor?

Any suggestions for under $100?