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One PC one Mac mini.... KVM switch?

F

flatfoot99

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Original poster
Aug 4, 2010
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About to take the jump to my first Mac. Wife needs our pc occasionally so I'd only like one monitor, keyboard etc. Did a little searching and it looks like a KVM switch is what I need.

Any recommendations?

This looks like it will work:
http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Cable-...TF8&qid=1351200456&sr=8-2&keywords=kvm+switch

I have a VGA monitor and I'm assuming I will need an apple mini port to VGA connector.

Thanks for any help.
 
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MatthewAMEL said:
This really does look amazing.

Has anyone used it? Lag issues? Resolution issues?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I use it for my set up. This is not really a KVM solution, it requires you to have a monitor for each computer. It just enables you to use one keyboard and one mouse. I experience little to no lag when controlling the client computer but sometimes the cursor doesn't show up without a right click to engage it.
 
I recently got one of the new minis for home and took my old mini to the office and got a KVM switch to pair it with the PC. Works pretty well, however the mini resolution on the PC monitor (17" vs the 21" I have at home) is not what I'd like. I've been fiddling with it, and hope it will get better, but even as it is it's better than the PC's image.

There is a little lag when switching between computers, but not enough to be a problem.
 
I use this one with my 20" Imac for several years now without problems. I generally have several machines up on the bench. It may be more than what you need though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817399001

One thing that I really like about this unit is I can leave my itunes library playing and use a hotkey switch (ie. control, control, number of pc to switch to 2,3,or 4 then k then enter ) and the audio will continue playing from the imac and I can control the other pc's
 
Last edited:
flatfoot99 said:
About to take the jump to my first Mac. Wife needs our pc occasionally so I'd only like one monitor, keyboard etc. Did a little searching and it looks like a KVM switch is what I need.

Any recommendations?

This looks like it will work:
http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Cable-...TF8&qid=1351200456&sr=8-2&keywords=kvm+switch

I have a VGA monitor and I'm assuming I will need an apple mini port to VGA connector.

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that particular model but a few years ago I used an IO Gear switch between a PC and a Mac Mini and it worked perfectly. Very happy with their products and would happily buy again.
 
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No KVM on Mac Mini

There is a problem with the new Mac Mini not working with KVM switches.

Here is the issue:

The HDMI needs to be converted to VGA to work with most switches, but HDMI to VGA adapters don't allow communications from the switch to the mac mini so no signal is sent from the switch telling the mini that a monitor is there.

Apple claims that the Thunderbolt connection will do it but I have not tested it (Mainly because I use the TB connection for a mass storage device.)

Major fail on apple engineers part.:mad:
 
mudsoma said:
There is a problem with the new Mac Mini not working with KVM switches.

Here is the issue:

The HDMI needs to be converted to VGA to work with most switches, but HDMI to VGA adapters don't allow communications from the switch to the mac mini so no signal is sent from the switch telling the mini that a monitor is there.

Apple claims that the Thunderbolt connection will do it but I have not tested it (Mainly because I use the TB connection for a mass storage device.)

Major fail on apple engineers part.:mad:
Click to expand...

works fine with hdmi I use this


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049SCB2Y/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


and this


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I96BL0/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


with 3 pc ' s and 1 mac mini on this hdmi monitor


http://www.viewsonic.com/us/vx2253mh-led.html


new model is here

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F1HUMQ

I use a logitech key board mouse combo

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wire...sr=1-1&keywords=logitech+mouse+keyboard+mk320


FLAWLESS SWITCHING
 
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MatthewAMEL said:
This really does look amazing.

Has anyone used it? Lag issues? Resolution issues?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I use the older version of this at work between a G5 and a windows XP desktop, and it works very well (not sure about the current version, but the old one was a little finicky to setup if you want the shared clipboard)

It won't work for this user since it requires two monitors. If the PC will only be used for Office-ish applications (aka: not games) I would look at turning on Remote Desktop on the PC and connecting to it from the Mac. (running the PC "headless" with no keyboard, mouse or monitor)
 
Just get a great monitor. The better ones have built in KVM like the NEC PA271W.
 
blanka said:
Just get a great monitor. The better ones have built in KVM like the NEC PA271W.
Click to expand...

KVM built into a monitor? Never heard of that and I don't see that in the specs anywhere for that NEC model.

----------

I've used the previous gen IO Gear KVM with my 2007 Mac Mini and a PC and it worked fine....however, not sure about the HDMI/VGA issue the other poster mentioned above, since the older Minis didn't use HDMI out.
 
fhall1 said:
KVM built into a monitor? Never heard of that and I don't see that in the specs anywhere for that NEC model.

----------

I've used the previous gen IO Gear KVM with my 2007 Mac Mini and a PC and it worked fine....however, not sure about the HDMI/VGA issue the other poster mentioned above, since the older Minis didn't use HDMI out.
Click to expand...

Nec website said:
USB hub (2 up/3 down) with DisplaySync Pro
Click to expand...
http://www.necdisplay.com/p/desktop-monitors/pa271w-bk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6rEMm7RXcQ
The 2 up connections go to 2 computers, the 3 down to mouse, tablet, keyboard for example. DisplaySync then makes sure you operate the shown image with the connected USB devices. Very smart!
 
blanka said:
http://www.necdisplay.com/p/desktop-monitors/pa271w-bk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6rEMm7RXcQ
The 2 up connections go to 2 computers, the 3 down to mouse, tablet, keyboard for example. DisplaySync then makes sure you operate the shown image with the connected USB devices. Very smart!
Click to expand...

Kind of cool but that's an expensive option unless one was already planning on spending that much on a monitor.

One can get a USB switch for under $20 to take care of the keyboard/mouse part. The video part can be handled by just about any monitor since most support multiple inputs and switching between them. If not, DVI and HDMI switches are cheap.
 
forget switches, build 2 workstations!

Friend have a seperate desk and chair for the Mac, this way way both computers can be used simultaneouslly.

If you dont want to do this right away, I recomend you install Windows on your Macintosh, you can dual boot Windows and OS X. Functionallly, it will be the same as having an external switch in the same monitor.
 
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