Would this weird setup work?

[coopdog]

Right now I have a G4 w/ 17 CRT, USB hub with the keyboard+Microsoft mouse pluged in to it. Along with a firewire CDR/RW.

I was looking into getting a new PC, my P III 333 is very slow running XP!!! Well I was wondering If I could share my CRT, USB hub, and firewire CDR. I could use a VGA switch to switch the screens right? How much are thoes like $100?

USB-is there some way to have a splitter off the USB hub its self? like the square USB port to 2 reguar ports (flat).

Finaly, on my firewire CDR, there are 2 Firewire ports on the back, is that for dual comp usage?

Thanks!

 

[daniel77]

Re: Would this weird setup work?

Originally posted by coopdog
Right now I have a G4 w/ 17 CRT, USB hub with the keyboard+Microsoft mouse pluged in to it. Along with a firewire CDR/RW.

I was looking into getting a new PC, my P III 333 is very slow running XP!!! Well I was wondering If I could share my CRT, USB hub, and firewire CDR. I could use a VGA switch to switch the screens right? How much are thoes like $100?

USB-is there some way to have a splitter off the USB hub its self? like the square USB port to 2 reguar ports (flat).

Finaly, on my firewire CDR, there are 2 Firewire ports on the back, is that for dual comp usage?

Thanks!

on the usb issue: just buy a usb hub for 30 bux

 

[NavyIntel007]

You can get a USB switch. I think I've seen one at CompUSA. As far as the rear firewire ports, their originally for chaining but it should work for both as long as you don't have both computers accessing it at the same time.

 

[pepeleuepe]

Sounds like you need a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. In my quick searching I couldn't find any that incorporate Firewire into their switches, but they do have VGA, and USB. This device will let you have one keyboard, mouse, and monitor controllling/displaying info from two computers. The two sites I found are below.

http://www.42u.com/kvm_switches_usb.htm
http://www.marathoncomputer.com/kvm.html

Also, the two ports on the back of your Firewire hard drive are for daisy chaining multiple devices to one machine. They are not intened to be used to access the drive from two different computers and they won't work in that manner. Doing so will most likely damage something.

 

[physicsnerd]

Searching around I was unable to find a KVM switch with firewire, but I did find a firewire switch on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3016251493&category=21166

physicsnerd

 

[coopdog]

Thank you very much for finding thoes for me!!! That solves a lot of problems!

How about this The very last KVM on the page... Both my keyboard and mouse are USB (have to be, Apple) they are connected to my 7 port usb hub, so I got the KVM above i could just share the hub right? Then i would not need to convert the USB devices to PS2 (extra $$ and a pain) Right?

 

[physicsnerd]

Thank you very much for finding thoes for me!!! That solves a lot of problems!

How about this The very last KVM on the page... Both my keyboard and mouse are USB (have to be, Apple) they are connected to my 7 port usb hub, so I got the KVM above i could just share the hub right? Then i would not need to convert the USB devices to PS2 (extra $$ and a pain) Right?

Yes, you can just share the hub. I've done it before with other switches and not had any problems. The switch you listed would work, but I think it's a bit over kill for what you need. It'll be cheaper if you get a switch that only does usb, not both. One thing you need to know is if you want to have the switch do audio too. If so it costs a bit more. If you do not need the audio switch you can find them for between $50 and $100. Here's one from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3410052504&category=3697

If you don't like ebay I found the same switch at several stores using froogle for about $90. I suggest just surfing froogle till you find the best price that meets your needs.

http://froogle.google.com

physicsnerd