Advanced KVM Switch - Do they exist?

Alright guys, my work space is continually getting smaller and I have finally decided to cough up the dough for a nice KVM switch so I can get a few monitors off my desk. I have a Dell 2405 widescreen monitor that I would like to use as the monitor for all the machines. The switch needs to have 4 ports or the ability to run 4 different computers at once. I would really like to get a switch that will allow me to share USB and possibly firewire ports between computers. I've got a backup drive that would be nice to share between them along with a printer and other various peripherals.

If you know of some good products, point me to them so I can look them over! Thanks guys!

 

Research the USB function before committing to a switch. I just gave away a small USB switch and went back to PS2. Seemed that when the switch I had changed computers, it required a rediscovery and initialization of the USB ports when reconnecting. What it amounted to was about a 10 second wait. 10 seconds aint much, but it's annoying especially when the PS2 change is almost immediate.

Besides, I can totally loose a complete train of thought in 10 seconds

.02

 

Here is a list of 4 port KVMs that are available at NewEgg. I have an older Belkin KVM that I like alot, but it doesn't have USB support. I see there are quite of few on the list with USB support. Make sure you have 'support' for your monitor. I think that will narrow the list considerably.

B

 

Have a look here
http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/

 

Make sure you do a bit of research before you commit to one. KVMs, IMHO, fall into the "not ready for prime time" category of PC components. For the most part they work, but they all come with a laundry list of annoyances - the ones that cost $150 or less anyway.

I have an Iogear two-port USB-only KVM that I got for about $115 at newegg. It works but has problems such as:
- mouse/keyboard are frozen after booting if you move the mouse during the boot process
- mouse/keyboard are frozen after booting because KVM is in a "bad mood "
- can't get into BIOS with USB keyboard attached to KVM (I have a PS/2 keyboard permanently attached to PC for this)
- advanced mouse and keyboard functions (media/gaming related) are not recognized by KVM (true of all KVMs)

And mine is one of the "better" ones out there. When you flip sides, the USB keyboard and mouse response lag is about one second - no problem because it takes about a second for the video to appear anyway. I've never tried my USB peripheral ports - I don't have any use for them but I wouldn't have enough confidence in the KVM to use them anyway.

Good luck! I wouldn't recommend my exact model but I think there are some decent higher-end KVMs from Iogear you might want to look into.

Gary