D-Link KVM-221 2-Port USB KVM Switch with Audio Support
Posted by admin | Posted in Computer | Posted on 03-06-2010
5
- Device Type – KVM Switch
- Form Factor – External
- Dimensions WxDxH – 5.5¿ x 2.4 ¿x 1.1¿
- Weight – 0.9 lbs
Product Description
Control two computers using one monitor, USB keyboard, and USB mouse with D-Link 2-Port USB KVM Switch with Audio Support (KVM-221). The KVM-221 allows users to effortlessly control two systems without having to buy additional computer peripherals. It is ideal for the home office where business files are kept on one computer and personal files on another. With the built-in audio support, you can also share a set of speakers between two computers. Listen to music on … More >>
I bought this KVM because I was under the impression you could connect any combination of PC/Mac (with USB keyboard and mouse, of course) and I hooked up my G3 and G4. At first, I tried with the mouse still running into the USB port on the keyboard as usual. This did not work. I shut down both computers, ran the mouse into the KVM, re-booted, and this still didn’t work. I then noticed the keyboard was not working on either computer. I e-mailed D-Link and the response I got was, “It appears your keyboard and mouse are not compatible.” It appears? It appears I’m going to tell everyone what a piece of crap this product and your service are.
Granted, I was planning on buying a different mouse and I may still try to use this KVM, but I’ve got a feeling I’ll end up buying the Connectpro KVM that everyone is going on about.
Rating: 1 / 5
tried with 3 different keyboards but it would not work. I wasted all day just trying to get it to work. And I am not illiterate, I am an engineer. Called DLINK 6 times and wasted another 3 hours they could not and would not help me. Low priority item? Probably. No solutions? Likely. Try to buy Belkin or something else, save lots of hassle.
Rating: 1 / 5
This USB KVM did not let my keyboard hotkeys (shortcuts) work through it.
D-link support said it will not.
Rating: 2 / 5
I had the same issues as the above reviewer. This performs bad in almost every aspect:
1) Video: Reduces the quality of the image, also adding flickering;
2) Keyboard: Doesn’t recognize my G15 Gaming Keyboard… it works as a generic keyboard instead, no macros nor LCD;
3) Mouse: Performs adequately here;
4) Audio: It adds significant noise even at low volumes;
My suggestion? Wait for the DVI KVMs to get cheaper.
Rating: 2 / 5
I picked this up because it was only one of 2 brands at the store that were “USB” KVM’s, and I figgered “D-Link, I’ve heard that name before”, whereas the other one was some no-name brand. How wrong I was to trust _that_ instinct!
Problems:
1) Video (on a 21″ LCD monitor) is “fuzzy”. Who knew you could make an LCD fuzzy?
2) My Logitech G15 keyboard is rendered nearly useless. None of the extra keys work, and its LCD display is not being updated from the host computer.
3) Pops and clicks on the speaker when switching between PC’s.
4) Problem when booting computers – if the computer being booted doesn’t ‘own’ the peripherals at boot time, no amount of switching back and forth will get it to recognize them. (You think that’d be equivalent to plugging/unplugging them, which is OK with USB.) Admittedly, I’m using a wireless mouse, but, hey, isn’t everybody?
5) Minor niggle (Probably shared by most other of these boxes…) is that the cords come out the front, so there’s no really nice way to arrange it on your desktop. You almost have more wires around _after_ installing it than before…
This thing’s going back to the store, for sure!
Rating: 1 / 5