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Hey all.
Is there an adapter or something that will allow me to use two different PC's with one monitor? I have two PC's and I want to use one for gaming, and one for everything else.
If so, I'm just curious what would happen if, accidentally, both PC's were turned on at the same time... I am guessing that it would not be good. I'm just curious if anyone knows what would happen...I don't plan on doing this on purpose.
Also, what is/are the benefits of two monitors from one PC? I have a 9700pro and it has a feature called "hydravision" allowing me to use two monitors...
Why do this other than to have two displays? Is there some features to this I am missing?
Thanks, Red.
Right on, thanks all. I am going to try it.
I went to kvms.com and was checking out the switches there...but I am unclear as to which one I am looking for... in other words, they aren't labeled for idiots.
I can't find a switch that is for two comps one monitor. There is a 49$ switch that says you can control two comps from one set of mouse/keyboard. Is that the one?
Thanks, Red.
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Check on ebay--I got a KVM switch and complete set of cords for about $20. Granted not the highest quality, but it works. Incidentally, KVM stands for keyboard/video/mouse which allows you to use one keyboard, monitor, and mouse with two boxes (very convenient, in my opinion). Maybe you just want a vga switch and I know those are available also. Also, as you have probably learned in your research, you can't have both computers simultaneously connected to your monitor via the switch, so no worries there. Hope that helps a bit.
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"Also, what is/are the benefits of two monitors from one PC?"
It's great to be able to read one document while working on another, both full-screen. For instance cutting and pasting from one report into another without having to minimize/maximize/open/close the two documents.
Or how about monitoring something on a network (finacial markets, weather, e-mail server, whatever) without being in the way of editing documents?
Or how about dragging items from a full-screen menu onto video/audio editing software?
Mac has been multi-screen for a long time...
Later,
Bob
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Ah, yes... now I see... So, basically it increases, sort of, the horizontal screen size... sort of...bob?
That is exactly what I am looking for then, pat. I am going to do a bit more searching, maybe on ebay, and buy one of those kvm switches...
Thanks all, for the help. Much appreciation, Red.
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The problem with the "windows" concept to me has always been the idea that having multiple open windows of various sizes is useful. To me it isn't. In the 80s IBM made a huge plasma display that by default have four quadrants as four separate windows - now that was useful because each window was large and square abd could show a whole page of data. Simimilarly dual monitor allows you to use two full screen windows - way better then several overlapping small windows.
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Thanks again all.
I have a question. I went to my local retailer and found 10-12 varieties of KVM switches. I found a decent, very simple, switch box for 15 bucks (no cables), the only problem is that it had only those round, serial type pin plugs for mouse and keyboard (ps/2 ?). It did have the same monitor socket, but my mouse and keyboard are usb.
The only switchs with usb sockets I found were like 129 dollars and up. Granted they came with cables, but is this huge jump in price what I am going to expect?
Am I going to have to buy one of these more expensive units because of my USB K and M? Or, can I buy some kind of round plug thing (ps/2 ?) to usb adapter?
Thanks all,
Red.
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