IOGEAR's USB Laptop KVM Switch provides your portable with impressive new powers

Despite the best attempts of computer manufacturers, most of us still need two computers to make it through the week: perhaps a laptop for the daily grind and a desktop for transcoding h.264 files... whatever works for you. IOGEAR is looking to cash in on this trend with its new USB Laptop KVM Switch, which, unlike traditional KVMs, allows you to use your laptop's keyboard, mouse and display to control a second computer over USB. Setup couldn't be simpler, with a USB 2.0 plug on each end of the widget, and a USB port in the middle for hooking up to printers or external drives and such. You can drag and drop files between environments, and obviously switch on the fly between the two computers. Only trouble is that it only works with Windows operating systems -- no cross-platform switching -- and it'll run you a steep $130.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 25th 2008 11:49AM]

Use synergy instead.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

[Matt @ Aug 25th 2008 11:53AM]

Wouldn't let you drag and drop files between environments, or share a display.

But for that, you could use a VNC client/server, and save yourself $130.

[Avaviel @ Aug 25th 2008 11:54AM]

The moment I saw this post I thought "Synergy" You beat me to it! Besides that, synergy is free. And cross platform.

[Tonicboy @ Aug 25th 2008 11:57AM]

maybe i'm just dense but i don't get how synergy gets data from multiple displays without hardware. unless it's getting it over the network which means that the performance would be roughly equal to VNC - in other words, lousy for daily use. also, this doohickey lets you use the laptop display for your desktop which is a handy little trick. the only thing is that price tag is a little steep. $100 and it would be a great product.

[jt @ Aug 25th 2008 12:19PM]

Teleport (for Macs) works great - and it's free.

[Andrew @ Aug 25th 2008 12:15PM]

Synergy IIRC requires multiple monitors (one per workstation). Unless that has changed, this dongle does have an advantage. I personally wouldn't throw $130 into this dongle, but im sure there are some people that require such a device. I think the main idea of this is making remote machines more like running a VM in terms of drag+dropping between installs and using a single keyboard/mouse/keyboard. VNC could also work, but I'm not sure about the progress about transferring between OSs (not that setting up SHARED FOLDERS is very difficult)

[phoomp @ Aug 25th 2008 12:42PM]

@Tonicboy
You are right. Synergy sends information though a network. A typical KVM shares one Keyboard, Video and Mouse between multiple computer. Synergy is just a KM; it's only sending Keyboard and Mouse information, not Video. As a result, performance is fine; baring network interruptions, I've never felt any lag. But, each computer does need it's own monitor.

[Steve @ Aug 25th 2008 2:05PM]

The only problem with synergy, which got it banned from our company is that it doesn't support encryption or authentication out of the box:

"Synergy does not do any authentication or encryption. Any computer can connect to the synergy server if it provides a screen name known to the server" (They do go on to explain how you can use SSH to combat this, but this means that the end user has to be much more careful about how you set it up).

At least with this iogear solution, as overpriced as it is, you aren't leaving your computer open to manipulation.

[genaldar @ Aug 25th 2008 4:48PM]

Tonicboy - VNC clients are fine for everyday use, if you're on the same network. Which of course still gives you more range than this usb solution. And unlike Synergy every computer monitor doesn't have to be on, and you don't need to be close enough to see them both.

[andy @ Aug 25th 2008 11:53AM]

Synergy anyone?

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

[Josh @ Aug 25th 2008 11:53AM]

Sounds like Synergy

[Frank @ Aug 25th 2008 12:28PM]

I get the same functionality for free with Windoes Remote Desktop over the network.

[avester @ Aug 25th 2008 12:33PM]

More like Windoesn't.

No.

[Norman @ Aug 25th 2008 11:55AM]

The link to the source in the teaser photo and "read more" link seems to be fubar.

source: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/iogear_announces_usb_laptop_kvm_switch

[Simon Tooke @ Aug 25th 2008 12:08PM]

Yup, it's sort if identical to VNC, except using a USB TCP transport and no cross-platform compatibility.

[From My Cube @ Aug 25th 2008 12:05PM]

I really like this idea

[Jeff @ Aug 25th 2008 12:06PM]

This is really a software on hardware KVM switch. The original idea is something called a software kvm, the USB connection just allows for the added file transfer which could probably be implemented into something like Synergy pretty easily. The software KVMs work very fast over networks even over Wireless G since all its transmitting is mouse and keyboard data.

[Phoenix @ Aug 25th 2008 3:48PM]

KVMs send Keyboard, VIDEO and mouse, and are hence laggy over networking. it's KMs that do what you speak of.

[blizz419 @ Aug 25th 2008 12:08PM]

lol like everyone else said why not just use synergy for free lol

[Pentox @ Aug 25th 2008 12:12PM]

The main difference between this and synergy though is the network aspect. From how it looks this thing runs video over the usb, which means you can stage a headless system that's off the network. I see the main benefit being for checking servers and the like, troubleshooting network issues, and basically anything where you don't have a terminal on the computer and may not be able to access it via network. I've been waiting years for a product like this. Now if only they would just build this into a netbook that would be amazing.

[L.Rawlins @ Aug 25th 2008 12:18PM]

Input Director is pretty good for free, but I use the 'Mirror Pro' version of Maxi Vista over WiFi at work. Check 'em out.

http://www.inputdirector.com/
http://www.maxivista.com/

[JohnnieTech @ Aug 25th 2008 12:24PM]

You could always use Teleport for OS X... Allows copy/paste, and drag and drop file ability as well. Can rearrange screens virtually. Used it between my Powermac and Pbook for about 6 months.


http://abyssoft.com/software/teleport/

[XavierBlak @ Aug 25th 2008 12:40PM]

What I'd really want it a device that takes VGA in from the source PC and then come in via USB to the client PC. Basicaly this device:
http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/vga2usb/
The only thing this is missing is some sort of keyboard and mouse functionality.

[n81acc @ Aug 25th 2008 4:10PM]

http://epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/kvm2usb/

[Herbie555 @ Aug 25th 2008 12:54PM]

Can I hook it up backwards? I'd love to be able to access my work laptop from my nice comfy ergonomic keyboard and widescreen monitors....

[Michael @ Aug 25th 2008 2:18PM]

That makes so much more sense to me.

Why would anyone want to use their laptop screen and keyboard when you could use a full size keyboard, real mouse, and have a much larger screen on your desktop.

[Herbie555 @ Aug 25th 2008 12:55PM]

Can I hook it up backwards? I'd love to be able to use/access my work-assigned laptop from my nice comfy ergonomic keyboard and widescreen monitors...

[muddyh2o @ Aug 25th 2008 2:22PM]

ditto

do it works?

[John Marshall @ Aug 25th 2008 1:09PM]

What you're all missing is the targeted use for this: headless servers. This has been a long standing issue for traveling techs, impromptu connections where you can't install client software, and quick-n-dirty control of machines with only a power connector. A Google search will show how badly this has been needed.

[Pentox @ Aug 25th 2008 2:00PM]

Ah finally someone else who noticed the value of this device.

[Tommy @ Aug 25th 2008 2:05PM]

I agree! Many times I have to lug around a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to work on some of the headless PCs I install. This tool would be great!!

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 25th 2008 2:03PM]

This doesn't give you a display, just a mouse and keyboard.

And a good solution for the problem of not having a USB mouse and keyboard is to have a USB mouse and keyboard. There are plenty of compact ones out there. Carry one with you.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 25th 2008 2:10PM]

I take it back. This apparently does video. However, that requires installing client software (as does file transfer), so I'm not quite sure how that fills the bill described.

[Michael @ Aug 25th 2008 2:21PM]

Ok, I can see that. Using this as a tool for making your laptop your portable monitor, keyboard and mouse for using servers that have no monitor, keyboard or mouse hooked up.

Not exactly a consumer product though.

[Zorque @ Aug 25th 2008 1:45PM]

Like basically everyone has said, I'd just use Synergy or RDC, or for computers where software can't be installed, LogMeIn, which is web-based.

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 25th 2008 2:06PM]

There's a web-based version of RDC too. On the host computer, go to add/remove windows componants. Under IIS, you'll find a RDC web connection or something. Anyway, the result is a folder in your web root directory called TSWeb. Here's mine
http://70.76.130.186/tsweb/

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 25th 2008 2:11PM]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdwebconn.mspx

[Defiler @ Aug 25th 2008 2:42PM]

Multiplicity anyone?

http://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/

[Will B @ Aug 25th 2008 3:06PM]

LOL. Don't waste the $130. SynergyKM does this for free. It works on OSX and Windows, it's awesome. Google it.

[genaldar @ Aug 25th 2008 4:53PM]

Synergy doesn't do video, this does. But you could use VNC.

[BirdofPrey @ Aug 25th 2008 3:11PM]

Or you could just use software thats already available and a patch cable and have more money.

[BzowK @ Aug 25th 2008 3:12PM]

None of the softwares will work properly for certain situations. I have a laptop next to my desktop, yet I cannot have them networked as one is on a corporate domain and the other a cable modem for outside work. This device would be a huge help for this scenario. (unless i VPNed into the domain via the laptop which would just be plain stupid and a waste of bandwidth / security.

[genaldar @ Aug 25th 2008 4:58PM]

If you have public IP addresses you could access both using VNC which would be fine if they're both on fast networks (5+ megs is useable imo). Or if they don't have public ips you could use LogMeIn, which works with NAT without a problem. It is more sluggish so you'd need alittle more bandwidth. And both those solutions are free.

[Jonas @ Aug 25th 2008 5:49PM]

Unfortunately, for those folks that mentioned this would be great for traveling techs and such to do troubleshooting, you're incorrect.

This device won't transmit any video during the boot up/post stage, so you'll miss all of the diagnostics, and even how to get into the bios on an unknown industrial server or the like.

There's a reason why that epiphan link above costs $400 as opposed to this $130, because its a true portable KVM type device, that actually transmits real VGA signal.

[adept1 @ Aug 25th 2008 11:55PM]

mstsc /v:computername /console

[Phil @ Aug 26th 2008 5:27AM]

KVMs are so 90s. We manage all of our server architecture using remote desktop, which basically does what this does, for multiple simultanous users and over networks and VPNs.

If we DID need to venture into the server room to restart a failed server there's already a multi-way KVM, monitor, mouse and keyboard set up in there. Why the hell would we take a laptop!?

I really can't see a use for this product, it only serves to take a massive step backwards from Remote Desktop. Comparisons to VNC and Synergy are fairly irrelevant as this only works with Windows and anyone replacing RD with VNC is, for lack of a better term, fucking stupid.

[slarity @ Aug 26th 2008 9:09AM]

Im sure these have good uses but I just started using a program called Octopus for dual boxing in wow, its working amazingly well and was suprisingly easy to setup.

[Perry Hackshaw @ Aug 28th 2008 12:26PM]

My god some serious misunderstanding here by people above.
This is a device for use by traveling techies that go into a data center or a "server room" for the weenies, that does not have a key board, or mouse or screen. It allows you to use your laptop as a screen, keyboard and mouse to see the console on the server.

"
There's a reason why that epiphan link above costs $400 as opposed to this $130, because its a true portable KVM type device, that actually transmits real VGA signal.]
"

The epiphan one is a killer but pricey and the IOgear a cheaper but useful tool.

Ideally one should have your Drac or ILO's configured correctly if you go to regular sites allowing semi decent full boot visibility though. These devices arent to suplant MSTSC or VNC etc, there a base use for when your groovy RDC tools = FAIL.