Elecom's USB hub shares devices, not feelings, with your spouse

Here's a 7-port USB hub for the hardcore-singles or corporate-couples amongst you. The ¥7,035 (about $71) AC-powered U2SW-B27SBK hub from Elecom lets you share up to seven USB 2.0/1.1 devices simultaneously across a pair of USB connected computers; Mac or PC, makes no difference to Elecom. While it'll share a USB keyboard and mouse between machines, there's no video-out so it's not a true KVM. It does, however, include a little change-over switch that's supposed to allow for a nag-free swap-out of computers. A welcome solution for couples toting laptops back and forth from the cubicle farms. At least it will be when it begins shipping in Japan starting mid-May.

[Via Impress]

[Sabrage Posted May 8th 2009 4:35AM]

Quite frankly I'm surprised there aren't more of these.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 4:45AM]

http://www.usb-over-ethernet.com/
one server with all usb devices is more suitable solution
I use it at home

[AJ Posted May 8th 2009 11:08AM]

Interesting, but no Mac support from what I can see. I use both at home and at work.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 5:05AM]

I've been using one of these with a powered usb hub for the last 2 years:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-USB-2-0-4-Port-Manual-Sharing-Switch-Box-059_W0QQitemZ220321901427QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCOMP_EN_Hubs?hash=item334c356b73&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Not as pretty but less than $20 including the hub and shipping.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 5:21AM]

Can you bypass endpoint protection with this?

Some software like http://www.endpointprotector.com/

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 5:31AM]

I am loving these translations..

"* Because, this product is designed supposing the Japanese domestic power source, overseas Japan you cannot use."

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 6:07AM]

This is a really awesome product for home or possibly travel. A server is more practical for a business but then again you could use this product if you have two servers.

[Maurizio Posted May 8th 2009 9:14AM]

Could this be the answer to turning a WD-TV into a media streamer? Have that thing attached to your pc and the WD-TV?

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 10:07AM]

I don't see the wonder here -- I've had one of these (sharing up to 4 computers) for a long time. Is it the 7 ports? I hooked a USB hub up to mine...now I can share 8 devices on 4 computers for way less than this...

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 3:13PM]

Is there something similar to this readily available in the U.S. today? I've been looking for something to just share a usb keyboard and usb mouse between my desktop & laptop. All the KVM's i've looked at seem like overkill + I don't need the monitor sharing functionality.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 5:04PM]

How does that even work? What if you have a scanner and all computers go at once? Is it mapped one device per machine? I haven't read TFA, and I don't understand it

[joshuag18 Posted May 8th 2009 5:39PM]

Daisy Chaining?