/ personal tech / gadget /Making the switch |
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Using one computer port for two devices is simple with an A/B switch. Just flip it to alternate between devices, such as two printers. The $169 SwitchView from Avocent (800-932-9239) improves on the A/B concept. It can run two Intel-based computers at once—with just one monitor and one keyboard. With SwitchView hooked up, just press a button and your display flips from one computer's desktop to the other. The computers must have a standard VGA connection and PS/2 connections for the keyboard and mouse; you can also attach a serial mouse with an adapter. The color-coded cables made setup a breeze, but a printed manual would have been nice; the included electronic manual is on a CD. SwitchView is useful for saving space and sharing resources, especially for a home network. —Eric Griffith / click here /Avocent |