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E&J Int. 4-Port KVM Switch
By Kelly Lu - July 4, 2001
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Having the use for being able to switch between 4 computers used to be limited to the server and workstation arena. Now, even regular home users have more than one computer lying around, but don't have the resources to purchase separate monitors, keyboards and mice for each of them. To be able to use all these computers, users would have to swap between displays and controller by plugging them in and out, and, as with PS/2 mice, requires a reboot of the computers.
We've looked at a device called the KVM switch before. Basically, KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches allow users to switch between multiple computers with a press of a button or even a keyboard combination. They are more advanced than so-called mechanical switches in that they contain computer circuitry to maintain your mouse and keyboard connection (so that you won't loose your mouse connection for no reason) and ensures top-quality video output-of course, all this comes at a price. Most KVM switches are quite expensive, retailing for a few hundred bucks usually-the KNV104D that we're reviewing here is no exception. At $250, it isn't cheap, but it will be cheaper than having to buy 4 monitors, keyboards and mice!
 Being able to switch between multiple computers is great, but it's not for everyone. One of the main downsides of only using one display, keyboard and mouse is that only one person can use any of the computers at one time. A second downside is that the user cannot see the displays from multiple computers at the same time. Thus, this could be problematic for many regular users, but should not be a problem for some; server administrators are what these devices are targeted at, since it makes it so that the administrator doesn't have to run around to multiple computers and, instead, can control all the servers from one location. I also find that using a KVM switch also works for long benchmarking sessions as all I have to do is set it to run and then switch back to my work computer. Of course, when it comes time to record benchmark data directly to an Excel document on my work computer, it does require a fair bit of switching around. As I said before, these devices aren't for everyone and you should access what you'll be using your computers for before you looking further into one of these.
Specifications
We received the KNV104D model, which has an on-screen display built-in. This means that the user can switch between computers (and even name them to your liking) using an easy to use on-screen menu. This could become very handy if you've got a lot of computers, but, in my mind, is a little unnecessary for only 4 computers. E&J also has a KNV104 (without the "D") model, which doesn't have this feature and can save you some bucks if you feel that you don't need it.
One of the first notable features of the KNV104D is its ability to use both serial and PS/2 mice. This might not seem like much, but it's actually quite complex since it has to have the circuitry to convert back and forth between serial and PS/2 mouse signals (or else you're stuck with having to connect using either serial or PS/2 on all your computers).
Another notable feature is its ability to display at resolutions as high as 1920x1440, which is far greater than most people would ever think of running their displays. As running at such high resolutions requires very high-quality circuitry and cables that carry virtually no interference, it'll be interesting to see if this holds true.
 On to: Installation and Usage
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