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| PC Apex Member Reviews Hardware and software reviews submitted by members for members and moderated by members. |
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03-June-05, 12:28 PM
| #1 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Apex Tech God  |  News Pimp Review: Belkin Omnicube 2-way KVM switch. Intro When it comes to system building and trouble shooting, its a pain when it comes to cable switching....you download a driver from your main PC, turn it off, switch the cables over, turn the 2nd rig on, install the drivers only to find they donÂ’t work, and repeat the tedious sequence again. It burns away at the fuse that keeps you away from insanity, eventually resulting in the concluding smash of the 2nd rig going through the window....along with those wretched cables. KVM stands for Keyboard, Video and Mouse, used to represent the connected devices that the controller simulates to both PCs (or up to 16 PCs depending on models). A definition from http://www.cheap56k.com/glossary/KVM+switch.html :
So without further ado, the Omnicube from Belkin:  Specs from Belkin: Found HERE Advantages : • Offers a complete compact solution with built-in cables • Supports video resolutions up to 2048x1536@65Hz • Supports multiple operating systems • Installs easily • Comes with a Belkin Three-Year Warranty and free technical support Features • Features hot key switching • Includes automatic scanning function • Features LED indicators • Offers keyboard and mouse emulation • Requires no power supply • Requires no additional cables The KVMs' box also features the specifications on the rear of the packaging.  Delivery and Packaging The delivery arrived early in the morning, but was surprisingly poorly protected. The KVM, apart from its rugged plastic covers was only protected by a colorful dustbin bag. I expected better packing than this than thought the KVM to be considered more fragile. The packaging took a blow to a corner, but survived none the less.   Opening the packaging was nigh on impossible. The process involved removing the backing cover, which was pretty clear. Unfortunately from there on was a struggle. The backing card was too big to pull out of the gap form the cover, so a good pull was required, with support form my right foot. From here it gets bad. The packaging has an inner plastic fascia which the KVM box and cable endings sit in. Regardless of this not being attached to the outer casing, the outer casing (all of it) had to be removed first. With most injection molded packages a simple tug releases the goods inside...this involved a pair of high sharpness gardening clippers. This casing is not for the weak hearted.   The Grand Tour The KVM is a matt black finish with the usual Belkin logos. A clear acrylic area covers the LEDs, and the cables are black with a fibrous protective layer inside...possibly to protect the signals from distorting.  The first thing you notice about any KVM with attached cables is the length of them. I have seen a few like this before and companies make an effort to give the user ease of use with cables that span over 2 meters. The cables are permanently attached to the KVM, so if there is a problem that arises, there’s not a lot that can be done. This however is unlikely...most cables are permanently attached to something and damaging pins rarely happens. There's always the old keyboard lying around and screen cable if the worst comes to the worst. The guarantee should however take of anything like this and at 3 years it’s certainly good to take note of.  Also included in the box are 2 manuals: one quick-reference with multiple languages and one double-sided paged, English manual with every step or setting up, use and troubleshooting.  The cable endings are all color coordinated, and this is really only for matching up and user-friendliness. The cables also combine to form a single cable to the controller and as a result reduce the number of cables going to and from the computer. All that’s needed to run the PC are 2 "effective" cables...KVM and Power.  Installation + Use Installation is as easy as it gets...the cables plug into the back of the PCs you want to use, and the keyboard, mouse and screen plug into the other side of the KVM. Here you can see my 2 PCs linked up and ready to go.   The PCs should be off when installation is in progress, to be on the safe side. The dramatic length of the cables again gives a problem where some good cable management should be looked into. Just the length of them means a good deal of tucking and hiding. The cable lump itself with the cables plugged into the KVM controller does pose as a large object, and no amount of blue-tack on the side of the office desk will hold it in place...hiding it is the only real option. Once all cables are in place I switched on the PCs, and the 1st one displayed was the primary cable (my main rig). A simple Scroll Lock, Scroll Lock on the keyboard activates the simple programming on the KVM, and within 2 seconds you have to press either 1, 2, or up and down on the keyboard to select your desired PC. Advanced Logitech and Microsoft keyboards will find this hard to do with the F-Key lock on the keyboard, which always seems to be set on as default...disabling this lets the KVM work properly. Testing I tested the Belkin Omnicube KVM with the following:
I've recorded a video to show the KVM in action. NB - the screen doesnÂ’t change on the first changeover quickly because the secondary PC was power saving. The other changeovers were as they should be. KVM changeover. (right hand click to save) Conclusion Well, I have to say for a simple improvement, I'm impressed. The direct beneficiaries of devices like these are cluster, folding and technician users...the latter 2 I am involved in constantly. ThereÂ’s very little to judge this KVM badly on...there are bigger, better models with sound, USB and many other options, this one simply does the raw controls. One thing I would say is the lack of a native control on the KVM itself, another would be the un-detachable cables...but because of a very small footprint, there isnÂ’t a necessity for anything like this. Pimp
--------------------- Overall I award 9/10 pimp hats for an overall great and useful device which has really helped me improve my work environment. Last edited by nev_payne; 03-June-05 at 05:06 PM.. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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03-June-05, 03:58 PM
| #3 (permalink) | |
| Apex Elite Tech  | Nice writeup Nev! I have one of those myself, except it's the USB version, and it does have a button on the unit to switch. I really don't like it, the operation seemed kinda flakey sometimes. (like when one of the computers is on, and the other one is booting up) I wish I'd gotten the PS2 version of it. | |
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