Setting up a KVM switch.
 

Well here's my dilema. I have a computer that uses a USB keyboard and USB mouse (each plugs into their own respective spot) and I have an old gateway. I want to hook them both up to to a kvm switch so i can share a monitor and my usb keyboard and mouse...whats the best way of doing this?

USB to PS2 converters or an expensive USB/PS2 KVM are your only real options. Expect to drop a large chunk of change on soemthing like that. any USB KVM is 80 bucks or up...

Yeah, and converters should be relatively cheep.

You can try USB-to-PS2 converters. I have an IOGear KVMP switch which takes USB keyboard and mouse. It supports 4 computers, can share USB 1.1 devices (new ones support 2.0), and has on-screen display.

I got it for $130 but you can find it cheaper now. The 2 PC ones are less costly.

I really like it, HOWEVER it doesn't support the extra keys and buttons of your USB keyboard and mouse. It'll recognize your standard Windows keyboard and 3-button scroll mouse just fine, but the other keys won't work. I spoke with their tech support and its how they needed to build the device to ensure continuous keyboard/mouse recognition across all devices.

If you can live with this, I highly recommend the IOGear unit for USB.

How often will you be switching between the two?

For a free software option, you might want to look into VNC server & client.

Details at http://www.realvnc.com

I use at work a LOT. Great program.

i'll go with that solution to.. it's very handy I use at least 4 different computers all at the same time and I can monitor what is happening with them simultaneously.

VNC is a great program if you are running an older OS. If you have 2000 or XP turn on terminal services and use the Remote Desktop Client. I find it is a bit faster then VNC.

can someone tell me what the point of a USB mouse or keyboard is?

for one they have a future.

because if the PC world would get its head out of it's ass and phase out obsolete hardware like floppy drives, PS2 ports would ALSO become obsolete. ;) USB is hot-swappable, you can put a hub in a keyboard, so that one connection does double-duty, and adds 2 more ports to your comp, I am pretty sure that PS2 doesn't have power, which means optical mice (which are MUCH nicer than ball mice) can only be USB (don't quote me here, i'm guessing on that last one).

"But sometimes it's more than a bit painful for people who aren't as ready as Intel to trade their old and reliable lamps for the bright and shining new ones that bring additional expense and possibly compatibility problems."

I personaly use USB for my mouse (it's faster, and supports more features) The USB KD, would be fine too if I had one. You can hot swap PS/2, but risk blowing a fuse.

pfft! I have a PS2 optical mouse. And it works pretty damn well too. I don't think I'd personally ever get a USB mouse or keyboard just because I don't want to wait awhile while the OS loads them.