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PC/MAC KVM SWITCH?

sparkle

Senior member
Does anyone know if there are KVM switches that will work cross-platform? I am trying to find out for someone, and can't even begin to figure out where to look.
 
The only chance I think you'd have is to find a KVM that uses USB, because that's the only way apples connect.

maybe you could try using USB->PS/2 convertors on the Macs stuff - but don't come crying to me if it doesn't work. & not only that, but how are you gonna hook up ANYTHING to the Mac ?? I mean it has 2 USB ports - if you've got cables from there to a KVM (1 for mouse/1 for keyboard) you can't use a scanner/printer/ANYTHING.

Cuz there are 2 extra ports on the keyboard


Oh yea - all this is just my senseless ideas re: my gf's G4 - I really dunno much about older Macs
 
Are you using recent macs (with USB hook ups for mouse and keyboard) or the old style ADB connector that looks like a PS-2 hookup? Here is one place if you want to hook up an old style macintosh. Otherwise, try getting a COM port switch, hooking up a monitor to the end which would hook up to the PC, and hooking up the two computers too the other end. As the switch is just a passthrough, it should not matter what is hooked up to it. You may need to buy male-female connectors or something, but that should cover monitors. For the keyboard, it is much more difficult. I have not attempted to use a PC keyboard on a mac, but the mac USB keyboards will not work with PCs (in my experience), the signals are all different. I dont know where to find an adapter for that, so you may need two keyboards on your desk.
 
Iogear. Like joinT mentioned, you're going to have to use USB peripherals, so hopefully you are trying to hook up semi-new PC's and newer G3's or G4's. If not, Iogear (and other manufacturers) also have a setup that takes PS2 peripherals and includes a MAC ADB adapter.

~bex0rs
 
And yes, the dinky MAC keyboards do work on PC's. Provided you have drivers, the majority of USB devices are cross-platform.

~bex0rs
 
Sorry I was not so specific on the Mac. it is a G3.

But i finally found a solution here it is a KVM switch that will allow PC mice/keyboards work on a Mac as well. And it looks like you can use either platforms monitor.

Thanks fo the info all!
 
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