Help, I’m struggling to create a solution which will allow me to share a single VGA monitor, PS2 keyboard and USB mouse between a new IBM PC and a G4 PowerMac.
I’m sure someone out there has done this. Based on my research I’ve learned about the differences between PS/2 and ADB devices and all that, but a solution isn’t readily apparent for me yet.
I’m under the impression that I can use a basic KVM switch (I’ve got a Belkin Omniview SOHO), but I need some additional PS/2 to ADB converter to get the PC keyboard and mouse to talk to the Apple.
I was sharing one monitor. keyboard, and mouse between a Mac and PC, although as both my PC and my Mac could use USB stuff, I ended up using my Apple Extended Keyboard with my Microsoft laser (2 button scroll wheel) mouse. My PC had Windows XP and while it easiy recognized the Mac Keyboard and adapted to it, my Mac didn’t recognize the USB keyboard I was using with my PC. (First time I’ve ever had my PC be more accomodating than my Mac. I was using an IOgear miniview switch.
Prior to that, I did try to use a PS/2 switching thing, but I really coudn’t ever get it to work properly. If at all possible, I’d try getting the USB switch and just using that. It was absolutely trouble-free.
I’m using an IOGear Miniview III 4 port KVM switch, but I have everything using USB. The hanging point on that for me was my PC’s BIOS, which needed to be specifically told to look for a USB keyboard (using a PS/2 keyboard change the settings the first time) at boot.
The big downside is that I have one of those Logitech keyboards that have giant bulges and tons of extra buttons for doing things like changing volume and automatically installing spyware, but they aren’t recognized by the switch.
That’s not really a big loss, as I rarely uses those buttons even with it directly connected. The reason why I got that keyboard was because I’ve never been able to find a full sized 104 key USB keyboard that doesn’t have all those extra buttons glommed on.
Currently connected to the KVM is: An HP Omnibook laptop running RedHat 9, a hand-built PC running windows XP (and sometimes Mandrake 10), a blue & white G3 running Os X 10.2 and a Powerbook G4 running Os X 10.3. I haven’t had any trouble with any of them using the switch.
Sometimes I’ll boot the G3 into MacOs 9, and that works fine too.
Oh, one other thing is that when using the keyboard on the Mac, the option and apple keys are reversed (ie, they follow the standard on the keyboard, the windows key acts like the apple key, and the alt key acts like the option key). It bugged me at first but it’s not hard to get used to. I suppose if I really cared, I could re-map the keyboard layout.
You don’t have (and don’t need to hassle about) ADB on that G4, it’s peripherals bus is USB.
(My ancient WallStreet PowerBook was pretty much the last of the ADB Macs).
Your PC should also have USB, even if you’ve been in the habit of using PS/2 devices on it instead. Ditch them, get a nice USB keyboard and mouse, and use a simple USB KVM switch.
I see you live in Chicago. If you decide to get USB keyboards and all that and would like to have my KVM switch, I’d be happy to give it to you. I got a fancy-pants flat panel monitor and consequently can’t use it any more. Email me if you’d like to arrange a dropoff or some such thing.
I was looking at this and I didn’t realize that the new Mac stuff was USB and that ADB was pretty much depricated…those nasty outdated articles. (I’m not a Mac guy, just got recruited to figure this out at work)
Anyways, whats the deal with these USB switchs, the ones I’m looking at seem to just have one USB port per switched device. How are you supposed to use the keyboard and mouse? I know Macs have the mouse plugged into the keyboard, so no issue there, but what about a more standard PC setup?
Just FYI, Apple’s keyboards double as unpowered USB hubs, so you can use 'em with other USB devices as such. I often plug my digital camera or card reader (“Windows only” – hah! ) into my free keyboard port.
The switch I referenced above (and which is now collecting dust on my shelf) has USB ports for both keyboard and mouse. It also has two other USB ports that you can plug in that will toggle USB devices back and forth (I had my printer and scanner hooked up to them with the software to run them on both machines so that either could take advantage).
) into my free keyboard port.