TRENDnet 2-Port USB KVM Switch Kit (Includes 2x KVM Cables) TK-207K (Blue)
by TRENDnet
List Price:
Our Price: $17.90
You Save: $18.09 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $15.00 (click here)
Category: CE
See more product details
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: TRENDnetAudio: English (Original Language)
Format: CD-ROM
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional
Model: TK-207K
Product features:
- Device Type - KVM Switch
- Ports Qty - 2
- Manufacturer Warranty - 2 Years
- AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat5e Ethernet Patch Cable (50 Feet/15.2 Meters)
- AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat5e Ethernet Patch Cable (14 Feet/4.2 Meters)
- Cyberpower CPS1500AVR - 1500VA/950W AVR 6-Outlet RJ11/RJ45 2U Rack/Tower EMI/RFI USB/Serial
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of TRENDnet 2-Port USB KVM Switch Kit (Includes 2x KVM Cables) TK-207K (Blue)
Customer Review: KVM Well Worth the Low Price and Then Some
Summary: 4 Stars
I just purchased the TRENDnet TK-207K 2-Port USB KVM Switch and received it a little while ago from Amazon. As usual with Amazon the shipping was prompt.
For a long time I've wanted a KVM at home to switch between my Toshiba laptop and a Mac Mini, but the cost for those I found before were always a bit out of my price range. The lowest price I've seen on any were around $80. I would have paid up to $35, but for more than that I was willing to "make do."
Then I found this device advertised at Amazon for under $20, and figured even if it doesn't work, it would be worth the expense just to see. Well I am more than pleased with what I have received.
The TK-207K is a small box that sits on your desktop with various ports designed to hook it up to two computers. On the top are two buttons which are used to switch between your two computers. On the front are two USB ports to which you connect a USB keyboard, and a USB mouse. On the left side is a 15-pin female VGA/SVGA connector. This is where you connect the monitor you want to share between the systems. And on the back are two special 15-pin connectors that are connected via supplied cables to two computers.
The cables that come with the TK-207K device have a 15-pin male connector on one end, and two connectors on the other end, one a USB male connector, and the other a 15-pin VGA/SVGA mail connector. Both of the latter connectors connect to the computers you want to switch between.
Connecting the system up was very easy. Like all experts I started without reading the instructions. Usually that doesn't work very well, but this case was the exception. One of my computers, the Mac Mini, was already turned off. (I generally use one computer at a time, and manually switched the external hardware between the two systems.)
Just to be on the safe side I shut down the Toshiba laptop and disconnected the external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Then I connected the keyboard and mouse to the front of the KVM switch, the keyboard on the left, and the mouse on the right. There are icons printed on the device to indicate which device to connect to which port. Then I connected the external monitor to the left side of the device.
Connecting the computers to the devise was equally simple. I connected the supplied cables to the back of the device, and routed the other ends of the cables to my computers. Then I connected the VGA/SVGA connectors to the computers' VGA/SVGA connectors, and plugged the remaining USB ports into the computers.
As an aside: one added advantage to using the device is that the keyboard and mouse signals to the computers now take only one USB port on each computer leaving another port free for some other device.
I didn't install the TRENDnet driver. My laptop runs Windows Vista, but I think that the buttons on the device will be sufficient to switch between computers.
The laptop started up with the external monitor coming through the KVM switch without any problem. I noticed that the internal laptop's LCD monitor changed to a new resolution, but that was not a surprise. This normally happens when the laptop connects to a new monitor. The KVM switch looks like a new monitor to the computer. The computer recognized the new device and installed default drivers for what it thought were a new keyboard and mouse, and otherwise worked just fine.
Then I powered up the Mac Mini. This went just as well as bringing up the Windows laptop. After logging on a dialog box appeared indicating that the Mac could not recognize the keyboard. Normally at this point you are asked to press the key to the right of the left shift key to enable the Mac to configure the keyboard, but when I tried that, the Mac beeped at me to indicate that an error occurred. The reason for this is that the Mac thinks that the KVM switch is a keyboard, but was unable to get it to be configured as a keyboard. You can simply skip that dialog box, and generally everything will work fine. I am in fact writing this review on my Mac computer.
Of course I haven't had the KVM long. I don't know what it will do when the computers go to sleep and later wake up. I figured for the price I can expect some things might not work just right, but so far I haven't seen anything that I dislike.
Well, I will add one negative comment about the device. I really don't like how the cables connect to the device most of the way around it. This makes it hard to find a good place for the device that doesn't clutter your desktop (your real desktop, not the virtual desktop on your computer). Thus I gave four rather than five stars. Perhaps I shouldn't complain. The rest of my clutter tends to hide the extra clutter the device may add to my desk.
More TRENDnet 2-Port USB KVM Switch Kit (Includes 2x KVM Cables) TK-207K (Blue) reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Description of TRENDnet 2-Port USB KVM Switch Kit (Includes 2x KVM Cables) TK-207K (Blue)
The 2-Port USB KVM Switch lets you manage two PCs with just one set of keyboard, monitor, and mouse. Switch between two PCs with a simple press of a button Separate sets of KVM cables are included with the KVM Switch, so users can start controlling 2 PCs instantly. The KVM cables also provide power to the KVM Switch, eliminating the need for a power adapter. Hot Key operations provide immediate access to features such as computer switching, and auto-scanning. With its Hot-Plug, and Audible Feedback, the 2-Port USB KVM Switch is the perfect choice for managing multiple PCs.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
Similar Digital Cameras & Photo Products
TRENDnet 4-Port USB 2.0 KVM Switch and Cable Kit TK-407K (Blue)TRENDnet; TRENDnet; TRENDnet; Electronics; Personal Computer
Best price: $36.97
Price in other shops:
TRENDnet 4-Port USB KVM Switch Kit with Audio (Includes 4x KVM Cables) TK-409K (Blue)TRENDnet; Windows; CE
Best price: $43.30
Price in other shops:
Replacement PS/ 2 Keyboard to USB Adapter - M/ FSTARTECH.COM; Windows; CE
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Cables To Go - 03170 - 3.5mm Stereo Coupler F/ FCables To Go; CE
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
2 PC to 1 USB 2.0 Device AB Switch Box (Printer, Scanner)CblWhl; CE
Best price: $6.33
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 VGA HD AV CableMicrosoft; Microsoft Software; Release date: 2005-11-15; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $27.00
Price in other shops:
TRENDnet USB/ VGA KVM Cable, 10ft. (Male to Male) TK-CU10TRENDnet; Windows; CE
Best price: $8.29
Price in other shops:
Logitech Keyboard K120Logitech, Inc; CE
Best price: $9.57
Price in other shops:
USB to PS/ 2 AdapterGWC INC.; CE
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
TRENDnet 2-Port USB KVM Switch Kit with Audio (Includes 2x KVM Cables) TK-209K (Blue)TRENDnet; Windows; CE
Best price: $22.55
Price in other shops: