TRENDnet TK-400K KVM Switch Kit

Pros: Switches quickly between computers with out issue

Cons: a VGA to DVI converter will not work on this unit. I use a TV as a monitor with a DVI Cable. Up until this point I've been using an adapter to connect the TV to a bunch of my PCS. I had to setup a monitor, a different keyboard and mouse and hook the Tv up to my main only. Defeated the purpose of using 1 keyboard mouse and monitor. -2 eggs

Manufacturer Response:

Valued Customer,

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Unfortunately, TK-400K only supports analog and will not support digital devices. We would like to suggest
TK-214i,http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=185_TK-214i&cat=105, or TK-204UK, http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=210_TK-204UK&cat=105, which are fully compatible with digital devices. Please contact us at sales@trendnet.com, reference "New Egg TK-400K product review" and someone will contact you immediately to resolve your issue. We look forward to working with you directly and restoring your faith in TRENDnet products.

Warmest regards,

TRENDnet Sales Team

Pros: I've been using one of these now for about 6 years. It's been 100% reliable and almost perfectly well-behaved.

Cons: PS/2 has nearly vanished from lower-end consumer-grade computers, though it's happily still supported on many of the better motherboards. PS/2 has some significant functional advantages over USB; however, most users are unaware of that fact and I'm sure it will continue to fade away.

Other Thoughts: An adapter allows the use of a wired USB mouse with this switch. I've tried using a wireless mouse USB receiver along with that PS/2 adapter on this switch; but it didn't work, as expected. There are many excellent wireless mice on the market now, with long battery life and so forth. For this reason, and because of the decline of PS/2, I'm now shopping for a comparable USB type KVM to replace this venerable workhorse. Also, it's reasonable to expect age to kill this old switch. I'd be inconvenienced if that happened, and besides I'd lilke to keep it as a working backup.

Pros: Does what it's supposed to. I like how there's a light showing which of the four connections is active.

Cons: The mouse cable on one of the four sets was dead on arrival. So I'm running four machines with one keyboard and two mice, one mouse replacing the one bad cable. A small hassle but not worth returning the whole unit.

Other Thoughts: One egg off for the bad cable. And it beeps when you press the button on top of the box to switch between machines. Could be a good thing or could be annoying.

Pros: It comes with PS/2 cables.
It doesn't need external power.

Cons: Can't put the display on top of it. Can't mount it under a counter and still see read it. Not designed for either, just stating the obvious. Numbers not easily read at an angle.

Other Thoughts: Good price for features. Will buy for small support equipment closets.

Pros: Handles three CPUs with mixed OSs (Win 7, Win XP, Ubuntu Linux) well. Mouse movement is smooth and consistent between systems. No keyboard bounce/missed keystrokes observed.

Cons: Hot key switching is flaky at best. ScrLock-ScrLock sequence is picked up by the KVM maybe one in five tries. On the rare occasion that sequence is recognized (first beep), the next keystroke (a digit or cursor up/down) almost never is. I'm using a MS Natural keyboard, YMMV.
The KVM produces annoying beeps when switching between CPUs, a 'feature' that cannot be disabled.

Other Thoughts: Although it's a pain to be forced to use the manual switch, I'll do it. It's disappointing because I really prefer using the hotkeys. Switching via hotkey or manual is fairly slow. I have not been able to get the scan function to work (requires working hotkey).

Manufacturer Response:

Valued Customer,

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We believe your product is still under warranty and would qualify for a full replacement. Please contact us at sales@trendnet.com, reference "New Egg product review" and someone will contact you immediately to expedite the replacement process. We look forward to working with you directly and restoring your faith in TRENDnet products.

Warmest regards,

TRENDnet Sales Team

Pros: cables included. good KVM for hobbyist who have old PCs with PS2 keyboards and mouse.

Cons: it doesn't prepare breakfast for me :) -- jk --

Pros: Works everytime for me. [Scroll lock] [Scroll lock] [Arrow Up] or [Arrow down] to go up or down, or [Scroll lock] [Scroll lock] [1] to pick 1st set of ports, etc.

Or, there's a button to hit on the unit if you need. Unit beeps when switching.

Has been used constantly since 2005.

Cables are of excellent quality, and 4 set included.

Works without additional DC power supply.

Very, very happy.

Cons: PS-2 ports only. Because of the USB signal polling, USB to PS-2 converters to the keyboard and mouse do not work. Must have PS-2 mouse and keyboard. Yes, I've tried more than 2 sets.

Awkward to position gracefully, cables enter box from all 4 horizonal sides.

Beeps kinda loud when switching, if you're trying to be subtle about switching, say, in the middle of the night.

Other Thoughts: Must use PS-2 keyboard and mouse, no converters.

Pros: Mostly functions adequately.

Cons: But it's barely more complicated than a doorstop. It should function perfectly, always, and still not be expensive for such a trivial device.

1. When using keyboard combination (Scroll Lock twice + number of computer), the number will occasionally be output to the most-recently selected computer -- not the one you just switched to, but the one you just switched from, so you won't notice until you switch back and by then, BASH or whatever program was active, will be overwhelmed with the spurious inputs.

2. It has a DC input jack, but no AC/DC adapter. Am I expected to buy an AC/DC adapter separately? Is this why it doesn't work quite right? The green light on the device turns on when I plug the VGA cable from the monitor into it, so it's obviously getting some power. Does it need more?

Other Thoughts: This is not advanced electrical engineering that TrendNet fouled up, it's basic attention to detail. I will not buy this brand again. Even if Newegg offers some TrendNet product free with a future purchase, I'll ask them to keep it rather than charge me more for s&h. Seriously. For such a simplistic device to function adequately any less than 100% of the time is just absurd.

Pros: nice item, thick cable and when you have a computer on using the kvm switch it will not display the input on the screen - big plusss! also u can change the inputs using your keyboard and no additionl software requierd - make is easy and clean with no junk software installed in your computer or in your linux os - so its compatible with any computer/os as long as you have all the cables plugged in:ps2 k/m and the screen

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: non

Pros: Working great for 3 years. Have 4 of these and buying a fifth. At the price, it's like buying the cables and getting the switch free.

Cons: The spider layout is distracting, but I knew that from the picture.

Other Thoughts: Needed to add 2 more computers to the 4 on the switch. Daisy chained two 4 port switches and got 7 computers hooked up. Works fine except for one computer I had to hook up a USB mouse. Maybe if I powered the switches, it would have worked better. I am going to try that. If it works, I will post again.