IOGEAR GCS72U 2-Port USB Cable KVM Switch with Audio

Pros: Easy setup. Just the thing I needed for my setup. Worked great for one month.

Cons: Only worked for a month

Other Thoughts: I was working on computer # 1 when the screen went blank-No Signal. At first I thought that the VGA on the MB had gone out.
I hooked the monitor to the Mb and had a great picture. Hooked it up to the KVM and again no picture, so I tried computer #2 and it worked as it as had, no problems. This unit works great while it works, but if you want something that lasts this IOGEAR KVM may not be for you.

Pros: This item works great! I am using with my desktop and laptop with a repeater. Works just like it should. I'm using it with a USB dock and have all the items plugged in to one side of the USB port and it works fine. I have the switch two side tapped to the bottom of my monitor and it works very well. I have been able to charge my iPhone, run the mouse, keyboard, and access a thumb drive from one side of the USB port on the device. Cables on the device seem to be long enough for all one would want to do.

Cons: Requires 2 USB plugs to be connected by default.
Took a couple of times booting before the monitor accepted the proper resolution on both computers.

Pros: It switches extremely quick and perfectly between my laptop and pc. Also, the cable for the switcher is lengthy.

Cons: Not a huge con, but, the usb cables (which are connected to the vga cable) are just a tad short. The laptop I use has only one usb slot next to the vga input and two on the other side. I'll end up getting an extra usb hub to connect the mouse/keyboard which hopefully solves my double-mouse issue.

Pros: Excellent. I had one of these for 2 years, never had any problem. Now I am getting another one for my office.

Cons: None

Pros: Lasted 6 months. Go China!

Cons: Didn't last 7 months! Go China. Remote switch is fairly cheap. It now takes some finesse to push it in the right spot to get it to switch. One side failed to switch over completely now.

Other Thoughts: The remote switch is awesome, but useless when it fails to switch between connections. Worked well for about 6 months, but now over time it starts to freak out on one side of the connection causing the backlit keys on the keyboard to flash on and off like it's rapidly losing and reacquiring the connection. Now it won't pick up the 2nd connection. Garbage. Don't waste your time with this.

Manufacturer Response:

First, thank you for choosing IOGEAR and we apologize for your experience. The product should not behave as you described. Since the unit is backed by IOGEAR's 3 year warranty feel free to contact our customer support at 1-866-946-4327 or email us: support@iogear.com. Again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.

Pros: I have 2 laptops and wanted to run on 1 keyboard, mouse, video (monitor), printer. So read an earlier review that someone used a HUB to connect 1 side of switch to computer this allowed for additional openings for added components. Well I purchased (Item#: N82E16817182174) and connected this switch to the HUB on one computer (only the USB's)(see below). Now I am running my KMV AND Printer AND camera (down load pictures for work) AND have an empty slot for a phone or whatever!!!! Both computers (DELL Laptop & ASUS Notebook) see ALL the components when I press the little button.

**NOTE** I do have my monitor connected SEPERATELY via HDMI from Notebook and VGI from Laptop as there are 4 inputs on monitor. This way I am running better picture quality instead of the SERIAL connections provided. IMO this is the way to go..use the switch for the USB features. I simply toggle my monitor back and forth after pressing the button.

Cons: Kind of bulky and the USB cords are NOT long enough if you need to split the USB connection on both sides of a laptop/notebook. I have my Laptop on a Dock and there is no issues. My Notebook is on a stand with fans/USB HUB next to fans (center of stand). If it wasnt for the hub in the stand, I would have had to gotten USB extensions.

If you are running 2 desktops and/or a Dock for laptop...you will have NO issues.

I have the rats nest of wires stuffed behind my desk (out of site..out of mind..lol).

For these 2 reasons, I deducted 1egg.

Other Thoughts: You hear multiple alarms (USB dings you hear upon connection) each time you press the switch button. Some people complain about this...I personally don't mind and have gotten use to it...plus the dings notify me that I did indeed press the switch button. I believe you can change your settings in your OS to silence the alarms if you need...so not really a con.

Overall this is a very good switch for my application and was able to make this KMV into a KMVP++ with a HUB!!!!!

Pros: Great price.

It works fine 99% of the time.

No loss of video quality at 1920x1080/60.

I really like the one-button switch. I've used KVM's that had "hot keys" before and never liked them.

Cons: Once or twice, I switched PC's and the keyboard and mouse would not work until I switched back and forth a couple of times. This device does not emulate a keyboard/mouse. It simply disconnects them from one PC and connects them to the other, similar to what would happen if you unplug the keyboard/mouse from one PC and plug it into the other.

This is fine, but I've found that if I don't wait to press a button on the keyboard until after I hear the tone indicating that Windows has recognized and connected to the devices, then the keyboard/mouse simply will not respond.

My advice: be patient after you press the button to switch computers. Wait until you hear the sound Windows makes when it connects to USB devices (i.e. your mouse and keyboard) before you move the mouse or press a key.

Other Thoughts: I don't use the audio connections on this switch. I prefer to hear the sound from both PC's so that I know when someone is trying to contact me on one or the other computer.

I use this with my laptop and docking station connected to one port, and my desktop PC connected to the other port on the switch.

My laptop has the display extended between the built-in display and my monitor. Somehow, even though the switch doesn't emulate a monitor, my laptop stays in extended mode when I switch to my desktop. This works great for me because I can still see what's on my laptop screen when I'm using my desktop.

It takes a second or two after I press the button on the KVM before the monitor, keyboard, and mouse are stable... but that's OK with me.

I really like the separate button. I used double-sided tape to stick it to the base of my monitor. It makes perfect sense there.

Pros: Good quality. Inexpensive. Easy set up. Used 24/7 with Logitech wireless mouse and keyboard for over a year and no problems. Samsung SyncMaster XL2370HD using vga.

Cons: None

Pros: Fast switching, easy set up, price, remote, great for IT work.

Cons: No hdmi/dvi, USB support could be better, slightly blurry VGA. Bad for graphic design.

Other Thoughts: VGA VS DVI:
Let start by saying the majority of the cons come from my lack of research/knowledge of VGA vs DVI. I was disappointed to see that the image on my monitor was blurry compared to the DVI at the same resolution. In the future I will get one with DVI support but I'm not gonna pay $100 for that feature at this time. So if you work with photoshop professionally you may not want this. However my wife loves it as now she can connect her work docking station and not have the office cluttered (she doesn't care about the blur she just uses excel etc) So if your an IT pro that fixes desktops this is perfect.

USB SUPPORT:
Okay now I know I'm expecting too much but the directions say to connect mouse and keyboard... I did something different. I connected a USB HUB. so that both computers can get mouse,keyboard and printer support. This works, however if you use too many devices in the hub example, a flash drive, the hub disconnects and you notifications that devices are getting unplugged etc. so it can handle a self powered hub with 3 devices... Maybe more but it doesn't like sending large files to storage.

In closing I can't give this device a bad review. It makes life easier and keeps the office uncluttered. It was easy to set up and once the device drivers were "re-found" through the hub, switching back and forth was quick less than 3 secs. The remote is nice for convenience. We had one issue of the screen size not being correct after a switch but this was after a spyder color calibration.

WISH LIST: built in USB HUB, DVI/HDMI support.

Pros: Worked great when it worked

Cons: I had two of these. They both lasted about 6 months and then failed.

Manufacturer Response:

First, thank you for choosing IOGEAR and we apologize for your experience. The product should not behave as you described. Since the unit is backed by IOGEAR's 3 year warranty feel free to contact our customer support at 1-866-946-4327 or email us: support@iogear.com. Again, thank you for choosing IOGEAR.