LINKSKEY LDV-DM712AUSK Dual Monitor (DVI+VGA) 7.1 Surround Sound KVM Switch w/ Cables

Pros: It will switch between two computers and deliver dual monitors for each....

Cons: "How long will it work this time?" is the question constantly asked.

Keyboard and mouse suddenly stop working on one PC. Give it a minute, it will fail for the other one shortly.

Device port? That works for about three switches back and forth, then gets locked to one PC and you can't change it unless both PC's are off and you unplug the KVM.

Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is a complete disaster. Bluetooth software can't communicate with the devices through the KVM, so monitoring battery life and/or connection status is impossible.

Last, and my all time favorite, both lights are on the KVM switch and nothing works. Press the buttons on the KVM: Nothing. Keyboard and mouse? Nope. Do a hard shut down of the PC's, unplug the KVM, and try again.

Other Thoughts: It seemed to work alright for the first two weeks, then it just got angry and hates life. The tech support is annoying. A) Leave a message, we'll call you back approach. B) Thick accent on the english makes comprehension a challenge. C) The solution end all solution is power off both PC's, unplug KVM Switch and start over. There really isn't alot of effort in resolving the cause of the issue, just sweeping it under the rug to make it work again.

I can always make it work again, but why am I doing this every two weeks-ish?

Pros: Does what I purchased to do.

Cons: The usual mouse and keyboard sticking problems. I wrote tec support and received an answer within 6 hours

"Thankyou for your interest in our product.


Please move the keyboard and mouse the hub
ports. The hub ports are the two next to the
power plug."

This is not what the manual states however it works.

Other Thoughts: Hard to put on the desk. Just seems to be the wrong size to fit anywhere with the stiff cables

Pros: Has all the features I wanted...should have permit me to run my keyboard with its extra functions through the KVM's device port, along with a mouse, Wacom tablet, and another USB device, along with of course my two 24-inch monitors and 5.1 sound system. It was also a nice touch of them to throw in all those cables: that could have cost quite a bit.

Cons: The Linkskey DM712AUSK Dual Monitor KVM switch doesn't work. 2 days after arriving, both the keyboard and mouse stopped working after I switched from computer 1 to 2. I tried a restart and that got things going again. Lost some work over this one.

A couple days later, the mouse simply stopped working all of the sudden. Again, had to restart.

Yesterday, the keyboard stopped again. I called tech support at Linkskey and got a well-meaning person who couldn't speak English particularly well. He had me reset the switch by unplugging everything and plugging it back in again. Didn't work. He had me pull the keyboard out of the device port and plug it in a normal port. That worked, but I lost the keyboards extra function keys.

Today I came home and switched my machine on. Neither the mouse nor keyboard worked. No amount of resetting or restarting has revived them. I've had it.

Other Thoughts: This could be just a defective switch. I'm still annoyed that I had to spend all this time and effort crawling around the back of my computer desk with a flashlight trying to get it running again for a small, simple device that cost $300. Seems like the shoddily built units shouldn't make it out of the factory.

On the other hand, maybe it's just lousy software and the replacement switch I'll be getting will be just as bad. In either case, I can't recommend that anyone else roll the dice on the Linkskey LDV-DM712AUSK Dual Monitor KVM Switch.

Pros: i already posted but i want to say that most of my negative score( 3 eggs) was undeserved because i recently found that the video chop was caused by the poor bandwidth of the mouse usb and keyboard slots. plugging into the device or hub ports fixes the issue. ( i have a G3 laser mouse). it works perfectly otherwise.

it switches instantly and never loses track of a device!

it has a single usb plug running to each PC which give access to ALL the USB plugs on the back of the KVM opening up massive possibilities such as printer sharing, external drives etc!

Cons: not compatable with adapters. poor bandwith of the keyboard and mouse usb. it has HUGE thick cables. dvi cables are incompatible with the lesser dvi sockets.(too many pins)

Other Thoughts: i would rate 4 eggs, but i gave 5 to offset my 3 egg score.

Pros: it works really well and switches instantly. i dont have any issues with devices getting lost after a switch like other older KVMs. the one usb plug is NICE!

Cons: well the huge cables it came with dit not fit into the older DVI sockets. i had to purchase another cable. will not work with ps2 to usb adapters, and will not work with analog to digital adapters. it tends to only like the native plugs. video is a bit choppy if you plan to use for games(perfect if you dont).

Other Thoughts: i was quite impressed until it started getting choppy. this was intended to merge my home office computer with my personal computer. laptop w/ docking station + desktop.

Pros: Solid construction; comes with fairly good, thick cables that are long enough for most uses (about 5ft); lights and sound let you know what is going on; plenty of USB and audio ports; hasn't switched randomly back and forth between my PCs yet; nearly instant switching and function of connected peripherals (no 3-5 second delay like non-powered switches)

Cons: Lots of really thick cables to run; I spent nearly an hour just running/re-running/plugging/unplugging cables from everything on my desk (but tis the nature of the beast); Expensive; will post an update once I have owned it longer (the glaring lack of reviews prompted me to write this one)

Other Thoughts: Bought this to replace a Belkin single monitor non-powered KVM that was getting on my last nerve, so far it is working the way I want it too, allowing me to use my Digital LCD and my CRT on two PCs with the click of a single button. Please note that the USB ports for the keyboard and mouse share only basic functions (ie. my G5 works but my custom resolutions don't unless it is plugged into one of the other hub ports or the special port, the same would go for a gaming keyboard, it will work, just not in the regular ports which will mean the hot keys won't work for switching)

Pros: Solidly built, seemingly well engineered. If you're pressed for desktop space this seems like a great choice.

Cons: I'm running two HP media centers, one with XP the other with Vista, one monitor HP2207W; wireless keyboard and mouse (HP issue). This is a pretty vanilla and somewhat safe set up, right? Unfortunately, this KVM switch and the connected computers (even if only one is actually running) unpredictably go into a deep sleep from which they cannot be awakened and ultimately need to be constantly unplugged and/or rebooted. Linkskey tech support is great but darn it, (edited for pg purposes) the thing just doesn't work after several weeks of trying! At this price for $50 more I could just get another monitor (a decent one) and use a simpler and cheaper switch for the keyboard.

Pros: Video quality is great, just like hooking up directly. I have Dell 20 and 24 inch wide screen, ATI Radeon X1950Pro and XFX 8600GT video cards. All the function keys work on Logitech G15 keyboard by hooking up to the Device USB2.0 port. I use front panel push buttons for PC selection.

Cons: Kind of expensive but I got what I needed. Cables are too thick, there might be good reason for it.

Other Thoughts: I tried many brands in the past few months and this is the one to keep. Finally someone got it right.

Pros: Clean looking, sturdy unit

Cons: I was forced to stop using it for the video. It doesn't seem to be switching all of the pins for the monitor. What a mess.

Other Thoughts: When I first started using this product I could "hear angels singing". Everything worked great! After a month, the only thing I am using it for is the USB and sometimes it doesn't go smoothly either. Keyboard acts like a key is being held down, and I have to switch back and forth to clear the problem. Someday someone will build one of these that works right, and is reliable. This is not the one.

Pros: Good Specs, NewEgg rocks!

Cons: No HDCP, problems with some video cards.

Other Thoughts: How should I describe my ordeals with this product, First it doesn’t work with HDCP. I found this little published fact in their FAQ section when trying to trouble shoot a display problem. Second it did not let my Asus EN8600GT work with the monitor hooked to the DVI port where the computer with a Sapphire x1300 worked fine. Then the next day the x1300 stopped working with the DVI port on my LCD monitor. I thought it was the DVI problem catching up with my x1300; but I was wrong. My monitor that was connected via the DVI port stopped working on it DVI port. I tried the monitor without the KVM switch and it still didn’t work. I confirmed this by using the monitor’s VGA port and removing the KVM switch; everything started working again. Now I think I have a damaged DVI port on a Gateway 21 inch LCD monitor, that had worked fine for several (12+) months. All I can say is the specs on this thing look good, not great. But performance is another issue. Too bad, I was hoping that it would be