Pros: It has VGA & DVI, and the tech support is knowledgeable and dedicated.

Cons: This does NOT work consistently. For 11 months, I have used it with a Dell XPS 410, and a docking station for a Thinkpad T430S. When switching, there is a couple second delay for the displays to come back (if they do). The Dell connection generally works, but the docking station USB and VGA does not (though they do if i take this KVM switch out of the equation). Whenever I'm about to test it one last time before resolving to get a replacement, it will work --- after restarting everything and following the "simple procedure" of unpowering and unplugging everything (see response from manufacturer in the review).

Other Thoughts: Unplugging, unpowering, replugging and repowering everything is not an acceptable solution for how to get this switch to work. It's OK if you have to do this once a month, but not if it's once a day. It takes a long time to unplug, unpower, replug and re-power. I do admire the tech support person for being knowledgeable and walking me through the procedure and having the tenacity to stay on this issue until it was working. However, it's a major waste of time to have to reset the switch. The idea of how to use the switch should be simple, click the button on the front to switch between computers and it should just work. I have wasted much time on this switch, I'd have been better off if it hadn't worked at all.

Pros: If a computer is plugged into a KVM and it doesn't recognize the mouse and/or kb, changing some BIOS settings might solve it. I had this problem with the single monitor 4 port version of this KVM. I went into both of my computer's BIOS' and found them both set to a default setting that made the computer halt on all errors. Initially I switched that around so that it would never halt halt on any error. That solved the problem. So clearly it was a problem with a BIOS setting.

But then I wanted to know which setting(s) was/were causing grief.
So I started turning the settings back to their original state one by one with cold boots btw each test. It's a tedious process that can take the better part of an hour, but that wasn't a big deal to me.

I'm not saying that this will work every time on every computer. I don't think there's much about computers that does work every time. let alone on every computer. But it could work for you. And I would say that once I figured this out the KVM seems to be quite nice

Cons: Might require BIOS settings to be changed,

Pros: Easy to switch between two computers

Cons: We have had this switch 6 for months and then all of a sudden it stops working and won't switch to the other computer.

Manufacturer Response:

Hello Steve,

Thanks for giving us feedback on the SV231DDVDUA. We appreciate the information and would like to help.

This problem may be due to information from connected USB devices being stored incorrectly by the KVM. We have a simple procedure you can try that may assist in resolving this. Please try the following steps:

• Turn off all of the computers and monitors connected to the KVM, and unplug all connections to the KVM
• Let the KVM sit for 30 seconds, then reconnect the power adapter to the KVM
• Connect the DVI and VGA monitors for the KVM, and power up the monitors
• Connect the keyboard and mouse to the KVM
• Connect the USB cables that connect the KVM to the PCs.
• Power on the PCs

We are always here to help with our free lifetime technical support. If this did not help with the problems you are having, please get in touch with us and kindly reference case # 303-222440 so we can assist you further.

Thank You,

Customer Support
StarTech.com
http://www.startech.com/techsupport

Pros: In regards to simple switching monitors and usb mouse/keyboard - it works perfectly well. 5-stars here!

Cons: Two problems if you are using wireless keyboard (and/or mouse):
1) wireless kbd/mouse will NOT work in KVM ports, marked as kbd/mouse ports!

Wireless kbd/mouse WILL work in regular ports (not marked as kbd/mouse). But there is another problem here:
2)KVM will not be able to do a hotkey switch if kbd connected to regular port!

Startech customer service confirmed both of this statements.

Other Thoughts: There is a button on KVM case - and it is the only possible way to switch if using wireless keyboard.

I am using it with Logitech Performance MX mouse and Logitech K800 keyboard. They work just fine in regular hub port, but not possible to do a hotkey switch.

Pros: Easy to use. Has both VGA & DVI. Has both front panel and keyboard switching.

Cons: This is my second Starview KVM switch. I needed to upgrade to DVI, so I bought this one based one a single review. I regret the purchase.

Sometimes when I press the front panel, the monitor does not switch, but the USB does. Annoying.

Sometimes (often) when I boot one of my two computers, the mouse is not recognized and I need to reboot. Annoying.

Sometimes when I boot, the keyboard is not recognized and I need to reboot. If it is my laptop, I can logon using the laptop keyboard, and that will sometimes fix the problem. If not, I need to reboot. Annoying.

Sometimes while typing for a while, the box will beep as if I pressed the front panel (no, I have not pressed keyboard combo) and the screen goes dark for a few seconds. Annoying.

Sometimes while typing for a while, repeated streams of the same character will get quickly inserted until I hit the keyboard again. Annoying. (See other 2-port Starview KVM review VGA only for same behavior)

Other Thoughts: I will never buy a Starview KVM again.

Manufacturer Response:

Hello Gary,

Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback on our 2-Port DVI/VGA Dual Monitor KVM Switch with Audio & USB 2.0 Hub. We’re sorry to hear that the unit did not work as intended for you, and would like to offer some assistance.

Based on the issues described, it would be beneficial to try a full hard-reset of the KVM. This procedure will allow the KVM to re-initialize any input and output devices, and is often useful in situations where input, output or switching is “stuck”, or otherwise unresponsive.

Please perform the following steps:

1. Power down the connected PCs and console components. (keyboard, mouse, and monitors)

2. Disconnect the KVM DC Adapter.

3. Disconnect all cable connections to the KVM, including the console port cables.

4. Please wait approximately 30 seconds with all the cables disconnected from the KVM.

5. Connect the KVM DC adapter to the power source.

6. Connect the cables for the monitors and power them on. Connect the cables for the keyboard and mouse.

7. Connect the cables to only one of the PCs and power it on.

8. Wait a moment for the KVM to pick up the connections.

9. Test to ensure the mouse, keyboard and monitors are functioning.

10. Connect the second PC to the KVM.

11. Switch to the KVM second PC using the button on the KVM unit, then power the second PC on.

12. Wait for a moment for the second PC to pick up the connections.

13. Test to ensure that the keyboard, mouse, video and switching function correctly with all connected PCs.

If you still have the unit, we hope this procedure will be useful in getting the KVM to work as it should.

We're always here to help with our lifetime technical support, so if this didn't resolve your issue, please feel free to contact us at any time, and be sure to reference case 303-222391.

You can also respond here and we will be certain to follow up!

Customer Support
StarTech.com
http://www.startech.com/techsupport

Pros: This switch has a very nice design, hot keys as well as panel buttons and comes with an external power supply. Lowest price for a VGA & DVI dual monitor switch.

Cons: Wired it up, turned it on and had problems with USB Mouse drivers, USB KBD and Displays. Called StarTech and was told to turn all equipment off, unplug the switch and start over bringing one system up at a time in order to allow the switch to syncronize correctly. Great service and reccomended fix worked EXCEPT that when I switch from PC1 to PC2 the switch does not kick the DVI screen. I've got a case open with StarTech for that and will update my product review when i get to the other side of that...

Other Thoughts: I'm sure that in the long run NewEgg & StarTech will make things right.

Pros: Used in a high availability business environment. Used constantly and never shown any issues. Easy hot keys for easy switching. Easy to read status lights on front of unit. Audiable switching alerts so unit can be placed out of sight, under desk or inside cabinet. Inexpensive solution for using the dual monitor setups for most laptop docking stations with DVI and VGA video outputs.

Cons: no cables included, not even USB or audio. Not uncommon for KVM switches though.