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Tim G.

Tim G.

Joined on 12/24/03

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 5
Most Favorable Review

Good quality construction, but usability is an issue

Tripp Lite 4-Port Desktop KVM Switch, USB, VGA HD15 (B006-VU4-R)
Tripp Lite 4-Port Desktop KVM Switch, USB, VGA HD15 (B006-VU4-R)

Pros: Well built, seems to work OK

Cons: 1) Hotkey sequences to change ports are too long and complex: Shift Scroll Lock Shift Scroll Lock 2 Enter? Seriously? My previous KVM was Scroll Lock Scroll Lock 2, and in years of use, never had a conflict. I'd like to just mount the KVM close enough to use the buttons, but that's a cable management problem. 2) Expensive for what it is, especially considering no cables are provided

Overall Review: One computer has problems with video: instability at 1900x1200, parts of the screen jitter and move, and there are background moire patterns. Other computers work fine at same resolution and refresh rate.

Most Critical Review

USB eject/reconnect doesn't work

SABRENT EC-HD2B 2.5" & 3.5" Black SATA I/II/III USB 3.0 USB 3.0 to SATA I/II/III Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5 or 3.5in HDD, SSD
SABRENT EC-HD2B 2.5" & 3.5" Black SATA I/II/III USB 3.0 USB 3.0 to SATA I/II/III Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5 or 3.5in HDD, SSD

Pros: Good throughput

Cons: On a Windows 10 64 bit system, this docking station appears in Device Manager as "USB Attached SCSI (UAS) Mass Storage Device" The USB eject/reconnect is either not supported or broken in this product. After ejecting the drive, it will never be recognized again until the computer is rebooted. I you eject, turn off the docking station power and/or unplug USB, the drive (or drives) will not be recognized again when reconnected. Device Manager will show this error "Windows cannot use this hardware device because it has been prepared for safe removal but it has not been removed from the computer. (Code 47) To fix this problem unplug this device from your computer and then plug it in again." You can power down the docking station, unplug and replug USB as many times as you want but the error remains. If you try to disable the device and re-enable it in Device Manager, you will get "Hardware has changed - you must restart the system"

Overall Review: Not recommended - without the ability to eject and re-mount, the drives are is effectively internal drives. Don't buy this - just use those extra SATA ports on the motherboard, and spare the desktop space and wall-wart power supply.

Problems with Windows 10 - errors in system log

Thermaltake AC0031 USB 3.0 Support MS Slot, CF Slot, SD Slot,Extreme Slot, Micro SD Slot, M2 Port Multi-Card Reader
Thermaltake AC0031 USB 3.0 Support MS Slot, CF Slot, SD Slot,Extreme Slot, Micro SD Slot, M2 Port Multi-Card Reader

Pros: Lots of ports

Cons: Like many other devices of this type, it creates six phantom disk drives in the system. Unfortunately, these drives have problems with Windows 10. My system event log is full of error messages of the form "The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk7\DR7" with multiple instances for Harddisk4 through Harddisk9 (which are the phantom drives created by this device. Note that there is no media inserted in any of them. Disk manager is showing the drives are using the generic Microsoft disk driver from 2006 (?) Update attempt results in "the best driver is already installed".

Overall Review: Not recommended

Does not work with KVM

Tecware Spectre Pro, RGB Mechanical Keyboard, RGB LED, Volume Wheel, Underglow, Outemu Blue Switch
Tecware Spectre Pro, RGB Mechanical Keyboard, RGB LED, Volume Wheel, Underglow, Outemu Blue Switch

Pros: Nice mechanical Action

Cons: Does not work with Tripp-lite 4 port USB KVM. When plugged into KVM, Windows 10 says "USB Device Not Recognized" Works when plugged directly into computer. KVM is essential for my configuration.

Overall Review: Might be good if you don't use a KVM

Wake On LAN doesn't work?

TP-Link 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch | Plug and Play | Metal | Desktop/Rackmount | Fanless(TL-SG1016D)
TP-Link 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch | Plug and Play | Metal | Desktop/Rackmount | Fanless(TL-SG1016D)

Pros: 16 gigabit ports

Cons: Wake On LAN doesn't seem to work. WOL was fine with previous 8 port TrendNet Gigabit Switch. Swapped in this TP Link, and now WOL is not working.

12/20/2014