Left Lane

For a few weeks now, I’ve been switching between the dualing laptops in style, with Belkin’s new Flip USB KVM. Sometimes it’s just fun to be a nerd.

The Gist of It

For the uninitiated, “KVM” stands for keyboard, video, and mouse, ironically (!) the three devices you share when you use one of these little wonders of computing. Basically, you plug a single keyboard, mouse, and monitor up to the KVM, then connect two or more computers and it gives you the option to switch between them.

The Look

The Flip itself has a very sleek design to it. The one-button interface is very user-friendly and allows for easy switching between computers. Product designs for KVMs can be blocky and intimidating, but it seems Belkin is targeting the average home user with a softer side as indicated by the product’s curves and simple button interface.

But enough about aesthetics. How does it work?

Functionality

The Flip KVM supports two computers. I searched for one that supports four computers, but none are out yet. With a push of a button, I switch between my two USB-enabled laptops. That’s not to say it’s fast. It takes about 5 seconds for the USB keyboard and mouse to be disabled and then enabled on the newly active computer. That doesn’t sound like a long time, but it can be if you can have a short attention span like me. Ideas can be brilliant and colorful in my mind one minute and opaque and foggy the next. Add that to the fact that KVMs made with PS/2 ports are instantaneous in comparison, and you may think twice about the purchase.

The Flip supports, along with 90% of the KVMs out there, the standard VGA 15-pin adapter that has been out for ages. At the time of this writing, the DVI standard is not supported natively by the Flip. This surprises me, considering that they are going through the trouble of concurrently making a wireless version of the Flip available. If you added a DVI adapter into the hardware and sold it for $10 more a pop, it seems to me you’d make a healthy profit.

The one I purchased comes with the ability to share a set of speakers between two computers as well, but I experienced some hangups while trying to set this up. When I plugged the audio cable from the KVM into my ThinkPad, I heard a buzzing noise like feedback over the speakers. I thought it may go away, or could be tweaked, but to no avail. I’ve gone without the feature and realized it’s not absolutely necessary for my needs, but others may feel otherwise after they purchase a $60 unit and a big selling feature doesn’t work.

On the upside, the support for USB means that the Flip works with Macs. I hooked up my old PowerMac G4 with OS X 10.3 and the Flip switched between the Mac and my IBM ThinkPad just fine.

Summary

The Flip KVM is a good buy for the home or small business user that needs to switch between two PCs or Macs on a regular basis without much hassle. The USB compatibility makes sure it works on multiple platforms interchangeably. All in all, it’s a decent product for low-end users but I wouldn’t recommend it for power users. I’d give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Posted in Gadgets and Hardware, Reviews.