Several months ago, I was discussing a common problem I face all the time: I have multiple machines, but when I’m at my desk, I don’t want to have to use multiple keyboards and mice.
I started with hardware solutions. I looked for a KVM switch that would serve my purposes. I looked all over the place, and was incredibly disappointed. Most every KVM that I found ONLY used VGA video connections, and the ones that dared venture into the world of HDMI were marked up so high I couldn’t justify the price.
What is $220 more expensive about HDMI?
IOGEAR 2-Port VGA KVM Switch | IOGEAR 4-Port HDMI KVM Switch |
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$19.99 |
$244.86 |
So I mentioned this issue to my friend, Kevin Dutkiewicz, and he suggested a software solution instead. Mouse Without Borders. He had a laptop sitting next to his dual monitor gaming rig, and merely slid his mouse from those giant screens to his laptop screen effortlessly. He clicked on a browser, and started typing a URL, and it worked. I was impressed.
No effort. No switching. No nothing. Just move your mouse. That’s it. It seemed too good to be true. Oh, and it’s free.
I’ve included a video of my setup, which includes three different computers (a Dell XPS 8500 with dual monitors, a Samsung Series 7 Slate running Windows 8 CP, and a Samsung Series 9 laptop running Windows 7.) I think that seeing this effect is far more compelling than reading about it. So here it is:
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