I use manual "data switch" style monitor, keyboard and
mouse sharing boxes.  I am very pleased with them.
If price is not an issue by all means get an electronic switch,
they work better at higher resolutions and monitor size, and
they have convenience and safety features.  Aside from the
quality of cables you use, manual switches degrade picture
quality for resolutions above 800x600 and for monitors over
15".  I use them with 14" monitors and I never worry that the
switching is causing excessive wear on the monitor.  It's not
like I cycle the switch 40 times a day.  There main benefit to me
is footprint, since they allow one work space to manipulate 2 to
4 systems.  If you have a large 19" or 20" inch monitor and you
like good picture quality at high resolution, I would invest the
200.00 you are likely to spend for a good electronic switch and
high quality cables in a cheap 14" monitor for the second system.
Put the savings toward some cheap network cards.
Tom Turak
----------
From:   bdecker
Sent:   Thursday, April 15, 1999 8:58 PM

-----Have seen a number of mixed recommendations
on this.  Some from satisfied users of a "data type switch"
and several that electronic switch is only good way to go.

Jameco Electronics Components & Computer Products
has a $14.95 2 way switch box "for two computers requiring
one keybd and one monitor - diodes maintain keybd in powered
state."  It has a top row of three DA15HD connectors (High
Density 15 pin as used by VGA monitors, and bottom row
of 3 5-pin DIN's for the keybd.

If I simply switch before booting would that work OK?--
This does leave one system without monitor at boot up
but both systems are configured for a color monitor.
Seems like I could get a refurb 15" monitor replacement
for about price of electronic switch.
Decisions, decisions--any further comment anybody??
Bob Decker

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