KVM Switch Suggestions -- Are The Ebay Cheapies Okay?

[jack wallen]

Robert L Cochran wrote:
> Are the no-name-brand, two-port, USB 2.0 PS2 KVM switch boxes with two
> cables which sell for $14.99 and free shipping on EBay any good? Here is
> an example: item 140294824343 from seller insidecomputer. Recent
> discussions (from 2007) suggest IOGear and Trendnet switches as good
> brands. If I can get a cheap switch that works, though, I'm willing to
> do it.
>
> Thanks
>
> Bob Cochran
> Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
>
>   
avoid them. i bought one on ebay - a cheap USB one. it did two things:
prevented Fedora from being able to read the modes from the monitor so I 
couldn't get proper resolution and, even worse, killed every usb port on 
my system. i now have to get a PCI usb card in order to use any USB device.

so, yeah, i wouldn't bother.