ATEN CS22U 2-Port USB Cable KVM Switch UK | #1 KVM Market Leader, black

I am writing this review after having used the product for about a week, so these are initial impressions. I may add to them as applicable.This KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch allows you to share the common periperals of keyboard, monitor, and mouse between two computers, which can be the same type (such as two PCs) or different types (such as a PC and a Mac, as in my case). There are cables on one side that connect to the monitor via VGA, and the keyboard and mouse via USB. If you have a PS/2 keyboard and/or mouse, you will need a convertor into which you plug the peripherals, and which itself plugs into the ports on the KVM. Be careful - such simple (and cheap) connectors will provide a physical connection, but may fail to work.Back to the KVM. On the other side are two pairs of cables that connect to the two computers, again via VGA for the monitor and USB for the keyboard and mouse. They are nearly 3' (0.9m) long, so your computers don't have to be right next to each other.The final component is a button at the end of another cable, which is used to switch the peripherals between the computers. After you have connected everything (with the computers off) and booted the computers, just click to switch to whichever one is not currently connected. It's significant that this is a physical switch - many KVMs work by emulation. There are upsides and downsides to this - you should be able to use smart mice (and maybe keyboards) that a normal KVM could not support beyond their basic features (I intend to try this out). On the other hand, switching can take slightly longer on PCs, as Windows goes through its usual routine of registering the switch as the peripherals being connected and disconnected, so switching back to Windows results in a delay of several seconds while the devices are detected. This does not apply to Mac OS X.In use so far, the KVM has worked very well, with just a couple of glitches: one where a Windows error said that a device attached to the system had malfunctioned, and the other where after a reboot Windows 7 failed to identify the monitor correctly (resulting in the resolution being lower). Happily, these have been transitory, with normal service quickly being resumed. The monitor issue may have been due to the Mac having been the active computer when the PC was rebooted - the problem did not reproduce when I clicked Restart on Windows, and did not change the KVM connection until Windows was back.Regarding build quality, I disagree that there is anything flimsy about the construction. In particular, the cables (including the remote switch) seem perfectly adequate. The remote switch even has a soft pad underneath, to help keep it in place on your desk - to me, this is a clear indication of the thought that has gone into the design.As the minor issues encountered are probably due to Windows (I've had no problems at all with the Mac), there is no reason for this inexpensive and useful product not to receive the full five stars.

Retired my Windows 7 pc from the internet as no longer supported by Microsoft and invested in a Windows 10 pc. Nothing wrong with the older pc and I have loads of music, games and documents on it (backed up of course) which I will no doubt get round to transferring, but still a perfectly good machine which I will continue to use. Wanted the ability to switch between the 2 pc’s and a kvm switch looked ideal. Bought a similar product from Amazon (reviewed elsewhere) and was disappointed as it didn’t work. Bought the Aten product and could tell the quality was much better when I opened the box. The unit comes with 2 vga cables and 4 usb cables already attached. I have 1 pc on the top shelf of my workstation and the other below so that they have plenty of air circulation around them. Set up was a breeze. Connected the 1st pc to the kvm unit with one of the vga connectors and the 2 usb connectors to 2 spare ports on the pc. You can peel the usb cables back a little if required so that they are not stretched. Same installation with 2nd pc and then connected the vga cable from the monitor to the switch. The kvm unit currently sits on the bottom shelf of my workstation where I can see the lights easily. Switching is controlled with a push button switch in the shape of a small mouse. The cable for this is thin and very long, easily reaching the upper shelf of the workstation. My new pc came with a wireless keyboard & mouse but I don’t like using the flat keys, so updated my old equipment with a Logitech wired keyboard & mouse set which you can also buy on Amazon. The mouse and keyboard both connect to ports on the kvm switch. The switch recognised both pc’s immediately and by clicking the switch I can alternate between the 2 with keyboard & mouse both operating satisfactorily. Have only came across 1 glitch. If I start my Windows 7 pc alone and the switch is set to the wrong pc, when I click to select the correct pc, the quality of the picture of the desktop on the monitor is fine but the resolution is set at 1024x768 instead of the default of 1680x1050. If I restart the pc it reverts to the default. This isn’t a deal breaker for me as I can also reset the resolution without restarting and to be fair, the Dell monitor is getting on a bit now and is on my list for replacement. In summary, happy with this product so far.

Brilliant piece of kit (shame about the button)I've coupled it with the Patuoxun 1080P HDMI Male to Female adaptor and it works seamlessly.I use it at work as the computers we're provided are s***ty old WYSE terminals that regularly lock up. The WYSE box feeds into the KVM switch, as does my far nicer laptop (via HDMI -> VGA adaptor) and then into my monitor by VGA from the KVM.One thing to watch out for when you're connecting it all up is that the KVM switch does NOT act as a USB hub, i.e. if you put two signals (mouse, keyboard) into it, you'll need both USB leads to be inserted into your laptop, unless you connect these leads to an independent hub. When installing I was cursing my purchase until I realised this, plugged in the other USB to the laptop and hey presto, no issues.On resolution.. The laptop is an ASUS UX32A Zenbook Prime outputting to a 24" 1080P screen by HDMI->VGA c/o the KVM switch. No issues with graphics lag or ghosting, no issues with high resolution video in full screen on either the laptop's monitor or the bit screen. The WYSE box is outputting 1860*900 to the same screen (stupid thing, it doesn't support 16:9 screens so I don't get the full resolution) -- but it works fine too.The button.. well, its a bit naff. Its very lightweight plastic and there's no spring mechanism other than a millimeter strip of malleable plastic inside to provide the 'button' any kind of give.. so it gets stuck a lot. That said, it still works and the switch from one source to another takes less at most 2 seconds.Overall a solid piece of equipment for a great price, I hope it lasts for a while.