::UPDATE::
::End UPDATE::
Well all I just wanted to share a little story about Christmas... it has all the intrigue and suspense of a Hollywood thriller, well not really but I hope it can save you all a few hundred dollars...
So as most of you know from my Moblog I got a new Samsung SyncMaster 213t for Christmas. In a word it rocks. Now I made sure I got a digital LCD so it has a DVI connection. There I was Christmas morning looking at my Flat panel and thinking "Hey I have two computers with DVI... my cheap Belkin KVM I've been using won't do the trick." Then my Mom steps in, bless her heart, and say "Oh yeah and I know you wanted a new KVM thingie so why don't you order yourself one." Wow the love... I hoped on to the Belkin website and ordered a two port DVI/USB KVM ($244). That's not cheap... I waited with baited breath for the day it arrived, this morning! Yay!!! Well I've been using my G5's USB keyboard with my old Belkin KVM as it is the only USB keyboard I have and it worked great. I plugged everything in and they new KVM wouldn't stop beeping... I unplugged and replugged everything, beeping... And then I noticed that the Keyboard wasn't working. Real quickly the new Soho DVI KVM's have a specific USB port for the Keyboard and the mouse. I noticed that my G5 keyboard worked fine in the "Other Device" port just not the Keyboard port, still beeping. So I check the manual and the on-line FAQs then I called. The "technical support person" said "Oh yeah that KVM doesn't support the G5 keyboards... you just need to buy any other USB keyboard and keep it in the "Keyboard" port so it will stop beeping then use your G5 keyboard anyway... This to me is not how to solve a problem!!! So I decided I would forgo the G5 keyboard and buy a random USB keyboard... we that one didn't work either!!! For what I've gathered any USB keyboard that also has a built in USB hub won't work... now call me crazy Belkin but don't Most USB keyboards come with USB hubs in them?? Isn't that something that people look for in a USB keyboard now a days???
Two words... "Boo Belkin!" for that money this thing should do what it's supposed to do... I will keep it... I'll just have to grin and bare the flashing warning light telling me my keyboard is not connected... Damn...
- Alex
first post!!!!!!
Posted by: scott | January 04, 2005 at 04:24 PM
Yes. Boo belkin! You stick it to the man!
-German
Posted by: German | January 04, 2005 at 04:28 PM
Belkin blows, I have had many a problems with them it's almost not worth it. Almost, I say that because without Belkin, what else is there for me to complain about.
Posted by: Ranting Swede | January 04, 2005 at 04:35 PM
that sucks dude, boob belkin!
Posted by: jorge | January 04, 2005 at 04:41 PM
Wahh! My Belkin USB thingie didn't work so now I have to use it like a hillbilly would. Wahh!
Belkin pwnd you.
You got pwnd by Belkin.
Posted by: Jack Mayhoffer | January 04, 2005 at 04:52 PM
Alex you send that thing back to them with a freakin death note, NO BODY SCREWS WITH ALEX ALBRECHT!!!
THEY DONT KNOW WHO THEY'RE FREAKIN DEALIN WITH!!!
hehe and Merry Christmas
Posted by: Adam | January 04, 2005 at 05:08 PM
What you need is an epsonkit...
Not a Belkin thingy...
Try umm...
www.epsonkit.com
Posted by: Gus | January 04, 2005 at 05:21 PM
Maybe there is a work around solution. Maybe you should try the open source KM synergy. You could just hook up your favorite keyboard and mouse and just scroll off screen and switch just the display. (You can lock the mouse on one screen with the Scroll lock Key) I personally would get your money back on that KVM and get TWO Samsung SyncMaster 213t and use synergy between them. I unfornately have to use my two CRT's but my wireless mouse and keyboard for both of my Imac (client) and PC (server).
Posted by: Red | January 04, 2005 at 05:22 PM
Congrads your mom sounds cool. Nice that she tried to say the correct thang but said KVM thingie. A+ for effort since my grandmother would try to sound like she new but really didnt on stuff I would talk about but nice they try.
Posted by: Eddie | January 04, 2005 at 05:45 PM
Get as much gmail that you want if you post at my site.
http://tecnit.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Nathan | January 04, 2005 at 05:46 PM
Awwww, that sucks man. I would email belkin about that. I dont get keyboards with hubs in them though, so i would be fine...if i had a huge screen, money, and more than one computer, haha.
Posted by: Lee Forget (COTA-GoD,Ebay.God) | January 04, 2005 at 05:59 PM
Someone pleas!!!
Posted by: Nathan | January 04, 2005 at 06:01 PM
Alex .. I have learned more from this one post than the past few weeks of the "new" TSS.. (ack ack ack)
You should join forces with Dan Huard.. not like you guys need to be introduced or anything .. lol..
Posted by: Just Eric | January 04, 2005 at 06:22 PM
You could tell Kevin to dog it on-air, but looking at the latest Neilsen ratings, no one would hear what he had to say anyhow. Maybe g4 owns Belkin now too? That'd explain the suck...
Posted by: Matt C | January 04, 2005 at 06:23 PM
Alex, man, how much money did you spend? Also I think you and Dan would make a great team! Go Alex!
Posted by: Thwarten | January 04, 2005 at 06:25 PM
I very much agree, Alex and Dan would be a show I would watch... even if it was show about shoes or something... it would be hilarious!
Posted by: Adam | January 04, 2005 at 06:38 PM
y helo thar belkinsecks!!lolool
Posted by: mark | January 04, 2005 at 07:09 PM
Belkin is solt at Walmart, 'nuff said.
Posted by: tankd0g | January 04, 2005 at 07:34 PM
well it seems that i might know what the deal is with your USB DVI KVM. I bought the same one you did but without DVI and 4 ports instead of 2, i have a microsoft internet keyboard pro with 2 usb ports in the back, well when i plug it into the usb "keyboard" place it works (including keyboard hotswitching) but the usb hub doesnt and i wanted my usb hub to work because i plug my mouse and joystick into it, so i plug my keyboard into the otherdevice usb ports and everything worked except the hotkey switching, but i would rather have the usb than the hotkey (its close anyways i switch with my foot). I switch between my G5, Windows XP and SuSe 9 linux computers. Yes when i did plug my keyboard into the other device usb port it did beep, so i read about it and searched it and found out that you need to upgrade your firmware of your KVM switch, you need the no keyboard firmware upgrade
This firmware release disables the keyboard port when no media is detected. If the keyboard is connected to the switch the port will remain active and functional. This release has proven useful in circumstances when connecting a keyboard to the device port, or using the switch as a video switch.
That will stop the beeping because it thinks you have no keyboard attached and it thinks that because your keyboard is in the "other" port and not "keyboard" port and you put it in "other" to get your usb hub in your keyboard to work. This has worked for me and the beeping has stopped so now i can switch between my G5, PC and Linux with no problems (except no hotkey switching but oh well)
oh btw what kind of BS tech support was that, they should have told you about the firmware upgrade, sounds to me like you got someone who didnt know crap.
Hope this helps.
for firmware upgrade.
http://web.belkin.com/support/download/download.asp?category=8&lang=1&mode=
Posted by: Mitch R | January 04, 2005 at 08:03 PM
imagine that, someone in tech support who is useless. Alex probably got the free tech support guy, to get actual useful info likely requires a credit-card and $2 per minute charge (and a working knowledge of the Indian language.)
Posted by: Matt C | January 04, 2005 at 08:08 PM
U r a loser. I put a link on my blog so my 3 friends can go and see how gay this site is. I have one word for u. SPAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
Posted by: dan lurie | January 04, 2005 at 08:16 PM
I hope Alex will read my post, I was going to email him to notify of a fix but i dont know his email and there isnt a link anywhere on the website.
(my name under my post which links to my webserver needs to be edited)(should be www.mitchr.2ya.com, not www.mitchr.gotdns.com, 2ya redirects to gotdns and gotdns cant have www. before it)
oh well my homepage is underconstruction anyways, the only page i have completed right now because of time is my PC mod page, http://mitchr.gotdns.com/projectqb.htm
Posted by: Mitch R | January 04, 2005 at 08:32 PM
two words... electric tape
Posted by: sgfas | January 04, 2005 at 08:50 PM
I have USB/VGA Belkin. I use a Mac keyboard in the 'other' USB port and it works great. To stop the beeping, try plugging in a spare USB mouse. Actually, I have one of those Nostromo controllers (by Belkin apparently) plugged in there.. I guess that looks like a keyboard; I mean it has keys....
Posted by: Doug | January 04, 2005 at 08:50 PM
"Boo Belkin!" is right, stay away from them.
btw Mitch R, this is Alex's email: alexalbrecht@gmail.com
oh and Alex, I really hope you used this coupon code "12345" half off on everything :D
Posted by: Henry | January 04, 2005 at 10:06 PM