Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The product chassis gives the impression of robustness/industrial strength, as do the supplied cables, while remaining aesthetically pleasing. Switching is fast and seamless and 100% reliable, no USB driver loading/unloading, DDM works perfectly. Video display is exactly as if the PC and monitor are directly connected, no degradation. Support is outstanding.
I have a Compaq Presario 1200 running Damn Small Linux 2.4.31, a Dell Vostro 1700 (2007) with nVidia GeForce 8600M GT running Vista Ultimate 32-bit and an ASUS K60IJ (2010) which is dual-boot Ubuntu 10.04 64-bit and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Native laptop display resolution on the Vostro is 1920 x 1200, on the ASUS it's 1366 x 768. I use a Microsoft Wireless Desktop and a Logitech wireless mouse. The Logitech mouse is used in place of the Microsoft mouse from the wireless desktop because keyboard & mouse switching for the Presario + Damn Small Linux combination seems to demand it -- perhaps a USB 1.1 constraint. With that configuration, all switching operations work absolutely flawlessly.
My main challenge, to which my note about compatibility issues pertains, regards auto-detection/configuration of 1920 x 1200 on my (2007) Dell E248FP external monitor from two relatively new laptops.
On the Dell Vostro, running Windows 7 Ultimate, I was unable to coerce the Windows 7 + nVidia combination beyond 1280 x 1024 when connected through the UR-14+. 1920 x 1200 works fine when the Vostro and E248FP monitor are directly connected, seemingly impossible through the UR-14+. I think that the Dell monitor generates EDED v1.0 and Windows 7 is geared towards EDID v2.0 and something must get lost in the UR-14+ translation. I fell back the Vostro to its (factory-installed) Vista Ultimate 32-bit and 1920 x 1200 on the external monitor worked out-of-the-box (perhaps because Vista was geared towards EDID v1.0).
On the ASUS K60, I initially had an identical problem with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit + Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express (auto-detection offered maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024), but found I was able to use the Intel Graphics & Media Control Panel to coerce generation of external 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz, which subsequently worked perfectly.
In the course of trying to reach 1920 x 1200 external on the ASUS K60, I also installed OpenSUSE 11.3 and Ubuntu 10.04. Auto-detection results were interesting -- OpenSUSE offered maximum external monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 and Ubuntu offered maximum external monitor resolution of 1360 x 768. I preferred the look/feel of Ubuntu and was able to quickly google the configuration changes needed to force 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz on the external monitor -- which has since worked perfectly.
Before I summarise, I must praise ConnectPro for the quality of their support. They E-mailed me to notify me of a few days delay in shipping on account of a firmware upgrade. When I inquired about the status, I received immediate (i.e. same working day) response. When I explained early trials & tribulations with external 1920 x 1200 I gained immediate response. Subsequent discussions yielded immediate response. Then, following a lull in the dialogue from my side for ~1 week, ConnectPro contacted me to ask how I was progressing with their latest suggestions! They significantly exceeded my expectations in this regard.
Summary of my research/observations etc:
- if you use Windows 7, you want a DDM-capable KVM switch, of which the UR-14+ is one of relatively few examples
- I would recommend ConnectPro as a vendor based on:
--- my perception of quality of hardware
--- my experience of quality of support
- if you don't need 1920 x 1200 or 1920 x 1080
--- you'll be thrilled with the switching capabilities of the product
- if you do need these higher resolutions
--- you will stil be thrilled with the switching capabilities of the product
--- consider my experiences
--- read the EDID wikipedia pages, which
----- describe EDID-related shortcomings of video drivers
----- describe EDID-related shortcomings of display panels
----- may to some extent explain why the UR-14+ may be challenged by v1.0v2.0 translation for certain driver-display panel combinations
I would not hesitate to recommend this product for use in my employer's data centre.
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ConnectPRO UR-14+PLUS USB 4-port KVM Switch with DDM, Includes CablesThe UR-14-PLUS + is a whole new kind of KVM switch. Featuring ultimate stability, the switch goes above and beyond the norm for USB KVM switches, which typically involves some sort of generic USB keyboard/mouse emulation - this switch with DDM technology maps your devices dynamically to each port. This creates a pinnacle of stability, ensuring there is no need for the OS to re-recognize/initialize your keyboard and mouse ever time you switch ports. This switch is Windows 7 compatible, and features hot-key controls, providing a simple and efficient way to share a VGA display and 4 total USB 2.0 devices between your systems.This kit includes 4 of ConnectPRO's ultra-thin 6' length KVM cables, as well as a power supply, and a firmware upgrade cable. Optional rack-mount kit and IR remote sold separately.
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