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ATake EasyView 4 Port USB KVM Switch |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
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Page 2 of 2
One of the console sides has a VGA port; the other side has PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports. Since ATake is attempting to modernize their KVM line by using USB; they should do so exclusively (i.e. have USB hookups for the console ports and maybe even a DVI port in addition to the VGA). There are two semi-circular gray panels on top of the unit. The one closer to the video console hookup is the switch button. Every time you press it the unit beeps and switches over to the next computer.
There are LEDs next to each of the port sets indicating which computer is currently active (the LED will stay orange) and how many are connected/turned on (the LED will be green for all active machines not currently in use). Since this KVM functions at a very basic level (a switch by definition), it doesn't require an external power source. As soon as any of the connected computers turns on, the unit will receive power and begin to function.
The left side features two sets of VGA/USB connectors for hooking up the 1st and 3rd computers along with a pair of shared USB ports and what appears to be a power connector, though I doubt what for (since the KVM itself receives power from any of the active machines). The opposite side likewise has VGA/USB connectors for hooking up the 2nd and 4th computers as well as two more USB ports. The benefits of shared USB ports (something that's not included with most KVMs) are far reaching.
The first thing that comes to mind is a networked drive/fileserver. This can be achieved by connecting an external hard drive to one of these ports; it will automatically be shared across any connected computers. What's great about this is that it's done purely on a hardware level; no software, drive mapping, or permission manipulation is required. It also means you don't need a separate computer to function as a fileserver as any of the others can do so, manipulating data on said external drive.
Unfortunately the model we received only uses USB1.1 ports, so the fileserver idea doesn't really apply here as transfer speeds will be too slow for any large file movement. The good news is that a USB2.0 version is available. Another issue we ran into was the improper mouse recognition. The console hardware used for testing included a 21" Dell Trinitron monitor, a ViewSonic ViewMate KP102 keyboard, and a Logitech MX510 mouse. The switch had no problem detecting the keyboard, but it refused to properly run the mouse (after numerous drive re-installations Windows still detected it as a basic HID). The solution was to remove the USB-to-PS/2 adapter and plug the mouse into one of the shared USB ports, at which point it was properly initialized.
The final feature set of the EasyView is a set of custom hot key configurations. As previously mentioned, most KVMs require a double tap of the Scroll Lock key to move on to the next computer in the sequence. ATake's approach is a bit more elaborate, but takes an extra click. To switch between computers, you need to hit Scroll Lock twice and then either the up or down arrow keys to move forward or back one. You can also select a number (1 through 4) to connect to a particular machine. While this gives the user more control and would be incredibly beneficial on a larger KVM (like a 16 port one), when only 4 computers are present it's faster to just scroll through them all by hitting the main switch button on the KVM.
Pros
- Newer USB approach (eliminates some aging PS/2 cables)
- Shared USB ports (great way to set up a network drive/fileserver)
- 4 Ports - enough to control a small empire
- Power and status LEDs for easy identification
- Oversized switch button on the KVM
- Robust hot key control system
Cons
- Cables have burn marks (?) or signs of aging
- May cause problems with older hardware that doesn't support USB keyboards/mice
- Ports on all sides (may cause cable clutter for some)
- No English manual; you have to figure out the combinations by deciphering the visuals and foreign text
- KVM will not properly recognize certain PS/2 mice
- Lack of 2 button hot key switching (3 button minimum)
- USB1.1 ports (though there is a USB2.0 version available)
ATake's EasyView KVM switch is the first we've tested so while it's hard to judge it based on a lack of other experiences, we did learn a few things. It's certainly not flawless; the main shortcomings include a lack of 2 button hot key switching and a readable manual. If you decide to invest in this model, make sure all your hardware supports USB keyboards and mice. Last but not least, we strongly recommend opting for the USB2.0 version, especially if you plan on using a shared external hard drive. You can contact Wisetech here for an approved reseller.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 July 2007 )
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