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Belkin F1DF102U Flip 2-Port KVM Switch (USB Connection) | List Price: $49.99
Discount Price: $28.89
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Brand: Belkin
Binding: Electronics
Release Date: 2006-04-07
Warranty: 3 years warranty
Features: - Connects instantly to notebook computers
- Shares one set of speakers between computers*
- Supports notebook and desktop computers
- Supports high video resolutions up to 2048x1536
- Comes with a Belkin 3-Year Warranty
So BAAAAD! [Posted on 2007-02-22]
Could not be worse. I hate it. I use it flip 6 months. Also I use it only because at office of another is not available. That it has earned every times is necessary to climb under a desk, to take out all 2 USB a connector and to insert them back. It kills my second computer. When it happens the manager is compelled will not only replace it but also to buy a new computer.
If you like to climb often under a desk - buy not reflecting!
You never know what you're gonna get! [Posted on 2007-10-07]
With this product, you get to be surprised every time you sit down to the computer. You never know if it is going to switch between your two computers and, if it actually does, you are probably going to be looking at a screen in 800x600 video because it can't properly detect the video mode. Most of the time it just fails to recognize the other machine and you have to unplug everything and re-plug it in. It has a lot of cabling which basically just clutters up your cables without adding any value. Definitely avoid.
Great product - when it works [Posted on 2007-11-12]
I saw a video review of the Flip on cnet and thought it was the greatest idea ever. I have a home business and often move between 4 or 5 computers, and it's an electronics snarl in my tiny office. So the Flip would allow me to share the monitor, mouse and keyboard for 2 computers at each desk. Cool!
It was easy to set up the Flip - the body of the thing is pretty chunky, but I have a big, multi-tiered desk suitable for hiding wires and connections. Connecting them with the Flip was easy and really obvious. At one desk, I have a desktop tower and a laptop. The Flip has one shorter cord, suitable for the nearby laptop, and a longer cord suitable to run father, to the tower stashed next to the desk. Good so far.
The Flip color-codes the computers - when my laptop is using the screen/mouse/keyboard, the Flip button glows yellow, and when the desktop computer is selected, it glows green. That works.
So what doesn't work? The Flip itself, sometimes, inexplicably won't flip - meaning I push the button, and nothing happens. This is a disaster, because I have had to stop everything, dismantle the Flip, and plug my peripherals into the computer directly.
I'm stubborn, so I have reassembled it, and it worked again - for a while. But if I remove my laptop from the system, and then hook it back up, the Flip causes all my display settings to go haywire. My laptop, with the Flip, only recognizes my monitor as a default plug-and-play monitor, and uses the wrong driver, so the monitor's screen resolution is screwed up. I then have to uninstall the driver and install the one that came with my monitor - an annoying little time-waster that might really confuse someone not used to installing drivers.
I haven't sent the Flip back - I've had it for about 3 weeks now, and I haven't given up on it entirely yet. But right now, I only have access to one of my computers at this desk, because the Flip failed again this morning. Who knows, maybe tomorrow it will work.
I can't recommend the Flip wholeheartedly, but I can't say "don't buy it" either. If you never change your computer configuration, leaving it hooked up all the time (without taking your laptop to work, for instance) then maybe it will work for you. Or if you don't mind crawling under your desk to swap out the wiring periodically when it doesn't work - then maybe the Flip is good enough for you.
It don't work. [Posted on 2007-11-13]
My experience was similar to what several others here have mentioned. The first day I hooked it up, it worked. The next day it did not. When I hit the button to switch computers I get unreliable results...usually it switches the video but not the mouse and keyboard. I have found that by flipping it about 4 times it will sync itself and I get control of the desired computer.
You might have to jiggle the remote switch plug a little before you get contact. The light on the remote switch must glow either green or yellow. If not, jam the plug in harder.
When it was working, I did find an annoying 6 second delay before the mouse and keyboard would activate. The video is instant. I'm also trying an Airlink 101 and I find it switches instantly, so it can be done.
It's a nice attractive design and the snake style combined usb/video cable to the computer is great along with pervasive yet subtle color coding. I love the cute little remote switch button with long thin extension cable for convenient placement; it can also be used as a foot switch, which is great. I like having a dedicated hardware switch rather than hot-key only operation. Device requires no software....a major plus, but hotkey operation is available with a software download. Airlink 101 has a built in hotkey, Belkin should do that too since it allows hotkey operation with no software.
Other people here have more patience or are more forgiving of quirks....they say it's finicky. Or in my case I could say "just click it four times and it might do it." Blather....it either works or it doesn't, and it don't! A simple device like this has no excuse not to work perfectly, all day, every day. How hard can it be...we're not splicing DNA here. A first rate design at a good price, unfortunately DOA.
Good product, easy installation just a little slow [Posted on 2008-01-14]
The Belkin FLDF102U Flip lives up to what is advertised. It is easy to install and works perfectly for my needs. I have two computers on my desk and need to work with both machines with only one monitor and keyboard. My only complaint is that when you "flip" to the other computer, it is a little slow to give control to the other machine.
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