4-port kvm w/audio AND USB 2.0 switch?

[spiffy]

Hi everyone,

Any ideas where I can find a 4-port KVM switch that has audio support, also can let me share several USB 2.0 devices (scanner & printer) amongst the PCs? I've only found one brand, Avocent, that makes such device; but I have never heard of this brand, not to mention the unit is over $250! Belkin and Iogear have KVM switches, but they are not USB 2.0 for some reason. Am I better off using two separate switches? Frankly I am in sticker shock just from the price differences of 2-port and 4-port!

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Spiffy

[lordsmurf]

I use multiple keyboards because Windows likes to freak out when it cannot detect a keyboard (just put them under/beside the desk, or on top of the towers). I just KVM the monitor, several mice share 2 pads on top of each other. I have speakers for each system, and then I simply network the USB devices like printers and hard drives. The scanners can just be connected to one system, not a big deal.

I use off-brand KVMs because they're a bit cheaper, they do alright. For optimal image quality, don't use a KVM, they tend to degrade the image (ghosting is a common issue).

It's a shame they don't make DVI KVMs. That would be awesome.
edit: Actually they do make DVI KVMs! nice!
http://www.avocent.com/web/en.nsf/Content/SwitchViewDVI-2port

I got all the extra mice, speakers and keyboard off eBay for pennies on the dollar, it cost way less than a super-duper KVM would have run.

Multiple speakers is also pretty nice, as you can play music or do whatever on one, while you encode video or do NLE work on the other, situations where you really do not want the HDD and CPU working with extraneous unnecessary processes.

[spiffy]

Thanks for the info Lordsmurf. I have only used one KVM, and it's a 2-port generic brand with audio support. I don't know about the video quality, but the audio certainly is never the greatest -- while one port is fine, the other port has a lot of hisses and static -- could be the PC itself, I'm not entirely sure.

However, since I'm getting another machine, I will have to upgrade to a 4-port KVM, as I just don't have the real estate for another monitor, keyboard, etc. I'm really surprised that 4-port KVMs are not cheaper, given that a lot of people own more than two PCs these days.