Belkin’s OmniView SOHO Series

February 25th, 2002

So… What is it?

In simple terms the ‘OmniView SOHO Series KVM Switch’ is a device that allows a single monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers to be shared between multiple computers.
I’ll be testing the device on a Dual 800mhz G4 running OS 10.1.3 and an AMD 1.2gig PC running WindowsXP.

My primary workstation is the G4 and I have two 17-inch studio displays attached to it. However, I sometimes need to use the PC, mostly for editing Unreal Tournament maps. Usually, I have to unplug the ‘second’ monitor from the Mac and attach it to the PC before booting up. The OmniView not only claims to be able to change that process to a simple press of a button, but also will increase my (physical) desktop space by allowing me to remove the superfluous keyboard and mouse.

First Impressions:

I’ve had the opportunity to review several of Belkin’s devices over the last few years and I have to say that they are consistent in the presentation of their products. Sturdy – just about describes every one of their devices, which I’ve seen, and the ‘OmniView’ KVM Switch is no exception. Funky – If you’ve ever seen one of Belkin’s USB hubs you’ll know what I’m talking about here, Belkin tend to stray from the norm with their product design and again, the OmniView KVM stands out as being one of the grooviest switches that I’ve ever seen!


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Along with the actual unit itself I was supplied with two ‘OmniView All-in-one KVM Cable Kits’ – basically a couple of 10 foot, high quality, monitor extension cables (female to male) with a moulded USB lead attached to each of them.

Assembly/Installation:

Don’t have a trained monkey handy? Not a problem, he’d be over qualified to perform this installation anyway!
If you can plug a monitor and keyboard into a computer then you can also install the ‘OmniView’. It could not be any simpler.


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1. Plug one USB/monitor cable into Computer No.1. (In this case a Mac)


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2. Plug one USB/monitor cable into the Computer No.2 (In this case a PC)


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3. Plug the USB/monitor cables into the OmniView.
4. Plug your PS/2 keyboard into the OmniView.
5. Plug your PS/2 mouse into the OmniView.
6. Plug the audio from the Computers into the OmniView.
7. Plug the monitor cable into the OmniView.
8. Start the Computers,

Done! It was only after completing the 8 steps above that I sat back and had a read of the installation manual…
When all of the cables are plugged into the unit it takes on the appearance of something that you may see attacking Captain Nemo’s submarine, but they are soon tidied up when the OmniView’s back cover plate is put into position.


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Well… Does it work?

Do fish skinny dip? The unit functions exactly as advertised! To be honest I really don’t know where to go from here – It just simply works!

Upon boot up the PC noted that new USB devices had been installed, churned away for a moment or two and then went on about its business. When I switched to the Mac I will admit to being surprised to see that the mouse not only functioned as it did prior to the installation of the OmniView, but that all of it’s (USB Overdrive) settings were retained.

For me the only draw back of this system comes in the form of the need to use a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. I am lucky enough to have recently acquired a Logitech dual optical mouse, which, while being USB came with a USB to PS/2 adapter (specifically for use with that mouse). Said adapter working flawlessly with the Logitech through the OmniView. The adapter does not work with either the standard Macintosh extended USB keyboard or my (3rd party) ergonomic USB keyboard (No surprise really). So I am stuck, for the time being, with an old PS/2 keyboard from a long since dead PC. This is of course not the fault of the OmniView, as it doesn’t claim to allow you to use USB input devices. But it is an oversight. I cannot help but think that this is a ‘hang-over’ or a facit that shows the age of the device. Surely it would be prudent for Belkin to update their KVM series to allow the use of USB input devices – after all, USB is standard on all forms of personal computer now. While this is not too great a hurdle if you already have a PS/2 keyboard and mouse kicking about, it is a stumbling block if you are planning to use the device with ONLY Macs.

~One thing that I did note though, after searching the net for over an hour looking for a USB to PS/2 converter for the keyboard is that there aren’t any! Perhaps it is more a technical hurdle rather than a design flaw.~

There is a work around for this though. The OmniView does not require you to attach a keyboard to it for it to function. You can continue to use the keyboard of your choice with each of the computers connected to the switch. I, personally have chosen to stay with the PS/2 keyboard.

Shortly after installing the OmniView I launched Photoshop and began working on a current design project but was stopped dead in my tracks when I found that I couldn’t use any of the standard keyboard shortcuts! Why? Because there’s no command key on the archaic PS/2 PC keyboard that I had ended up using! With my best Charlton Heston style “Damn you!!” out of the way – I took up the OmniView Manual again and immediately had a solution to this dilemma.
By simultaneously pressing the ESC and the a key the OmniView remapped the PC keyboard to that of a Mac! The ALT key is now the equilivalent of the Mac Command key. The windows key became the Option key. The Scroll-Lock key is even the Shut down/Restart key! – Switch to using the PC and the unit ‘knows’ and the keyboard acts as a PC keyboard again. Neat!

Another ‘neat’ feature that I discovered at this point was that you can also switch between machines by using keyboard shortcuts – A function included for the insanely lazy I’m sure – but a feature none the less!

Pros and Cons:

Pros:
1. Turns an inconvenience into the push of a button.
2. Clears your (physical) desktop of the multiple keyboards and mice.
3. Makes a neat ‘beep’ when you switch desktops.
4. Saves you purchasing another monitor.
5. Looks funky!
6. It works!
7. Future support via ‘flash-able firmware’
8. Switches between computers with simple keystrokes.
9. Maps keyboards for use with the appropriate platform.

Cons:
1. Requires PS/2 keyboard and mouse.
2. See 1

Final word:

My concerns about the PS/2 requirement are firmly attached to the fact that I use my Mac more than I use my PC. Macs have never used PS/2 ports and it’s my opinion that we will eventually see them disappear from the PC too – most likely to be replaced by ‘Firewire’ or USB2. This [my concerns] should not detract in anyway from the OmniView’s performance. If anything the fact that it ‘re-mapped’ the PC keyboard with a simple ‘key-combo’ shows just how well thought out this product is.


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Were this review to be written for a primarily PC site it would score the absolute 10 out of 10 – I mean it out guns your average PC peripheral device before you even plug it in! But that minor inconvenience [the whole PS/2 thing – Yes, I’m still on about that!] knocks it down a notch or two from a Mac users perspective.

~another note: I attended a PC swap meet this weekend and purchased a remarkably Mac looking PS/2 keyboard for a measly $18 (australian dollars)~

Score:
PC solution – 10/10
Mac solution – 8/10
Combo solution – 9/10

Links:
Belkin’s site

Elroy

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Microsoft = trouble

February 25th, 2002

Microsoft is in trouble. They have been scrambling to regain the high ground in their case for what seems like years and every time they look to be regaining the lead and putting some real judicial distance between them and defeat another crushing blow is dealt them. First they fought tooth and nail against being broken up. Then Judge Jackson found them guilty and ordered them broken up. Crushing defeat.

But wait, Microsoft gets a second chance when it is found that the Judge was a bit to friendly with reporters and the public about his own personal feelings about the trial. Hold everything, lets not break them up. Microsoft is back on the winning side. Now we get a whole slew of appeals and finally we land back in court with Judge Collar-Kotelly. Things are really starting to look bad for MS again. This no-nonsense judge starts telling them to stop crying and start putting out information and making a deal or she will, and that will likely not be good for MS. (BTW they are still guilty of antitrust violations, now the courts are trying to decide how to punish them.) …

But then we have good news again. The new justice department wants to make a deal and the breakup of MS is not even on the table anymore. Things look better and better. MS puts out a deal. “Let us put our OS and computers in all schools for nothing and we will be helping children. That should teach us to be Monopolistic.” Wow, MS is on a roll now. Not only are they not being broken up but this would put them deep into an entrenched area of their “main competitor” Apple. Fortunately the Judge saw right through this and sent them back to the drawing board. Another setback and now things seem to be getting worse. The justice department has struck a deal, but 60-70% of the citizens of the US affected and 9 states will not play ball and they want more, much more. They want the source code to the Crown Jewel itself, Windows. And here is the kicker, the judge has ordered that Microsoft give it to the states. Big Crushing blow! MS will appeal, there is no doubt in my mind.

So what has this got to do with the Macintosh, Apple, and you? Why write up what you already know? Well, for those who have not been paying close attention, Apple was one of the main reasons that Microsoft’s settlement to monopolize and expand into the school system was trashed like so much rotten cheese. And if MS is forced to give their source code out they will be out for blood. What could this mean? Many things could come of it, or nothing could come of it. I think that if MS gets seriously spanked though it could mean good things overall for Apple. First of all, people will start to get the impression that MS is not out for their best interest. (Yes I know, where have they been, hiding in a cave?) Second of all, what is the main alternative to windows? No! Not Linux! Apple Mac OS! (good guess though!) So theoretically that could drive more people to buy Apple than ever before.

Now for the bad things that could happen. MS Could stop developing Office for the Mac. Will it happen? Doubtful, Since MS makes wheelbarrow loads of cash on its Mac products like Office. Could it happen, certainly. What else could they do? Alter their OS in such a way that Quicktime does not work properly on it anymore. (They have already done this once with Quicktime in IE and with Netscape) They could stop developing Windows Media Player for Mac OS X. (I know, no big loss here, but some people really want this.) They could stop developing IE for Mac OS. And worst of all, they could steal the Apple GUI, put it on an Intel chipset and call it Windows. (What do you mean this has already happened?)

Many of these things are worst case, and many may not happen at all. With MS in the negative spotlight lately for the AntiTrust trial and for its many security issues in its “most secure OS ever” (Windows XP makes swiss cheese look mighty solid) they are starting to see their mindshare erode much faster than they would like. Shoot, whole countries have sworn off their OS to replace it with Linux. So, conceivably they could start to have financial trouble as their stock begins suffering and they could be relegated to a niche market or forced to close their doors forever. (This will not happen, but it could if they continue making the mistakes they made with XP over and over again) What effect would that have on Apple? That would be the day that Apple ruled the computer market. Big smiles and cheers all around!

This article was mostly a what if, and it ended with a big “yeah right, what have you been smoking” segment. It was just what has been on my mind lately and I thought I would share it with you. What do you think? Am I more right than I know? Or should I lay off the RDF huffing?

NoahJ

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