I'm looking for a budget-friendly solution to quickly switch my mouse and keyboard between my work and personal computers. Right now, I'm using a USB 3.0 switcher, but there's a frustrating 2-3 second delay when I switch. I've heard about DDM KVM switches, which allow for better device simulation, but they can be quite pricey. Is there really no affordable way to enable instant switching for my keyboard and mouse? Sometimes I need to switch 3-4 times a minute, so the delay is pretty noticeable. My budget is $100 max, and I can't use any software solutions because of restrictions on my work PC. Thanks for any tips!
3 Answers
Have you thought about just getting a KVM switch? They let you switch between multiple computers while using the same peripherals. A basic one for two computers starts around $10-15, but just beware that cheaper KVMs might not handle USB devices well and could still have some delay, so you'll have to test it out.
Why use a physical switch at all? If your work setup allows it, you could try using Microsoft Mouse Without Borders. It lets you share your mouse and keyboard between two PCs over the network. But I get it if your work PC has restrictions—then you're stuck looking for hardware solutions!
I totally get that delay being annoying! You might want to consider getting a separate keyboard and mouse for work. You can find decent combos for around $30, and that way, you avoid the KVM delay altogether. KVM switches often aren't instant, especially those cheaper models, so switching devices may end up being more hassle than it's worth.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely check out KVM options, but I'll need to see how well they perform with USB devices before committing.