Home > Consumer Reviews > 4 Port KVM Switch - AUTO4 Sets Of 6 Ft Cables Incl.

This is the first KVM switch I've ever used, so I can't compare it to the others available. But I can say the following:

VIDEO QUALITY: No quality loss at up to 1024x768. (I have not yet tested higher resolutions.)
SWITCHING DELAY: The screen goes blank for about 1.5 seconds when switching computers.
ANNOYING BEEP: The unit does make an annoying beep every time you switch; this is supposed to be turned off when you get it (it wasn't!), and can never be turned off (according to http://www.zonetusa.com/faq1.asp?CID=28)
POOR DOCUMENTATION: The documentation is really lousy, though sufficient.

The reason I give this product a decent rating is that it's really, really cheap. If it's good enough to meet your needs - you don't need constant, rapid-fire switching and can maintain your sanity hearing the beep (it's actually more of a "chirp," I'd say, and only moderately loud) it's a great deal for a 4-port KVM switch with all 4 cables included.

For a four port switch plus four sets of cables, you can't beat it with a stick at the price. I've owned 3 other KVM switches, all Belkins, and all much more costly than this item from Zonet. I've used (apparently used up) a 2-port Belkin "Omniview" switch, and an 8-port cabinet mounted Belkin unit. (I did buy another little 2-port Belkin recently from Amazon, because it was on sale for $20, and it hasn't mysteriously stopped working yet. Given my past experience I expect that it will.) Anyway this device does the job and for a fraction of the cost. The beep is not annoying to me despite some complaints about it. The documentation claims it is off by default, which is false, because it's on right out of the box and doesn't respond to attempts to shut it off. It doesn't bother me so I didn't subtract points for it (I actually like having the audible feedback that it worked). Each set of cables is neatly bound together which really helps constrain some of the wire mess around your workstation. I am using it with a standard keyboard, a Logitech trackball, two different versions of Linux (SuSE and Fedora), and Windows XP/2003/98, all with no issues or errors. I was wary about that as I've experienced loss of mouse control (reported elsewhere by others) switching between systems in the past using the Belkin switches. So far the Zonet is more stable in that respect. Also, for some reason the keyboard hotkey switching with the Belkins never worked but now it does. ?? Finally, I think someone else mentioned that they had an annoying delay of a couple seconds when switching systems, I have found a similar delay with all the KVM switches I've used but actually this one is faster than the others, about a second to get video and mouse control. I give it 5 stars for doing what it says it will, doing it well, and at an extremely competitive price. Very happy with the purchase (and the customary superb service from Amazon, as always!)

The unit works fine. Installation, easy, simple. Functions, easy to use. Cables seem good quality. I would recommend this for it's inexpensive cost, extremely easy setup, functions as it's 1 page manual says. Would have gotten 5 starts if,

It's BEEP when you toggle between computers is irritating. It's pretty loud, so if you are using this for home it would be bearable but if you are going to use this at your desk and you have people sitting around you, it does get irritating.

The manual says it is shipped with the BEEP OFF. But this one I received from amazon.com didn't come to me with the beep off. And then after looking up the support FAQ, http://www.zonetusa.com/faq1.asp?CID=28

it says "The beep sound of the KVM3004 can not be turn off once it's activated." So either amazon sent me a used one or it was defective from the factory.

I could return it to amazon.com for an exchange but i'm sick and tired of eating the shipping having to return stuff to amazon.com. I'm going to keep it cause it works but it doesn't get a high rating from me because of the above reasons.

I'm returning it. This is not a usable device. It gives very bad and flickery video signal, and the switching between 2 computers barely works.

Every once in a while (like every 5min) it turns off the keyboard for about 5-8 seconds and the light on the KVM switch starts blinking. Then it goes back to normal without me doing anything.

When switching, sometimes you have to press NumLock twice, sometimes 4 times, sometimes more until it detects that you want to switch. Switching with the ScrollLock key doesn't work, although the manual says it should. Turning off the beep also doesn't work.

Every once in a while (approx once a day) the mouse stops working with a particular computer and doesn't resume until you reboot the computer. This happens sometimes when you're switching to that computer... other times it just happens while you're working.

Overall terrible quality. I don't know if I got a defective unit, but based on the other reviews, it seems like other people had similar problems too. I wouldn't buy anything from this brand (Zonet).

This tiny little switch does its job wonderfully with a great price that you cannot beat. Image quality is quite good. A damaged KVM cable is the only problem I have with this product.