USB Keyboard Switch

[anjou2]

Is it possible to use one USB keyboard to control two PCs with some sort of manual switch.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You would need a KVM switch, something like this one.

Disclaimer: I've never used this one (or any other KVM switch) but it gets decent reviews and is reasonably priced.

 

[anjou2]

Thanks LF, looks the business, not sure about the health risk??

 

[mrjimphelps]

What do you mean, "health risk"? There is no health risk from using this device.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

What do you mean, "health risk"? There is no health risk from using this device.

If you go to the Newegg listing I linked, you will see this warning:

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including one or more listed chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to [url="http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov"]Proposition 65 Warnings Website - Your right to know[/URL]

California is notorious for "excessive concern" about dangers from chemicals used in various plastics, etc. These warnings for even the most infinitesimal risks have rendered those warnings pretty much useless since there is no degree of risk indicated in the warning. Now, if you are going to spend several months chewing on the darned thing all day long, you just might expose yourself to some danger (though the danger of being locked up in a Psych ward for being off your rocker for chewing on it would be greater).

 

[mrjimphelps]

I see what you're saying. Well, if you live in California and use this product, you could put on rubber gloves every time you are going to touch it. Or put a few pieces of scotch tape on the button; that should protect you satisfactorily, as long as you were wearing rubber gloves when you hooked it up.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I see what you're saying. Well, if you live in California and use this product, you could put on rubber gloves every time you are going to touch it. Or put a few pieces of scotch tape on the button; that should protect you satisfactorily, as long as you were wearing rubber gloves when you hooked it up.

Both of you (and the State of Paranoia California) are blowing that absurd warning out of proportion.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Apparently you didn't detect my sarcasm. I figured the rolling eyes would tip you off.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Both of you (and the State of Paranoia California) are blowing that absurd warning out of proportion.

Speaking of California, I read an article a while back which told of Los Angeles County school district sending techs all over the school district and opening computers, so that they could cover the "master/slave" labeling on the motherboards! I can only imagine the amount of money that was spent on that project, not only to send techs around to "relabel" the motherboards, but also to repair any damage that resulted from that effort. (When you are opening that many computers, damage is likely to result here and there.)

The only smart way to implement something like that would be to make all future purchases conform to those requirements, rather than trying to "fix" what they already have. In fact, they are now moving in that direction.

I can't find the original article; but here is the second article:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/

 

[cornemuse]

Dont forget a respirator & UV protection for the eyes, , , ,

"Welcome to Planet California, violators will be prosuceted, , , , ,"

 

[strollin]

I think it's more of the fact that Newegg is over zealously applying a California requirement to label exposure to known carcinogens and the like. It's more of a CYA thing for Newegg.

Just because backward states (and countries) don't require a company to notify the consumer of exposure to known risks doesn't necessarily make California wrong or crazy.

Most likely the Master/Slave debacle was due to some lone administrator overdoing the whole "Politically Correct" thing. Pretty much any law or requirement can be over applied depending upon who is applying it.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

The big problem with the California law is it has no degrees of danger required to be indicated in the warning. Pretty much anything can be used to cause cancer in lab animals. Breathing California air is far more likely to cause cancer than most products that get the warning label.

The "law" over master/slave was more a suggestion of what to do rather than an actual requirement. Asking manufacturers to change terminology made far more sense than actually changing existing labeling.

 

[anjou2]

And all I wanted was a keyboard switch, didn't realise I was starting a civil war!!!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

And all I wanted was a keyboard switch, didn't realise I was starting a civil war!!!

Well, you were the one who expressed concern for a health risk.

 

[mrjimphelps]

The "law" over master/slave was more a suggestion of what to do rather than an actual requirement. Asking manufacturers to change terminology made far more sense than actually changing existing labeling.

As I recall, LA schools actually sent techs around to cover the words "master" and "slave" on the motherboards. At that time, I emailed Daniel Tafoya (?) and suggested that they require these changes in future purchases, rather than wasting their money trying to "fix" the computers they had at that time. Maybe they heeded my suggestion!

 

[TechnoMage2016]

That whole thing is so stupid.....the only motherboards that would have any kind of "Master-Slave" labeling on them were the old IDE boards that are no longer made or sold......and have not been for many years.
If California is still using computer in their schools, that are that old, they are doing a huge disservice to their students. I'm surprised that they are not still using Commodore 64's. :sarc:

OH, and our own Civil War never ended....it just moved to the internet, and it's now fought with words, not bullets.:devil:

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?