They are little considered, but in reality switches like the UGREEN KVM Switch HDMI 2 in 1 offer absolute convenience for those who work with several computers at the same time and cannot have a display for each one.
The model of this test is very different from the one we have already tried, starting from the destination up to the technical specifications, far from secondary.
UGREEN KVM HDMI Switch 2 in 1, the review
Four for two
UGREEN KVM Switch HDMI 2 in 1 is basically a parallelepiped measuring 13.5x6x2.5 centimeters of pure black plastic.
On one side there are two HDMI and two USB-B sockets intended for two different PCs, plus a third HDMI intended for the display to be shared.
On the sides there are two USB-A sockets in version 1.1 and another two 2.0 on the other side for the connection of up to four devices to be shared.
There is no power supply (which is taken from the two computers) and everything is controlled by a central button at the top, which performs the switch with a loud beep.
Connections
The aim is to group four USB devices and an HDMI display and share them between two computers, whether they are independently Mac or PC by simply pressing a button.
Everything happens in an exemplary way, the switch lasts less than a second and all the devices converge in the right PC: a small blue LED indicates the selected source, although to be honest since there is a display that turns on the indicator it is not of much use (but perhaps it is useful in case of malfunction).
Both macOS Catalina and Windows 10 did not bat an eye and have adapted to the change commanded by the switch without problems, also because the USB and HDMI connections are hot and all the devices were in control. We do not recommend connecting mechanical disks or SSDs, because in that case more delicate factors come into play such as the type of filesystem and the need to dismount them before the switch.
Attention
However, there are some attentions that should not be underestimated: first of all, nutrition. The 1.1 ports on one side are intended to support mice and keyboards, we tested the switch with an Apple Magic Keyboard and a Razer Pro Click mouse (via a USB-A dongle) with no problems, but other mice, with higher demands for power supply also given by the lights, they could have problems and be disconnected.
The other two sockets, 2.0, are more capable but also in this case the energy must be dosed: we tried to connect a Logitech StreamCam and a Blue Yeti microphone but the switch only detected the webcam (which was the first connected, likely that the power request was excessive for the second device).
We emphasize that the same four peripherals were perfectly connected to the UGREEN 4 Ports USB 3.0 KVM Switch we tested, which however offers four USB 3.0 sockets but lacks the video connection.
Last detail, the connection via HDMI offers a signal up to 4K but limited to 30 Hz: mid-range and high-end 4K displays today are all at 60 Hz, a smoother signal.
Those who do static graphics or work with Office apps (apart from PowerPoint) can safely use a 30 Hz signal, so those who use the UGREEN KVM Switch HDMI 2 in 1 to control one or two servers. Unlike if you use multimedia applications or games, the lack of 60 Hz can show a slow refresh.
Considerations
Switches are usually very popular in a server environment, where a display, keyboard and mouse can offer a valid alternative to an RDS connection (more or less, of course), especially in case of network problems.
However, in today's world, having a switch like this on your desk allows you to actually use two computers instead of one by sharing essential elements (such as keyboards, mice and displays) even when these do not have multidevice control systems.
The writer, who daily uses a MacBook Pro and a Lenovo X1 Carbon for work, has found UGREEN KVM Switch HDMI 2 in 1 really interesting, with obvious advantages, especially in sharing the precious LG 27UL850 display, also because there is none in the desk. there would be others.
If in the game of connected devices, being careful you arrive at an optimal solution, as regards the use of a connection at 30 Hz you need to understand what it is before making a hasty purchase.
Pro:
• Full switch, USB and video • No power needed • The button is convenient
Cons:
• Video is limited to 30Hz • Two USB connections are 1.1 only • Attention is needed to the power supply of connected devices
Price:
• 45.99 Euro
Readers can find UGREEN KVM Switch HDMI 2 in 1 directly from the Amazon.co.uk pages
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