flux
03-30-2005, 10:48 PM
This post is about the Belkin Omniview KVM F1DD102U, http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=146401
If you get one that doesn't have the "no-keyboard" firmware, it will
start chirping the moment you plug it in. Only plugging a keyboard
into the keyboard-labeled USB port (Logitech wireless keyboards won't
work in this port, for example) or updating the firmware will stop
it. A product should never beep unless there is something wrong with
it. Think smoke alarms and the low-battery warning. Demerit one.
Updating the firmware requires a complex installation of software on
your PC and you can't easily remove it. Demerit two.
In my case the firmware update failed on two separate computers
essentially causing the unit to stop working entirely, so Belkin had
to send me a replacement pre-updated. I am assuming there was a bug
in the software, so I count that as a third demerit. I also had to
pay return shipping. Four demerits.
The unit requires power and there is a small DC connector in the
corner, but the angled plug will either block one from using one of
the USB ports or one of the DVI ports. Demerit five.
Trying to get the last DVI cord is a challenge because the edge of
the casing is too close to it. I had to push hard. Had I not be able
to do so, I would have probably given up and just returned it as
defective. Demerit six.
For some reason, Belkin supplies a cover so the unit looks pretty
when it's on. Of course, you can't put it on once you have cables
sticking out the back of it. Demerit seven.
Obviously, this product was sloppily designed probably by different
people who never talked to one another about each one was doing and
no one at Belkin actually sat down and tried to use the product. I
suspect they will get a lot of returns on the item and eventually be
forced to discontinue it and design a new model. Ironically, Belkin's
products in general aren't all that bad, but with this one they
bungled it big time.
If you get one that doesn't have the "no-keyboard" firmware, it will
start chirping the moment you plug it in. Only plugging a keyboard
into the keyboard-labeled USB port (Logitech wireless keyboards won't
work in this port, for example) or updating the firmware will stop
it. A product should never beep unless there is something wrong with
it. Think smoke alarms and the low-battery warning. Demerit one.
Updating the firmware requires a complex installation of software on
your PC and you can't easily remove it. Demerit two.
In my case the firmware update failed on two separate computers
essentially causing the unit to stop working entirely, so Belkin had
to send me a replacement pre-updated. I am assuming there was a bug
in the software, so I count that as a third demerit. I also had to
pay return shipping. Four demerits.
The unit requires power and there is a small DC connector in the
corner, but the angled plug will either block one from using one of
the USB ports or one of the DVI ports. Demerit five.
Trying to get the last DVI cord is a challenge because the edge of
the casing is too close to it. I had to push hard. Had I not be able
to do so, I would have probably given up and just returned it as
defective. Demerit six.
For some reason, Belkin supplies a cover so the unit looks pretty
when it's on. Of course, you can't put it on once you have cables
sticking out the back of it. Demerit seven.
Obviously, this product was sloppily designed probably by different
people who never talked to one another about each one was doing and
no one at Belkin actually sat down and tried to use the product. I
suspect they will get a lot of returns on the item and eventually be
forced to discontinue it and design a new model. Ironically, Belkin's
products in general aren't all that bad, but with this one they
bungled it big time.