If you have two or more computers at home, a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch can save you a fair bit of space: The amount of space that one or more keyboard(s), monitor(s), and mouse (mice) would take up that is.

In short, a KVM switch combines the keyboard, video, and mouse, of two or more computers, and allows them to be controlled by a single mouse, keyboard, and monitor, individually rather than all at once. Control of the computers is determined by the position of a switch on the KVM unit, and this determines which of the computers concerned your peripherals will control. (See diagram below.)

Some KVM switches aren’t that good: It’s always a good idea to check the quality of the unit before you buy; otherwise you could end up with a poor picture, mouse pointer flying all over the place, and even keys that you didn’t press appearing to have been pressed.

For more detail on KVM, and a review of one such unit – Which on the face of it seems quite a nice product. – click this link. – Here you’ll get a bit more depth on the subject also.

Personally I don’t use a KVM switch, which may seem a bit silly of me as space can be of a premium at times. However I’m constantly shifting computers around, building and rebuilding them, and to be honest I never know whether I’ll be using the same computer from one day to the next: (I hope I will be using the same one, as chopping and changing from time to time can be a major pain in the ass, but I can never be sure.) I might have a system failure, have a system out for maintenance and have to use backup, or even get fed up with a machine; which would mean I’d build a new one, clean and sell the old one, install an OS, add files from backup, and use the new one. I have enough problems with keeping a wired network set up, without the extra connecting/reconnecting and cabling of a KVM switch. – So it’s not for me at the moment. (I know I could use wireless; but I find a cabled network much more convenient.)

If you’re a normal home user and have more than one computer, or are using a home server, or similar, then a KVM switch might be just the thing for you. They’re not usually that pricey either. – But I suggest that you avoid the cheapest ones.

Why have more than 1 keyboard, monitor, and mouse? ( – Unless you’re in a similar situation to me.) They take up too much space as it is. Save yourself some space why not?