The good news is that actually connecting and using a KVM switch with your Mac mini and a PC is easier than deciding which switch to buy, and setup should take less time than reading this chapter. But for simplicity, this chapter will discuss only two-port switches. The one I usually use can switch among four machines. You can buy KVM switches capable of switching between more than two computers. If you happen to be shopping for a new keyboard and mouse, most of what is available today is USB. If you are using a USB keyboard and mouse, you should buy a USB-equipped KVM switch. This is a happy situation because it saves you from buying an adaptor on the Mac mini side. In that case, you may now have USB connectors on your mouse and keyboard as well as your Mac mini and PC. Maybe, however, you have replaced the original mouse and keyboard that came with your PC. The adapter connects the separate PS/2 mouse and keyboard cables to a single USB port on the Mac mini. If you want to continue using a PS/2 mouse and keyboard, you should buy a PS/2-equipped KVM switch and a PS/2-to-USB adapter for your Mac mini. The USB connector at the end of a USB mouse cable. PCs also have USB connectors, but I am not sure that any PC manufacturer routinely ships a USB keyboard and mouse with its products.įigure 4.2. The Mac mini, however, lacks PS/2 connectors and expects its keyboard and mouse to come equipped with USB connectors ( Figure 4.2). On the far left is the display connector second from the left is the audio connector. The green connector (far right) is at the end of a mouse cable. The purple connector (second from the right) is at the end of a keyboard cable. These are PS/2 connectors from a KVM switch.
#KVM SWITCH FOR MAC MINI WINDOWS#
They typically plug into connectors of the same color on the back of the Windows computer, often near the top.įigure 4.1. The keyboard connector is purple and the mouse connector is green ( Figure 4.1). You will recognize PS/2 connectors by their colors. The name PS/2 comes from the IBM PC model on which this connector first appeared. Here's the problem: Most Windows PCs come with a PS/2-style keyboard and mouse. You may still prefer to buy a new keyboard and mouse. Choosing the right onealong with any required cables and adaptersmay save you money and definitely will save you a run back to the computer store.
KVM switches come in two flavors based on the connectors they use: USB and PS/2.
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