Sharing Monitor/Keyboard between Work and PC

Niko123456 on 13/08/2023 - 19:33
Last edited 13/08/2023 - 19:35

I do a bit of WFH.

Usually I just use my own personal desktop. But I'm getting sick of the MDM software installed on it. It's the family computer… A wired keyboard and wireless mouse.

My work laptop is a Surface 4 and I have the Surface 4 dock.

What are some good solutions to sharing the keyboard?

The mouse is fairly easy, it has a Bluetooth thing.

The monitor is easy too, as it has its own cable to the surface dock.

But the keyboard I am stuck between plugging and unplugging.

Oh, and the external webcam.

Do people just put up with plugging in and out a USB dock?

Is there a USB dock that can connect to both the PC and surface dock, like a KVM thing?

Computing KVM Switch

Comments

  • flagger on 13/08/2023 - 19:48
    +5

    I use this and it's great https://www.amazon.com.au/UGREEN-Computers-Peripheral-Switch….

    Plug keyboard and mouse into any of the 4 usb ports on the front, plug each computer to the usb ports on the back and then press the button to switch between them.

    • ihfree on 13/08/2023 - 20:14

      Using the same - connected to a Thunderbolt dock and my PC. I just switch display inputs as required.

      You can use a utility such as controlmymonitor to switch displays. Sadly this hasn't worked with one monitor I use.

    • Bangers on 13/08/2023 - 21:39

      Also use a KVM switch like this. UGREEN used to have one that also plugged in HDMI so you could also have monitors + keyboard + mouse, but it looks like they don't have that product anymore.

    • Broke-Ken on 14/08/2023 - 01:49

      I use this too, have a wireless dongle for keyboard and mouse, an external web cam and a usb headset with mic plugged in.

      All works fine. Just don't plug any storage devices to it.

      It switches and works perfectly.

    • Niko123456 on 14/08/2023 - 11:46
      +1

      thanks - I bought it. Worth a try I hope.

  • dcep on 13/08/2023 - 20:59
    +1

    Logitech K380 / K480 / K780 , multi-device bluetooth keyboard.

    • Niko123456 on 13/08/2023 - 22:20

      I had that before, but the audio interface and webcam was a pain to move over.

  • AustriaBargain on 13/08/2023 - 23:35

    Makes me appreciate how Apple handle this. Have an iPad next to your Mac and you can move your mouse onto the iPad and start controlling it with your Mac keyboard and mouse. Sadly it doesn't seem to work the other way, using the iPad mouse and keyboard to control the Mac.

    • ozbargainsam on 14/08/2023 - 00:12

      Good news: it's bidirectional in iPadOS 17/Sonoma.

  • mitt on 14/08/2023 - 11:30

    I mucked about with various KVM & software options for ages for a dual PC setup & every single one had annoying issues. Eventually I just forked out for a Logitech KB/mouse that uses the bolt USB dongles & the whole thing just works flawlessly. MX mechanical KB & MX master 3s mouse. Each one came with its own dongle & I can flick back & fourth with the shortcut keys on either the KB or underside of the mouse.

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