As the price of computers continues to fall and computer performance increases, what does this mean for consumers? Many dated computers are set aside, stored in closets, basements or even garages when they still have plenty of life left to them.

Utilizing a KVM switch – an acronym for keyboard, video and mouse – is one way to breathe some fresh air into the life of an older or non-utilized computer without the expense of upgrading. At the core, a KVM switch allows you to share a keyboard, monitor and mouse amongst multiple computers and switch between computers at the touch of a button or with a keyboard shortcut.

KVM switches have been utilized in the business world for years as they are an extremely efficient way to monitor banks of servers oftentimes tucked in small cabinets with no room for multiple monitors or the confusing mess of endless keyboards and mice. 16-port KVM’s can be daisy chained to each other for up to 256 connections allowing ultimate control. KVMs are great solutions for businesses, and now the technology has trickled into the home, and for very good reasons.

Home computers serve many purposes and for today’s children they are one of the best interactive learning tools available. Allowing children on a home computer opens up risks for accidentally deleted files, documents and folders moved to the wrong place or other unintentional errors. With an older unused tower, a simple 2-port KVM with remote is a perfect solution.

Simply connect the keyboard, mouse and monitor to the KVM switch, then take the set of wires coming off the side and plug one into the main computer and the other into the older computer for the kids. A remote button can be mounted under a desk, away from their view to switch between computers. When the kids want to use a computer, simply touch the button on the remote and the keyboard and mouse will control their computer using the same monitor. This is an easy way to keep them off your computer and eliminates the fear of them screwing something up by accident.

The other advantage is cost savings. With KVMs there is no need to purchase an extra monitor for a second computer, thus saving money and energy consumption over time.

Utilizing KVM switches isn’t just restricted to connecting your old computer up with your current monitor for space and money savings, they can be used for other purposes too. Netbooks have recently become one of the biggest new markets for computer manufactures because of their low prices and ultra-portable design. The upside to netbooks, their ultra-compact design, is also their downfall. Most netbooks have a screen smaller than 10 inches which is great for quickly checking email or Web sites on the go, but not so much fun if you have an hour or two of email to read or need to view a Google map at a decent size.

By using a KVM for laptops users can connect netbooks and laptops to an external monitor, allowing them to easily use a larger screen when at the office or home. This particular switch also comes with software and an on-screen menu to easily transfer files between your home / work computer and netbook or laptop, perfect for migrating data from a day in the field onto the destination computer. The small size of the KVM fits unobtrusively into any laptop or netbook bag.

KVM switches are one of most efficient ways to utilize multiple computers, expand existing computers to span monitors and enhance a portable computer without the need to purchase extra hardware. This is a direct cost savings and users can give life to older or under utilized computers and add productivity to their workflow.

IOGEAR’s USB Laptop KVM Switch allows users the convenience of controlling a second computer without the hassle of extra cords, re-configuring their home network or installing expensive software that can slow down their computers.

Customers can simply pull the device from the box and plug one end into the main PC’s USB port and the other end into the second PC’s USB port, no matter if it’s desktop to desktop, desktop to laptop, desktop to Netbook, laptop to desktop or laptop to Netbook.

The USB Laptop KVM Switch is revolutionizing the industry as it’s the first-of-its-kind for its design for end consumers with multiple PCs especially the mobile user.

Watch this video and see how easy it is. All you have to do is plug it in; it’s that versatile and easy!

How would you use the USB Laptop KVM Switch?

Cheers,
The IOGEAR team

Whether you read the morning paper, check your news online or head to an electronics store, you are likely hearing a lot of buzz about the latest trend in personal computing, Netbooks.

Netbooks are more compact than traditional laptops, and offer screen sizes ranging from 7” to 10” inches. These devices were created to allow users to utilize Internet browsing and email as well as other Web-based applications in a mobile setting. Netbooks are the perfect computing tool for on-the-go users as they are simple to use, affordable and easy to tote around (they typically don’t weigh more than three pounds).

Netbooks have emerged as the hot product for 2009, and because of that many devices have been created to work with these new computers.

IOGEAR offers the USB Laptop KVM Switch, which easily plugs into a USB port and allows for files to be transferred and copied between your Netbook and Desktop or main Laptop. Now, you don’t have to use the small screen of your Netbook when traveling. You can access documents and view your work from a larger monitor more securely, whether for work or personal use.

Other gadgets that come in handy when using Netbooks are Bluetooth adapters which are great solutions for mobile computing, external keyboards for using your Netbook at home or in the office like IOGEAR’s Spill-Resistant Desktop and external speakers in order to listen to audio from your computer.

For more information about Netbooks, check out this informative piece by GigaOM’s Kevin Tofel.

Cheers!
The IOGEAR team

Do you have a home theater or work area cluttered with wires? IOGEAR wants to help you stop the madness by giving you some prizes to achieve Zen like peace…well maybe not exactly

Show us pictures or video of places where you could use IOGEAR’s assistance along with a description of how the below products would specifically help and you could win one of these fantastic prizes:

First Place – Wireless USB to VGA Kit

IOGEAR’s Wireless USB to VGA Kit lets you connect a VGA display to your computer using Wireless USB technology. What that means is you can browse the web on your television or on a remote monitor without having to use wires.

Second Place – USB Laptop KVM Switch

Need to transfer data from your laptop to your desktop or control one computer with another? The IOGEAR USB Laptop KVM Switch lets you seamlessly control two different computers from one and transfer files back and forth. It is the perfect accessory for netbook owners that want to look at a bigger screen when they’re not away from their desk or office.

Third Place – Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse

IOGEAR’s Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse allows you to reduce the wires and clutter on your desktop. This keyboard makes things even simpler by offering hotkeys to give you quick access to launch things like e-mail and your web browser with the click of one button.

Want to get in on the prize action? Upload a photo or video to your favorite photo/video sharing site, tag it with the term IOGEAR, and then submit a link to the photo and/or video through this form (the data submitted on this form is private) and on our FaceBook Page (become our fan and post your links to our wall with links to your photo(s) and/or video along with the description about how you would use these prizes to solve your clutter challenges).

The contest ends April 30, 2009.

As 2008 winds down and the world prepares for 2009, consumers are on the lookout for the hottest new technologies. With consumer’s needs and wants changing after a historically tumultuous year economically, the demands for the latest gadgets technology have shifted as well.

Consumers are no longer searching for the biggest, boldest technologies but are interested in electronics that help streamline and organize their lives, saving time and money. People are investing in gadgets that help them share and maximize existing resources.

Convenience is key for 2009. With the need to always be connected, society has and continues to move wireless. The greatest and most popular technologies in 2009 will implement wireless capabilities saving cable clutter and eliminating material waste. Wireless gadgets give customers environmentally-friendly options to streamline home and work spaces.

Additionally, green isn’t just about money. Consumers have taken a wider interest in items that not only maximize their bottom line, but save power and energy as well. Many companies, including IOGEAR, are taking steps in the right direction to conserve resources. Next year, energy-conserving gadgets such as solar-powered batteries, refurbished computers and KVM switches will be hot, hot, hot!

Respectfully,

The IOGEAR Staff

After providing a solution for your wire clutter problems on a previous post, we found great interest on the topic; judging from the amount of web traffic sent to that blog post. Here, we expand on the idea of de-cluttering with 4 ways to help move towards a de-cluttered digital life.

1. Wireless VGA – Connecting to your display wirelessly

Whether you are giving a presentation or watching a movie on your computer through a projector at home, you can finally put away that extra long VGA cord. This handy device not only reduces clutter, but adds at least ten points to your coolness factor . Learn more from the video.

2. Use Existing Wires

Using the existing electrical power lines in your home or business you can do some amazing things:

-       Stream music to any room, a great way to create a holiday atmosphere

-       Network your computers without a degree in Computer science

-       Extend a Wi-Fi network to the furthest part of your home or business

3. KVM – Easy Switching and File Sharing Between Two Computers

If you have a PC and a laptop on your desk, a KVM switch will reduce the clutter on your desk while allowing you to control both computers with the same keyboard, video display and mouse.

4. Portable Media Server – Free Your Photos, Songs and Movies

Getting photos, songs and movies to play from your PC onto a TV, HDTV or display usually means hauling a computer around and dealing with a mess of cables. With the Portable Media Server, not only do you eliminate the need to lug a PC around to enjoy your content, you can take your entertainment on the road!

What are your favorite tips for de-cluttering your digital life?

Living in an increasingly digital age, it is difficult to decipher how to maximize resources for a fully-integrated digital home. Consumers are looking for the best products to wisely equip their households, simply and cost-effectively. With today’s digital world and ambiguous economy, it is important for individuals to utilize the resources at their fingertips, and one of the best ways to do so is through integration.

Connect to Your PC to a TV or Project Wirelessly

An example of this technology merge occurs when people connect their PCs to their televisions, such as users of our Wireless USB to VGA Kit, who can wirelessly display PC content on their television screen or projector within the same room.

Install Multi-Room Audio Systems with No Wires

We also see a growing number of customers using our Powerline Stereo Audio System, which makes use of a home’s existing power lines and enables individuals to easily install a multi-room audio distribution system.

Looking Towards to the Future

At IOGEAR we are always thinking of ways to make your digital life simpler. Next time you feel confused about different technologies and their price tags, consider how our products can save you the time and money.

What products can we create to make your life even easier?

The last roadblock preventing many professionals and students from going completely paperless is note-taking. There are times when it just isn’t convenient to put notes directly into a computer document. Sometimes it’s necessary to draw pictures, skip around on the page, or flesh out ideas. In those circumstances, writing it on paper would make things so much easier.

With innovative digital pens like IOGEAR’s Mobile Digital Scribe, it is possible to have merge the flexibility of handwritten notes with the organizational advantages of digital notes. It allows its users to put their thoughts on paper while converting it directly into an editable digital medium.

When using such tools, there are things to consider that can make it all merge very easily into a digital work-flow. Here are some tips to remember when taking digital notes:

• A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words – In many ways, we are visual creatures. Many are able to grasp concepts and understand directions more easily through visual representations than we can with just words. Draw it out. Notes with visuals will make it easier to remember the subject matter at a later date when reviewing your notes or converting them to more formal presentations.
• Use the Whole Sheet – One glaring disadvantage of using document software such as Microsoft Word for note-taking is that it isn’t easy to organize on the whole sheet. Without adjusting format, most of these programs default to a linear, vertical style of organizing. Using the Mobile Digital Scribe allows you to easily make columns, groupings, or sub-notes on the entire page.
• Organize as You Go – When typing notes, it is often difficult to keep organized when the subject matter skips from topic to topic. If taking digital notes by hand, it is possible to organize very easily by establishing sections throughout the page where different notes belong. When a new topic pops up, it’s as simple as writing out a header anywhere on the page and underlining it to create a new grouping for your notes.
• Keep it Relevant – When there’s nothing to write at any given moment, people tend to doodle. There’s nothing wrong with it. It passes the time and keeps the pen moving. If room permits, have a separate sheet of paper available for doodling. If there is no room, set aside an area on your notes for doodling. This seems like a minor point, but when it comes time later on to study the notes or convert them into a formal document, keeping the information relevant can help to expedite the process.
• Write Fast, but Write Clearly – There is nothing more frustrating than looking at important notes a few days later and not understanding your own handwriting. While it is important to make the notes as comprehensive as possible, they are worthless if you can’t read them. It’s always possible to ask a professor or presenter to repeat something if you can’t keep up, but keeping up and not understanding later can be an insurmountable obstacle.

Taking proper notes is essential for successful students and professionals. Having the flexibility to write and draw by hand and still convert it to digital for editing, sharing, and viewing at a later date is the main reason why the Mobile Digital Scribe is a “must-have” for anyone who takes notes in today’s world.

The Future Lawyer blog is holding a contest where you can win a free Mobile Digital Scribe from IOGEAR. If you have an interesting anecdote regarding note taking you may have a change to win.

Watch what an artist has to say about the quality of the Mobile Digital Scribe.

Hurry! The contest ends on October 31, 2008.

Jesse Jones, at award winning King5-TV decided to put our Digital Scribe to the test with a local traditional artist, Patrick Kerr, for whom accuracy is very important.

The Digital Pen was tested in two situations: 1) Mr. Kerr created some artwork on a piece of paper and then uploaded it to the computer later and 2) he then created a drawing while the device was connected to the computer in real-time.

His response? “This is awesome! This is Great! An Excellent Drawing Tool.” You can view the test here now.

How do you see yourself using this technology?