Logitech, you should make a KVM that works with your products.
The purpose of this post is for people who feel the same as I do to indicate your support. If lots of people support this idea, I'm sure Logitech would consider it.
A few years ago, I made a post about keyboard layouts with a few meager replies, but to my surprise, it seemed like Logitech took that input (whether it was from me or from other channels) seriously.
I did a search for "KVM" on this forum and found over 600 posts. I'm guessing most people don't come here to post about how wonderful their KVMs have been working for them (with their Logitech products). I think the opportunity here is very feasible.
I started writing another post 2 months ago, but it got very long and I abandoned it, so maybe I'll just add back those points in replies if people are interested.
Here's why it makes sense (to me):
- KVMs in general emulate generic interfaces to keyboards and mice.
- This leads to crappy experiences with specialized buttons -- especially when wanting to reprogram the special keys.
- People who swear by Logitech tend to buy lots of Logitech keyboards and mouses (well, I do at least and a few other people I know).
- I understand Logitech is mainly focused on being a media interface company (e.g. harmony, peripherals, sound peripherals, webcams), but KVMs are moving out of the realm of purely IT people as more people are getting multiple computers (e.g. 1 desktop, 1 laptop).
Here's probably what people would want (in order of importance?):
- Support for modern and possible future Logitech keyboards and mice (better emulation, or figure out how to pass on the id from the keyboard and mouse).
- Support for wireless products -- do you know how huge that would be?
- Support for unified wireless products -- even bigger plus.
- Be at least a basic KVM for the other brands.
- Support for audio (analog).
- Support for USB audio (e.g. some logitech speakers --> yes very challenging).
- Dual monitor support.
- Support for DVI.
- Support for VGA.
- Support for multiple keyboards/mice (don't laugh, companies with pair programming developers will be eyeing this...).
- Reasonable pricing (of course -- but of course people would pay more for fantastic features).
- Support for older Logitech devices would be a huge plus too (say everything that SetPoint supports).
You'll probably be faced with some challenges:
- Gaming products may suffer in performance (but should still be supported in terms of functionality) because you're now going through another hardware device that requires emulation (unless you can figure a way around that... -- maybe just emulate to the non-active computer to say the peripheral is still plugged in).
- Figuring out which video hardware interface standard to support going forward (vga -> most broad, dvi -> pretty ubiqutious, maybe a licensing fee though, display port -> the future? cheaper?)
- Support for the wireless (or unifying) dongle so that your connecting s/w works through your KVM... big plus!
I think it would be kickass if I have a 4 monitor setup that I could KVM... (at some point in the future...). That might be dreamtalk for now though, but products also don't show up overnight.
For anyone who supports this idea, I think it would be good to tell Logitech who we are. I'm suggesting the following format:
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Profile:
Software Engineer. I buy games, but never seem to find the time to play them. =(
(notable) Logitech Peripherals I own/bought:
6-8 MediaPlay Mice, 2 Revolution VX Mice, 1 Anywhere Mouse, 2 MX510 Mice, 1 MX518 Mouse, 1 M305 Mouse, 2 Marathon Mice, 1 MX400 Mouse, 1 Revolution MX Mouse, 1 Performance Mouse MX, 1 Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse, a dozen regular optical/ball mice. 2 Internet Cordless Desktops,1 Cordless Desktop MX 5500, 2 EX110 Keyboard/mice, 1 MK710 Keyboard/Mouse, 1 K800 Iluminated keyboard, 1 Wireless Combo MK520, 3 K360 keyboards, 3x Internet Navigator Keyboards. 1 Z-2300 speakers, 1 Z-230 speakers, Logitech AudioHub notebook speakers. Okay, I'm not getting into the webcams or remotes... (I'm sure I already sound crazy/insane...)
existing KVM use/details:
4x 2-port PS/2 VGA (Linksys, IOGear) KVMS, 2x 2-port USB VGA (1 w/ audio, IOGEAR) KVMS, 1 4-port USB VGA (IOGEAR) KVM. Everything in use except for a 2-port and the 4-port.
Killer feature(s) for a Logitech KVM:
- Logitech special key support for mice/keyboards.
- Unifying/wireless dongle support.
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Thanks for listening! Thanks for posting everyone!
