back in the '00s i used a hardware kvm that could be controlled by the keyboard with some weird key combo (~ ~ (1|2)? maybe?). these days i strongly prefer deskflow (oss version of synergy) for this sort of thing or just ordinary remote desktop for the secondary. (depends on the task, if you're just building for the secondary or reading email it doesn't really matter- but if you're developing interactive applications or you need to reboot a bunch or something, then having the physical hardware with a local head can help).
Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
31–40 of 153 posts
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#32You can do this with even less fiddling just by getting a KVM that supports video. There are reasonably priced ones that can even do 4K 60Hz. This also means you don't have to deal with monitors that don't implement input switching via DDC/CI (thanks LG).
I did that at home. But I needed to try several KVMs until I found one which was stable. And I hate all the cables.
I agree that the industry hates its consumers and likes to mess things up. CEC never always quite the same. Not supported on many GPUs etc.
I do not want to appear to condone LG. But actually (sorry!) some supoort[0] it using DDC side channels (0x50 rather that 0x51). But I agree it is painful. Yet I prefer it over my cable spaghetti.
[0] https://github.com/rockowitz/ddcutil/wiki/Switching-input-so...
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#33I gave up on a hardware solution to this and currently just use Screen Sharing to "remote" into my personal machine from my work machine, which I guess only works because they're both macs, although VNC probably solves this in a cross platform way. I have an Apple studio monitor so built-in KVM isn't possible, although maybe there's a jailbreak for it since it has its own processor and firmware? I still just vastly p…
Does screen sharing actually have reasonable resolution and latency befitting of the Apple Studio Monitor?
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#34I didn't know that DDC was a thing! Super cool.
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#35back in the '00s i used a hardware kvm that could be controlled by the keyboard with some weird key combo (~ ~ (1|2)? maybe?). these days i strongly prefer deskflow (oss version of synergy) for this sort of thing or just ordinary remote desktop for the secondary. (depends on the task, if you're just building for the secondary or reading email it doesn't really matter- but if you're developing interactive applications…
I still use hardware KVMs. Tesmart is OKish, but fails within a couple years, usualy. AV Access is on par with it.
Level1Techs are the best but also cost double or triple.
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#36Isn’t the answer buy a kvm switch? If yes this could have been really short
Depends on what class of monitor you want to run it with. A KVM that can handle 4K 144hz VRR is... not cheap, if available at all.
"8K" KVMs are available on Amazon for under $100; they'll handle 4K@144 no problem.
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#37Personally i prefer two computers, two monitors, one mouse/keyboard. Deskhop has been a lifesaver https://github.com/hrvach/deskhop
I do the same but with a usb-c dongle. For whatever reason my brain needs a hard reset when switching between tasks otherwise my productivity nose dives.
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#38You can do this with even less fiddling just by getting a KVM that supports video. There are reasonably priced ones that can even do 4K 60Hz. This also means you don't have to deal with monitors that don't implement input switching via DDC/CI (thanks LG).
it's much more reasonable and trivial on lower quality monitors but if one of the two PCs is for gaming you're going to want 4k at at least 120Hz which, last I checked, didn't exist (or was very expensive). You also might have a hard time finding one that takes DisplayPort in, which is preferable for Linux.
Personally I just run the USB devices into a $5 USB A/B switch and manually change the inputs on the monitor.
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#39back in the '00s i used a hardware kvm that could be controlled by the keyboard with some weird key combo (~ ~ (1|2)? maybe?). these days i strongly prefer deskflow (oss version of synergy) for this sort of thing or just ordinary remote desktop for the secondary. (depends on the task, if you're just building for the secondary or reading email it doesn't really matter- but if you're developing interactive applications…
I still use hardware KVMs. Tesmart is OKish, but fails within a couple years, usualy. AV Access is on par with it. Level1Techs are the best but also cost double or triple.
Where I worked in the 00s, they had rack mountable kvm. The clients were just a small box with utp and the peripherals. A double press on ctrl opened a menu and you could choose a server. Neat.
Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)
#40Personally i prefer two computers, two monitors, one mouse/keyboard. Deskhop has been a lifesaver https://github.com/hrvach/deskhop
For macs, if you're signed into the same Apple account on both, you can "share" the same keyboard and mouse across them.
It does tend to be finicky - sometimes it just refuses to connect, and won't tell me why, and sometimes it'll forget the arrangement. And it requires you to be signed into one account on two machines, which some people may not want to do on corporate laptops.