Convert Laptop to Desktop?

Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
easily enough.

Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
the missing monitor information)
--
Ron Hardin


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

"Ron Hardin" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
> keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
> easily enough.
>
> Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
> it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
> monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
> the missing monitor information)
> --
> Ron Hardin
>
>
> On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Something like this works

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817107562

Picked one at random, but you get the idea. USB keyboard and mouse, plus
monitor. Switches between them whenever you choose, with a keystroke. Both
machines are happy.

How remote is remote? You can attach a USB Bluetooth item to the 1200 and use
a wireless keyboard.

To share devices between two computers, laptop and desktop even, the best is to
get a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. The systems keep running even when
the KVM are switched to another system... Ben Myers

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:51:50 GMT, Ron Hardin <> wrote:

>Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
>keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
>easily enough.
>
>Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
>it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
>monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
>the missing monitor information)

Ben Myers wrote:
> How remote is remote? You can attach a USB Bluetooth item to the 1200 and use
> a wireless keyboard.
>
> To share devices between two computers, laptop and desktop even, the best is to
> get a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. The systems keep running even when
> the KVM are switched to another system... Ben Myers
>
There's also software KVM's like Synergy (synergy2.sf.net) which offer
some pretty sweet features too (like sharing a clipboard) and they work
across multiple OS's.

If it was on a network, you could also use something along the lines of
RealVNC to run the laptop from any other system on the network.

"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news...
> How remote is remote? You can attach a USB Bluetooth item to the 1200
> and use
> a wireless keyboard.
>
> To share devices between two computers, laptop and desktop even, the best
> is to
> get a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. The systems keep running even
> when
> the KVM are switched to another system... Ben Myers
>
> On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:51:50 GMT, Ron Hardin <>
> wrote:
>
>>Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
>>keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
>>easily enough.
>>
>>Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
>>it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
>>monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
>>the missing monitor information)

Albeit slowly. RealVNC is a neat piece of software, but it is no substitute
for software running right there on the PC's own screen... Ben Myers

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:23:44 -0500, "HDRDTD" <> wrote:

>If it was on a network, you could also use something along the lines of
>RealVNC to run the laptop from any other system on the network.
>
>"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>news.. .
>> How remote is remote? You can attach a USB Bluetooth item to the 1200
>> and use
>> a wireless keyboard.
>>
>> To share devices between two computers, laptop and desktop even, the best
>> is to
>> get a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. The systems keep running even
>> when
>> the KVM are switched to another system... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:51:50 GMT, Ron Hardin <>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
>>>keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
>>>easily enough.
>>>
>>>Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
>>>it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
>>>monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
>>>the missing monitor information)
>

No question about it.

It all depends on what he wants to do with it 'remotely'.

If the laptop and the Win95 systems are close to each other, then no
question a KVM is the way to go.

If the laptop is in another room.....


"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Albeit slowly. RealVNC is a neat piece of software, but it is no
> substitute
> for software running right there on the PC's own screen... Ben Myers
>
> On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:23:44 -0500, "HDRDTD" <> wrote:
>
>>If it was on a network, you could also use something along the lines of
>>RealVNC to run the laptop from any other system on the network.
>>
>>"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>>news. ..
>>> How remote is remote? You can attach a USB Bluetooth item to the 1200
>>> and use
>>> a wireless keyboard.
>>>
>>> To share devices between two computers, laptop and desktop even, the
>>> best
>>> is to
>>> get a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. The systems keep running
>>> even
>>> when
>>> the KVM are switched to another system... Ben Myers
>>>
>>> On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:51:50 GMT, Ron Hardin <>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
>>>>keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
>>>>easily enough.
>>>>
>>>>Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
>>>>it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
>>>>monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
>>>>the missing monitor information)
>>

Sounds like you want a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. A two machine
switch can be had for around $30.

Tim.

Ron Hardin wrote:
> Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
> keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
> easily enough.
>
> Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
> it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
> monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
> the missing monitor information)

You laptop likely doesn't have PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, so a USB one
would likely be better
"Timothy Lange" <> wrote in message
news:eqpu4e$m0d$...
> Sounds like you want a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. A two machine
> switch can be had for around $30.
>
> Tim.
>
> Ron Hardin wrote:
>> Can I add something to my Inspiron 1200 to make it use a remote
>> keyboard? I guess the remote monitor problem is solved with f8
>> easily enough.
>>
>> Though I guess I'd need some kind of switch for the monitor, to share
>> it with my actual trusty win95 desktop. (If I use a switch, do the
>> monitor-deprived systems crash? or does the switch shield them from
>> the missing monitor information)

Tom Scales wrote:
>
> You laptop likely doesn't have PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, so a USB one
> would likely be better
> "Timothy Lange" <> wrote in message
> news:eqpu4e$m0d$..
> > Sounds like you want a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. A two machine
> > switch can be had for around $30.

It's complicated, because the other machine (my actual desktop) is a 1996
win95 machine that has a fatter-than-usual keyboard connection jack on the
back, and PS/2 mouse jack.

The Inspiron 1200 has just USB, and video out (that I guess is compatible).

One possibility is don't swap the mouse and keyboard but just move them
aside (2 keyboards and 2 mice, net result, but one monitor).

Then a second complication is that I already use the video out on the
1200 to play Get Smart (complete 5 season DVDs, my only DVD set) into
a room monitor for watching. Hmm, have to swap that one out when the KVM
swaps the desktop in. Maybe a data switch solves that one. There's a lot
of cables running around. Have to consider.

The KVM switch then just switches video input to the desk monitor. Is it
better than a video ABCD data switch? Maybe like not alarming the software
that detects the absenece of a monitor when it's switched away?

I don't know what the computers detect as to what's on the line.

--
Ron Hardin


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.