On Saturday, May 9, 2020 11:12:02 PM CEST René J.V. Bertin wrote:
> >The laptop doesn't fit on my desk. I got the docking station to be able to
> >use the laptop at home.
> FWIW, I also don't have a very big disk. The laptop thus sits on a stand
> that also puts the screen at a more ergonomic level. Not sure that would
> work as well with a bigger form factor than the 13" I have now ... but
> those aren't really fit to be called "lap" top anyway, as far as I'm
> concerned ;)
I would need a magnifying glass if the screen was that small ;)
> The cheapest and probably easiest way to implement the kind of HID switch
> you're looking for would be to use a VNC client on the computer with the
> biggest/nicest screen.
That would prevent me from using the laptop when the workstation is not
running --- unless maybe I get another display port cable. Maybe I should do
that; in that case, I could an USB switch.
Besides, setting up xfreerdp is a somewhat annoying task ...
> You could probably make a USB switch yourself
> (switching just the 2 signal wire, supplying power from an external supply)
> but as soon as you switch to a different device the previous device will
> still see a USB disconnect. If that causes it to lose settings it will a
> priori continue to do so. Preventing that would require the switch to make
> every connected computer think that the keyboard and mouse are connected
> even if in reality they're connected to only a single computer. I'd be
> surprised if such a device existed, TBH.
Well, any device to switch USB devices between multiple computers that doesn't
make sure that the devices keep their settings would be entirely useless.
I've never used one, so I don't know what they do --- if I were to buy one,
I'd have to return it if the devices loose settings when switching.
If I were to make such a switch as you describe myself, it might work for
keyboards. IIUC, keyboards have some kind of controller built in which is
responsible for the repeat rates and delays. As long as the keyboard is
powered, it shouldn't forget them.
