USB 3.0 Printer Sharer: Two PCs, One Set of Peripherals

One switch, four shared USB 3.0 ports

• One button, zero replugging

  The raised black switch key moves all four USB 3.0 output ports to the other computer. Your printer, keyboard and mouse stay plugged in the whole time, so the change is one press and nothing else.

• Four ports, two machines

  Two USB A-to-A input cables run from the computers into the unit. The four output ports then carry a printer, keyboard, mouse or drive. If the back of the desk is already crowded, a set of cable organizers keeps the runs tidy.

• Clear status, at a glance

  Two indicator lights, marked 1 and 2, show which computer has the shared devices. You can read the answer from across the desk before you press anything.

Four ports, two computers, one button

• 4USB 3.0 output ports
• 2computers supported
• 5VMicro USB power input
• 2indicator lights

Set up two PCs in four steps

1. 1
   Connect both computers

   Plug one USB A-to-A input cable into each computer. Use the cables labelled for computer 1 and computer 2 so you know which light means which machine.

2. 2
   Plug in the devices

   Connect the printer, keyboard, mouse or drive to the four USB 3.0 output ports. Hubs can be added, but keep the power draw of the devices in mind.

3. 3
   Power the unit

   Connect the Micro USB cable to a 5V supply. The indicator lights come on once the unit has power.

4. 4
   Press once to switch

   Press the black switch key. The light changes, and the shared devices move to the other computer.

Everything you need to connect two PCs

• USB switch selector unit×1

  Glossy black housing with four USB 3.0 output ports and one switch key

• USB A-to-A cables, male to male×2

  Cables for the first computer input

• USB A-to-A cables, second input×2

  Cables for the second computer input

Every switch should not mean unplugging again

The third unplug of the day

By mid-afternoon the cable routine is old. The printer comes out of one port, goes into the other, the keyboard follows, and then the mouse. Every swap risks a dropped printer connection and a print job that never finishes on the second machine.

One press, and the desk follows you

The switch sits between both computers and the devices. Both PCs stay plugged in, and the single button hands the four USB 3.0 ports to whichever machine you are working on. The two indicator lights confirm the switch before you start a job.

One switch versus a second set of peripherals