Sharing one monitor and keyboard with two Macs

Hi,
I have two Macs - one Pro and one G5. I want to be able to use both easily, using just one keyboard and monitor. Can anyone recommend the best way of doing this, and what splitter I should buy?
Thanks!

Hi
I like the Belkin Flip - it's really simple for a 2-computer setup and works well with the Mac.
Matt

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Can I daisy chain two mac pros so that I'm using one monitor and keyboard

Can I use two mac pro's with one monitor, keyboard & mouse? The two different machines have two different operating systems (Snow Leopard / Lion). One machine is brand new and the other is 5 or 6 years old.
I want to use both machines in tandem so that I can leave something to render while I work on something else.

KVM is an answer -- maybe. I use one for two machines to share one of my monitors (a VGA) and my keyboard (the second older machine seems to have sleep problems if I share a usb mouse on the kvm however).
The trickiest part of choosing a kvm is trying to find one that can handle the video; one that can handle the required bandwidth, and the connections. If one computer uses, say DVI, and the other mini-displayport, then you need to figure out which kvm can handle that with one (or both) of the machines using adapter(s).
You said one of the machines is brand new. Then it probably has thunderbolt. So you would need a mini-displayport, dvi, or vga adapter depending on the monitor. That means the older machine will need a similar connection since whatever kvm you get will have the same kind of ports for both inputs and its output.
A wild card here (at least in my mind) is if the newer machine has thunderbolt. While a mini-displayport display can be plugged into a TB connection, it is not clear that such a thing will work through a kvm. That is unknown territory I think at this point.

Share Magic Mouse, Screen and Keyboard between two Macs

Hi folks,
I'm considering buying a Magic Mouse for my work/studio-setup, mostly because of the way the touch and gesture features are implemented in Logic Pro X. Until now, I have used a Mac Pro directly connected to one DVI-display as well as a MBP. Both computers are also connected to a KVM-Switch sharing a second DVI-display and a wired Logitech Mouse and wired Apple Keyboard. I always liked this setup because I can switch between mouse and keyboard for the computers and the screen they share with the single click of a button on the KVM's remote control.
Is there any way that is as simple to control as this that I could set this up using a Magic Mouse while making sure that I can still use all Apple-specific gesture and touch functionality? From what I have read some people are using Bluetooth-Dongles on their KVMs USB-Ports, other use Software like Synergy or ShareMouse. But all of these solutions seem to make the setup more complex or seem to make some of the functionality I would buy the Magic Mouse for unusable. Instead of having to install some additional software on my machines that runs in the background all the time and is prone to compatibility issues etc., I would prefer a solution that is based on hardware and uses just Mac OS system features. Also, a solution that takes more then a couple of seconds to switch everything (KVM) between systems is not of practical use for my workflow. I would very much appreciate any hints or experience on this topic that you can share.
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Automatic does not work for me on this particular task. . My primary computer is an iMac. On travel I use a MacbookPro. I want the MacbookPro to have the same Contacts list as the iMac. I am logged into iCloud on both computers. The MacbookPro needs to be syced. On it I logged out of icloud, and in doing so I chose to delete files from the computer. Then I logged in again to icloud. That put a lot of additional lists of groups into the Contacts, lists that are not on the iMac. But some individual pages are not updated to match the iMac.
I tried to manually copy (and overwrite) the various files on the MacbookPro that seemed to deal with the Contacts, including
my Library/Applicatiion Support/AddressBook
my Library/Preferences/com.apple.AddressBook.plist
They are still not the same.
On my Macbook I unchecked the Contacts, which deleted them and checked them again. This now deleted all of my groups and the individual ones are not synced with the iMac.
So now I have had three different versions of Contacts on the Macbook, as I manipulated turning on and off iCloud, and not one of them has been the same as on iMac.
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I plan to purchase a Mac mini and then a new iPad. Can I use the iPad as a monitor and keyboard for the Mac mini, either through the USB connection or thru Wi-Fi?

I plan to purchase a Mac mini and then a new iPad. Can I use the iPad as a keyboard and screen for the Mac mini, using either the USB connector or Wi-Fi?

I'm sorry, I should have said thru Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi. I want to use the mini as a base station and the iPad like a laptop that I can sync when I'm home and carry with me when I travel. Is is possible to hook these 2 up - iPad/mini, through Bluetooth? I understand I need to use a regular monitor/keyboard/mouse on the initial install.

Can I use my apple wireless mouse and keyboard with my Mac Mini and Windows PC?

Hello, I recently dug up a windows PC computer for side projects, and I was able to get by using my wireless apple keyboard and mouse for my Mac mini, and then using a usb mouse for my PC, I want to eliminate the usb keyboard and mouse and just use the bluetooth keyboard. Both computers are usually on all the time, and the windows PC uses a bluetooth adapter. I can get my keyboard and mouse to work on both, but I have to sync them to whatever system I would like everytime I want to use it. Is there any solution that when I choose the Mac Mini my keyboard and mouse will work for the Mac mini, and when I choose my windows pc, the keyboard will only be used on windows without having to resync?

To my knowledge, no.
Barry

MacBook Pro with external monitor and keyboard.

Hello, everyone.
I've tried to find the answer for this question but haven't found a clear answer with my Google search.
My older Powerbook G4 will not allow me to work with an external monitor and keyboard with the screen in a closed position. I am about to purchase a new MacBook Pro and would like to be able to use it at home with a larger monitor and keyboard but with the lid closed and its built-in screen turned off. Can this be done ?
How can a MacBook Pro be used (turned-on) with external monitor and keyboard while the lid is closed and the its screen is off ?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
Joseph

Hi Niel,
I have the same problem with my MacBook and I followed the instructions you posted. My issue is that when the computer wakes up after clicking the buttons on the keyboard it then quickly goes back to sleep. I can't seem to keep it awake when the lid is closed. I've been searching for an answer without any luck. Any idea how to solve this problem?
Thanks!
P.S. After I finished posting this message I figured out my problem. While fiddling with my computer and monitor, I inadvertently disconnected the power. After reconnecting the power, I was able to wake my computer and keep it awake. A note to other people having this issue: the computer must be connected to a power outlet to run in closed mode.
Message was edited by: qwertyphd

Syslinux with additional monitor and keyboard?

Hi,
is it possible to use an additional monitor (and keyboard) with syslinux?
I have a Lenovo T500 laptop with a docking station attached to a second monitor and keyboard which are recognized after starting arch. As I'm using disk encryption, I have to type in the password under syslinux and it would be very nice if I could do it using the external keyboard and monitor.
Best regards

WonderWoofy wrote:My machine allows me to set the default monitor in the bios. I have a Thinkpad Edge E430. I can choose between the laptop lcd, the HDMI, or the VGA.
Thanks for the answer. Unfortunately, this did not work for me.
Strangely, the external keyboard is working in the syslinux menu, but not after that when I have to type in the pass-phrase. Maybe it has something to do with my syslinux.cfg?
DEFAULT arch
PROMPT 0
UI menu.c32
LABEL arch
MENU LABEL Arch Linux
LINUX ../vmlinuz-linux
APPEND cryptdevice=/dev/sda2:main root=/dev/mapper/main-root ro locale=de_DE.UTF-8
INITRD ../initramfs-linux.img
LABEL reboot
MENU LABEL Reboot
COM32 reboot.c32
LABEL off
MENU LABEL Power Off
COMBOOT poweroff.com
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Sharing Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse with two Mac's

I have a PowerPC and a MacBook Pro. I also have a bluetooth keyboard/mouse I use with the PowerPC. Is there a way I can also use them with the MacBook Pro and "hot swap" between computers? (By "hot swap" I mean thru some software or configuration switch to use the keyboard/mouse with one computer and then with the other without having to go thru disable/discover etc, etc). I'd really would like to avoid having to purchase another bluetooth keyboard/mouse (I have limited desk space). Thanks in advance for all replies.

This might not be exactly what you are after but I suggest you give it a try.
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/
It uses TCP/IP connections for the 2 computers but allows you to access each computer's desktop on the primary conputer's screen and move the active use of keyboard and mouse from one to the other as well as having some other features.
Neville

How to transfer from one mini to another without messing up either one. I have one monitor and two minis. I do have a firewire cable but don't want a complete transfer, just specific files.

I have done a complete fire wire transfer before but I don't want to do that. I only want to transfer certain files and leave the existing and new minis in tact otherwise. I am sure I can transfer just files. My question mostly is: I only have one monitor but will have two minis that are hooked up. Can this be done without seeing the other computer contents? I hope that makes sense. The existing mini is 10.5.8 and the new one is 10.6.

You can start one mac up in target disk mode, get file sharing set up and then disconnect the monitor. Monitor ports are very tolerant of connecting and disconnecting with the computer on.
Switch the monitor to the other computer. Start up, connect the firewire cable (after the computer has booted) and set up file sharing on that computer. You can see the other computer's contents without controlling the other computer's mouse and/or keyboard.
If the other computer's hard drive does not automatically show up, go to network settings and verify those settings as well. That should not be necessary but ethernet would give you a second option for file transfers.
Ji~m

PC & Mac Sharing 1 Monitor and KB Setup - How to use KB/Mouse for both?

I am purchasing a Mac Mini to replace my personal computer. I have one monitor/KB/mouse setup shared between my work and personal PC, switched back and forth via a USB KVM switch (http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS632U/)
I want to go with the Apple bluetooth mouse and keyboard with the purchase of my mac mini, but how can I make it so it will work with both my work PC (Windows XP Dell laptop docked) and my new mac mini?
Should I purchase a USB bluetooth dongle and connect that to the mini KVM switch? Or should I just plug the USB dongle into my docked laptop and pair with both the mini and the PC (if pairing to both is even possible)?
Thanks in advance.

If both are on your intranet, try Synergy.
I personally use the Wormhole. You can drag between desktops.

I own and work on two Mac computers.. a MacBook Pro and an iMac. Am I required to "purchase" the one-time in-App purchase of $4.99 TWICE, one for each computer..??

I own and work on two Mac computers.. a MacBook Pro (dual core, 3.06GHz, 8 GBs RAM) and an iMac ((dual core, 3.06GHz, 4 GBs RAM). Am I required to "purchase" the Garageband one-time in-App purchase of $4.99 TWICE, one for each computer..??

The answer to your question is not about the GarageBand content but the concept of downloading any apps (or in-apps purchases) from the app store. The Key is your Apple ID.
Whenever you download an app (it doesn't matter if you pay for the app or if it is free) you have to to be logged in to the App Store with a valid Apple ID. That becomes your "Online License". Whenever you are logged in to the App Store with that Apple ID you will see your Purchase History, what apps you downloaded and also what apps have updates available. As you see, this procedure is independent from your actual computer. The App Store is only interested in your Apple ID for verification.
To download an app or content on a different computer, just make sure you are logged in to the App Store with the same Apple ID you did for the initial purchase.
The button will now display (instead of Free or the price tag) "Install" because the App Store knows that you purchased the item before (with that Apple ID) and that you computer you are on at the moment oesn't have th app installed. Just click the "Install" button to download the app.
Here is how the Button looks like depending on the condition.
The same principle applies to in-app purchases. With GarageBand, when you try to restore Purchases, make sure you are logged in in the Apple Store with the Apple ID you made the original purchase.
One more thing: You don't need to be logged in to actually run an app, only for online activities (downloads, updates)
Hope that helps
Edgar Rothermich
http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/
'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

How can one use Mission Control with two monitors? Please bring Spaces back

How can one use Mission Control with two monitors. With Spaces I could treat each space as a single desktop.
SyBB

I use two monitors at work and have no issue. I have my mail set to use Desktop 1 and iTunes set to the second monitor of Desktop 1. I have browsers set to Desktop 2 and Fusion and RDC set to Desktop 3.
Two things that may help you. In System Preferences > Mission Control, disable the setting "Automatically rearrange spaces...". This screwed with assigning applications to certain spaces. And the other thing is don't use full screen on apps that support it. This just makes your second monitor superfluous.

If I have another iphone and restore with my Mac, what happen with the FindMyIphone if I have two iPhone's with the same backup?

If I have another iphone and restore with my Mac, what happen with the FindMyIphone if I have two iPhone's with the same backup or sync with the same computer?

If you have more than one device on the same Apple ID, Find My iPhone will let you choose the one to find.

HT1338 I bought a new Mac Mini and tried to pair my keyboard with the Mac Mini. They will not pair via Bluetooth. What is wrong?

I have recently bought a Mac Mini and tried to pair the new apple wireless keyboard with the Mac but after trying 6 times no luck. What can I do about this?

try this method:
You need at least a USB mouse. If you don't get any option to pair a keyboard, click through the setup until you get to the "Create Your Computer Account" screen, right click in any of the text fields and select Substitutions --> Show Substitutions. From there click on text preferences. The preferences pane will popup and from there you can just click the back button (next to show all) to get to the full preferences menu. Next click on keyboard, then select setup bluetooth keyboard and you're golden.

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I am moving all of my photos into Aperture 2, and we have two .Mac accounts for my office, one for business and one personal. My assistant's machine is set to the business .Mac account and my machine to my personal .Mac account.
I would like to keep all of my photos in Aperture but deploy the photos into web galleries and websites on both .Mac accounts. I can see how to handle the web pages by outputting to disk and then dragging them into the right folder in each iDisk. But I can't see how to do this with web galleries. In the past, I've tried changing the .Mac account in the system preferences and then using iPhoto and iWeb. This doesn't seem like a good solution.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this? Right now, I've having to export the photos from Aperture and import them into iPhoto on my assistant's machine and then publishing the web galleries from her machine. There has to be a better way.
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Multiple User accounts are the answer.
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Sharing one monitor and keyboard with two Macs

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