02-13-2005, 01:54 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Why Do KVM's Cost So Much, and Other Strange Computer Questions!
I consider myself a pretty geeky guy. I know a lot about computers, yet have some questions I've always wondered about. Since its Sunday morning, and some of us are probably procrastinating our "honey-do" lists or our own weekend projects, I figured I'd throw out a few questions that have always baffled me, and see if anyone has a good answer!
1. Ok, anyone who has ever priced KVM's (Keyboard-Video-Mouse switches) knows that these things can cost a bunch of money, and the cabling can outcost the unit at times (For example, a company I do work with purchased an 8-port KVM (2 terminal capable) for $199, and then purchased 8 sets of cables for $30 each). But why? A KVM is a pretty simple thing, and while I'm not electrical engineer, I really can't fathom it takes too much programming or circuitry to switch my I/O from one set of ports to another...
2. About a year ago, I began working with a web hosting business as their technical manager. Its a small company, so I'm usually called in for either really big problems, or to work on the Red Hat linux box (As the other tech. really doesn't know Linux that well). Upon "inheriting' this Red Hat 7.3 box, I quickly found that someone had removed the "shutdown" and "reboot" commands, forcing me to go old-school and use Init to accomplish these tasks. Can anyone offer me a good reason why they'd ever remove these commands from a box that only an administrator would ever have shell access to?
3. In Windows 3.1, we had a program called "Recorder" (Anyone remember it?) that allowed you to record macros. Anyone know why Microsoft removed it from Windows 95 and up? Was I the only person who used it 
So there are my 3 twisted strange questions - feel free to answer mine or post your own. Perhaps we can unravel the mysteries of the computing universe. 
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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02-13-2005, 02:07 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 706
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Re: Why Do KVM's Cost So Much, and Other Strange Computer Questions!
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Originally Posted by Jon Westfall
1. Ok, anyone who has ever priced KVM's (Keyboard-Video-Mouse switches) knows that these things can cost a bunch of money, and the cabling can outcost the unit at times (For example, a company I do work with purchased an 8-port KVM (2 terminal capable) for $199, and then purchased 8 sets of cables for $30 each). But why? A KVM is a pretty simple thing, and while I'm not electrical engineer, I really can't fathom it takes too much programming or circuitry to switch my I/O from one set of ports to another...
post your own. Perhaps we can unravel the mysteries of the computing universe. |
I'm with you. I don't get why the KVMs we buy at work cost a fortune when the unit I bought for home cost $40 AUD including cables. Sure, it's just a 2 port unit but the software in thse devices is very mature, the hardware is relatively simple and the cables, to my understanding, anything more special than extension leads. Perhaps I'm understating the complexity.
As for the other questions, it's late in my part of the world and I can't think of a reason. Perhpas it's just the way things are.
Good night
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Get your Pocket Mojo. Anthony Caruana is the Mojo master. |
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02-13-2005, 02:38 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 20
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Jon Westfall
I can not even imagine a more off topic post.
The worst part was, I read the whole thing. Trying to find the lead in.
No FLAMES please. I just hope this is not the begining of hundreds of off topic posts.
I come to this site twice a day to find out what is going on in Pocket PC land.
I own a 3150, 3650, 3670, 2215, x50v and throw in 2 palms.
I have just purchased a KVM switch, and agree, the prices are crazy.
Larry L
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02-13-2005, 03:23 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Larry L
No FLAMES please. I just hope this is not the begining of hundreds of off topic posts.
I come to this site twice a day to find out what is going on in Pocket PC land.
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Everyone needs a little off-topic to loosen up a little. If there were never any off-topic posts it would be like sitting in class all day without a break :wink:
Stick around you'll get to like all the topics. You might even start coming more often :mrgreen:
I agree with all so far about the KVM's. Probably someone is making good money on them. Probably the same reason cell phones cost $200 if you go to by it and the company will give you five all for $19.95 :?
Recorder??? I thought MS killed it because I was the only one using it. They probably just put it back into Word.
Jeff-
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02-13-2005, 04:11 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 545
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AMEN! KVMs are priced outta this world. Even the ones that do not provide remote acess to the servers connected to them. Cables are pricey as hell to for what amounts to about 5 seconds of work by a machine!
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02-13-2005, 04:18 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 5
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Re: Why Do KVM's Cost So Much, and Other Strange Computer Questions!
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Originally Posted by Jon Westfall
...3. In Windows 3.1, we had a program called "Recorder" (Anyone remember it?) that allowed you to record macros. Anyone know why Microsoft removed it from Windows 95 and up? Was I the only person who used it ...
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I too used the recorder a lot on Windows 4WG 3.11 and took it with me when I moved to Windows 95 by simply copying the file (recorder.exe) over. I'm not sure why I stopped using it, but there are many times I'd like to use an OS-level macro tool. I know 3rd party products are available, but....
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02-13-2005, 06:19 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Larry L
Jon Westfall
I can not even imagine a more off topic post.
The worst part was, I read the whole thing. Trying to find the lead in.
No FLAMES please. I just hope this is not the begining of hundreds of off topic posts.
I come to this site twice a day to find out what is going on in Pocket PC land.
I own a 3150, 3650, 3670, 2215, x50v and throw in 2 palms.
I have just purchased a KVM switch, and agree, the prices are crazy.
Larry L
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Point taken. However, as as been mentioned, reading a site totally focused exclusively on one thing would get highly boring after awhile. Add in the fact that on Sundays, relatively little is going on in Pocket PC land news-wise, and you get the reason for Off-Topic posts in the first place.
As a side note on the whole KVM thing: I found a 4-port on Ebay with cables for $14.99 from a respected seller who had a bunch of them. As he puts on his listing "The retail price for this is $199"... Somewhere some KVM developer is laughing at us...
__________________
Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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02-13-2005, 06:24 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 318
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Larry,
The thing that makes this site such a great place is that it's 90% Pocket PC. On a slack day for front page postings why not add a few off-topic stuff.
I like and miss this sort of post. Its needed to stop a forum becoming to focused on one subject.
BTW I think the costs of KVM's come from due to cost of employing the elves inside them.
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02-13-2005, 06:49 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3
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Recorder
I used to use Recorder as well and have recently been looking for a suitable alternative. I wonder if the original recorder.exe would work under XP?
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02-13-2005, 06:54 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 13
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I couldn't agree more about the KVM pricing. In our server room we have an 8x2 KVM that was purchased on sale for $150. The cables for it at the time were $50 a piece. Needless to say, to save money we only bought the cables we needed at the time. The cables have dropped to $38 each if you can find them, which seems to be another painful part of the KVM cost conspiracy. They obsolete different models at different times and the cables can't always be used on the newer models.
Another over-priced item I would like to throw in the topic is UPS'. Aren't they some inexpensive switch and a battery. Why do these things cost an arm and a leg. They have started to come down, but those price decreases are for the low end models mostly.
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