The Belkin 2-port KVM switches are some of the best selling new hardware products on the market today. Because they let computer users switch between machines without disconnecting any wires, these clever devices are changing the way we think about home computing. Those who try them report it's like doubling your processing power without overloading the chip.

The days when one operating system was the right answer for every task have long gone, and in their place has come a new era in consumer computing. Today a growing number of homes use Mac machines for graphics and media, and PCs for Office products and more technical applications. The result is an often uneasy truce between platforms that can provoke constant trips under the desk.

Two Ports, One Keyboard

KVM stands for keyboard, video and mouse. In a nutshell, the switches allow you to plug the same peripherals into a single piece of hardware, which then patches them through to completely different computers. Hit a button while using your new Windows XP Media Center Edition PC and in an instant, you will see the Macintosh logo booting up.

Computer software and operating systems have gotten more intuitive over the years, but the hardware setup still leaves something to be desired. If you are tired of switching out plugs every time you need to pull up a different machine, one of these hubs may be a wise investment. Many computer experts now use three or more computers throughout the day, depending on the task at hand.