Input switching with NEC PA series monitors

[kholt]

I have a rather obscure pre-purchase question about the new NEC PA series monitors.

One of the features of these monitors is that you can have them connected to two different computers and then switch the display (along with a USB keyboard and mouse) back and forth between them via an input select button.  However, from reading the user manual it appears that when the current input signal disappears, it automatically switches to the other input.  This would be very annoying if every time my laptop screen saver kicks in or the laptop hibernates the monitor switches to the other input source.  Since it also switches the USB ports, it means I wouldn't be able to wake up the laptop by wiggling the mouse or hitting the keyboard.  I would have to leave the laptop open instead of tucked under the display just so I could get my display back.

Can anyone confirm whether these monitors work "properly" with a laptop?  The EIZO user manual clearly states a mode where you can completely disable automatic switching.  Unless I can confirm otherwise, I will buy an EIZO over an NEC for this reason alone despite any other merits one way or the other.

Keith

[digitaldog]

Works prefectly on my MacBook Pro, with laptop closed or opened. PA is main display. Laptop closed. Open laptop, PA is still main display (Laptop secondary). If you turn off main display, OS X puts Laptop to sleep. Now remove cable from Laptop, that display now becomes the main system.

[kholt]

Yes but do you have a second computer attached to the display at the same time?

In my case I want to share the monitor between my home office computer (PC with Windows 7) and my photography hobby laptop (Retina Macbook Pro).  My goal is that the monitor with external keyboard and mouse only switches inputs when I want it to (e.g., at 8:00AM and at 5:00 PM).

I don't want to have to fight with it all day everytime one or the other computer goes to sleep.

K

[digitaldog]

Only one system but I'll move another laptop over and see what happens. Stay tuned.

[digitaldog]

OK, I have two Macbook's hooked up to the PA272W. I have both setup so the PA is the 'main' display (not mirroring). All I have to do is push in the little Input button on the display itself and it switches between the two Macbook's. I'm using one external keyboard but that's of course controlling one of the Macbooks. Is this what you're looking for?

[kholt]

What happens when the currently displayed laptop goes to sleep?  Does it switch its input source over to the other laptop or does it display the original input source once it wakes up?

Keith

[digitaldog]

What happens when the currently displayed laptop goes to sleep?  Does it switch its input source over to the other laptop or does it display the original input source once it wakes up?

The input switches.

[kholt]

That's unfortunate. In the user manual it mentions a video detect mode copied below.  Do you what your monitor is set to?  It seems like the value of 'NONE' is what I require, but the wording is very ambiguous and I can think of different interpretations.

Thanks so much for your help.  This is so appreciated!!

-----------------
VIDEO DETECT

Selects the method of video detection when more than one video input is connected.

FIRST: When current video input signal is not present, then the monitor searches for a video signal from the other video input port. If the video signal is present in the other port, then the monitor switches the video source input port to the new found video source automatically. The monitor will not look for other video signals while the current video source is present.

LAST: When the monitor is displaying a signal from the current source and a new secondary source is supplied to
the monitor, then the monitor will automatically switch to the new video source. When current video input signal is not present, then the monitor searches for a video signal from the other video input port. If the video signal is present in the other port, then the monitor switches the video source input port to the new found video source automatically.

NONE: The Monitor will not search the other video input port unless the monitor is turned on.

[digitaldog]

On the OSD I see Video Detect is set for First.

[Craig Lamson]

I have two computers connected to a PA271.  The simple answer for me was to use a different mouse (wireless) for each computer

[vjbelle]

I have the exact setup you describe.  One mouse, one keyboard, one NEC PA 271w and two computers running Win 8.1.  My mouse is wireless and my keyboard is wired..... both are connected to the monitor and when I switch between the two computers the keyboard and mouse follow along.  My computers never sleep but the video signal does have a shut off time period.  If one of the computer's video signals is in hibernation then I get a message that there is no video signal when trying to switch.  I just hit the power switch briefly to wake up the video signal and switch again to connect to that computer.  Works flawlessly.  As for the manual I think it is written very poorly - at least for me. 

Victor

[kholt]

The problem for me is to conserve desk space I would generally need to have the laptop clamshell closed and tucked under the monitor (or in one of those clever vertical stands).  That makes it awkward to have to pull it out and open it to get to the power switch to wake it up.

I need the input source to switch whether there is an active video signal or not and to otherwise stay where it is when a source signal disappears.  That way I can wake up the laptop with the keyboard or mouse.  Having separate dedicated mice is a viable work-around, but still not ideal due to automatic switching when not wanted.

I wish I knew exactly what the 'NONE' option does for the video detect mode.

Keith

[kholt]

Well I bought the PA302W and I can happily report it works just as I would like. I can keep the laptop lid closed and switch input between it and a desktop PC and work with a single keyboard and mouse.  The USB is slow to switch, but it works reliably. No problems at all.

Keith