Today’s Lesson in Sharing

One Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse for Two PCs.

I have a MacBook Air and a Dell PC, along with a stunning 27-inch Dell monitor and an expensive Logitech gaming keyboard and a mouse that I want to share with both computers.

Sharing components will save you from squinting at a 13-inch MacBook Air display, not to mention having to buy another monitor, mouse and keyboard. It may sound intimidating, and you always could buy another monitor, keyboard and mouse. My monitor cost $600; the mouse costs $60 and the keyboard $130. You’d also need a stand that holds two monitors. Figure another $75 for that.

Here’s how it’s done:

Your monitor, PC and MacBook must have HDMI ports.

For the Mac you’ll need an HDMI to USB-C adaptor ($10 on Amazon).  This assumes that your MacBook only has USB-C ports. If you’re using a second Windows PC, you’ll need an HDMI port on that as well.

Then you’ll need a two-port HDMI splitter ($10). You’ll need three HDMI cables ($8 each). The main cable goes from the monitor to the splitter. Then install the other cables from the output ports on the splitter to the HDMI ports on both of the computers.

Most HDMI splitters have a button that switches between each computer. That’s crucial, too. Press one button and the display goes from the Mac to the monitor. Press again, and the monitor switches to the PC. If you want to work on both computers at the same time, you’re probably out of luck. (Readers, if you have a solution, please let me know.) One solution is to get Parallels Desktop for the Mac (reviewed here), which can run both Windows and Mac OS at the same time.

Next, you’ll set up mouse-sharing.

You’ll need a two or three-port USB 3.0 splitter (about $15 on Amazon. Many models come with two cables). I use a wireless mouse, but a wired mouse would work fine, too. Plug the wireless mouse dongle into an input port on the splitter. And then plug cables to both the PC and the Mac. USB ports.

You’ll save a lot of money sharing components. But you’ll also clutter up your desk with cables and switch boxes. But that’s what sharing is all about.

Summary
With a small investment you can share your printer, monitor and more between your two PCs running either Mac or Windows OS.

Tech Specs
Dell or other PC running Windows 10 or 11 Monitor Any kind of second computer — Mac or Windows PC If Mac, OSX and up 3 HDMI cables 3 USB 3.0 cables HDMI two-port splitter (at Amazon) USB 4-port splitter (at Amazon)