Mac Forum / General / Hardware / January 2007

Hello,

  I need the opinion of an electronics engineer.  The
difference between computers continues to dwindle.  I now
have, sitting side by side on my desk, a Macintosh G4, and
a Compaq Pentium-IV.  Both are completely outfitted with
keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, etc.
   Sometimes it seems as though the biggest difference
between them is the
Indian versus the Roman numeral (4 v. IV).  Other times
however, one is preferable to the other for some reason.
So, at least for the time being, they both stay.
   A lot of hardware on the two systems could be
consolidated, however.  As they both support USB, they
could easily be connected to a common keyboard, mouse, and
printer.  Question: would it be safe to just connect the
two computers together with a USB cable?  Would there apt
to be feedback errors or ghosts?  What if both machines
were turned on at the same time?  Any smoke apt to get out?
Of course, these concerns could easily be eliminated by
putting in a switchbox so that only one machine was
supported at any one time; but hey, I'm trying to get rid
of stuff on the desk.
  A bigger concern is the monitor.  I see no need for two
of them on the desk.  They are interchangeable.  What is
apt to happen if I splice a second cable into one of the
monitors (in parallel) so that both computers can be
connected at the same time?  The above questions are asked
once again: Would there apt to be feedback errors or
ghosts?  What if both machines were turned on at the same
time?  Any smoke apt to get out?  Yes, a switchbox could
also be employed here, too; but as before, if it is not
necessary, I'd just as soon avoid it.
   Any thoughts?

   Thanks,
   Steve
   swtownsend(at)hotmail.com