Review: Belkin Flip for Mac mini

[cas]

from yesterday i use Aten KVM DVI switch
http://www.aten-usa.com/?product&cat=587&Item=CS1762
Work just fine with
1. PC Pentium 4 - DVI port
2. Mac mini
3. Apple cinema 20"
(in Bulgaria, where i live, KVM = $200)

P.S.
switch-on PC First, and macmini 2nd,
otherwise KVM don't work fine

[erik2343]

Looks good for people with non apple keyboards:wink:
_________________
“If you want something done properly, kill Baldrick before you start” –Edmund Blackadder

[trunkster]

[trunkster]

A pleasant surprise today, I got my flip for Mac mini a day early. That was about where the "good" surprises ended. I am having the same exact problems as everyone is describing besides the ghosting, the video looks great, but the flip is "flipping out" and switching back and forth and doing all kinds of random things with the volume. I do have the ver111111 that sounds like from others in the forum that it is one of the upgradeable by software flips. I have already sent an e-mail to tech support so I’ll see what they say.

I really want to get this damn thing to work, it looks awesome sitting under my Mac mini and the added buttons are a bonus.

One thing that I find odd in the packing is that there is a yellow slip saying..
“Please Read First – To download the latest version of the Flip for Mac mini Switching Software please visit www.belkin.com/support/flip” and then they have a tech support number under that. Leading me to believe that I may have to upgrade it if I am having problems. Well, try it yourself the URL does not work. I was able to download the software from their support site but they only have the Windows versions posted….. I cannot believe a company would start shipping a product again without fixing it.

[curt]

[trunkster]

[ajorda11507]

[xnooby]

Belkin sent me a replacement unit. The old problems are fixed, but now when I type an "e" in Windows, it brings up the Windows File Explorer. I assume this is their "Flip" software, rather than hardware - but at this point I don't care anymore.

Ironically, I turned my Mini into a headless Subversion server, so now it doesn't need a keyboard or screen anyway. I am using Wake-On-Lan to wake it up, svnserve for Subversion, and VNC for remote desktop.

I had much higher hopes with it coming from Belkin, and they seemed to give it the old college try, but I think they should stick to making routers. For me the jury is in, and the Flip For Mac is junk.

[ophelia174]

I sent my flip back to belkin where they re-worked it and sent it back to me along with upgraded software. hooked it all back up and i am having the exact same problems.
The people at belkin say that everyone else who has received the re-worked flip arent having any issues with it and that apparently its just me.
but i'll try that cord switching thing, its about the only thing i havent tried yet. i am definitely getting ready to just get my money back and get a new one. hopefully belkin will refund me as it is porbably too late to return it to compusa

[NorthCoastAnne]

I had the same problems many have mentioned here. Random switching, changes in audio settings, etc.

My 30 minutes on the tech support line was rewarded with the solution. I only followed the suggestion because someone had already posted it here. And not to give Belkin too much credit. They denied that this is a known problem, and blamed it on the Mac. They said "maybe swapping the cables would work."

IT DOES WORK!! Swap the cable connections. Put cable 2 (the long one) on the Mac mini. The shorter cable 1 goes to the other computer. For me, that meant that the Mac mini is no longer on my desk. Whether it's the cables, or the Flip was too close to the monitor or wireless keyboard, I don't know. It works. Almost 24 hours of perfect operation with the Flip.

Thanks to everyone who has posted about the Flip. It was good to know I wasn't crazy!

Anne

[maphead]

My new (hours old) Flip is flipping out as well.
Scouring online fora for answers shows up this cable swap work around in several places...
So that begs the question:
Why purchase this unit for form factor and then sacrifice the 'beauty' by swapping cables?
Besides swapped they won't reach in my set up .... Belkin seems lame on this issue.

[maphead]

Perhaps a better name would be the Belkin FLOP.

Called Belkin support (since the webpage on their 'read me first' note in the Flip box is 404!).

After 36 minutes on hold it appears that Belkin is still poking about randomly to solve Flip problems. No indication was given that they are addressing the issues product-wide instead of case-by-case.
The techie directed me to a download page that offers an older version of the switching software than came in the box. This is another indication that Belkin is not really of one mind about this product.

While you are on hold, they do take time to play a recorded msg about how great it is to buy a Flip, though. Yippee skippy.

If they get back to me before I leave for the big city to return said Flip - I may entertain helping them continue to develop their product. Right now it looks like this Flip is headed back to the store shelf for some other unsuspecting guinea pig to install, troubleshoot and do R&D for Belkin.

Sucky thing.

[Idlehand]

I was having the same issues with flipping back and forth on its own, volume and such. I to got the run around from belkin about they are aware of the problem and will contact me when a fix is available. So i decieded to see what i can do to fix this. Come to find out the problem is the touch buttons on the front of the unit. I unplugged the buttons from the board. installed the software. Now it works like a dream. been almost 2 weeks with no issues. just thought I would pass along this info to you all.

[maphead]

Due to the underwhelming response from support AND the out-of-the-box malfunctioning of the Belkin unit we are happy to report that the retailer had no problem with our return. Too bad Belkin let this product out of their shop before it was ready to do what they advertised.
The Belkin site states that Flip units are not available due to consumer demand. Perhaps they are just sitting on another release until they get the units functioning. email from support states that another patch is due out next week. (that would be 17APR06) sheesh.
Try iogear or Avocent for useful alternatives.

[mike555]

Don't waist you time ordering the "old" flip when Belkin is coming out with a new one with remote control....... I had to return my flip when it didn't work, I hope the new one is better when I get it ........