IOGEAR intros first HDMI-compliant KVMs: 1080p, lossless audio supported

We've been waiting for something like this for pretty much ever, and thanks to IOGEAR, we've finally got it. Here at CES, the company has introduced new 2- and 4-Port HDMI KVM switches with USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing (GCS1792, GCS1794), which are HDMI 1.3b and HDCP compliant. As if that weren't enough, both boxes also support 1080p resolutions, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. In related news, the 4-Port DualView Dual-Link DVI KVMP Switch (GCS1644) also saw the light of day today, and everything mentioned here should be up for sale in Q1. Oh, but don't think these suckers will come cheap -- prices range from $299.95 for the 2-port HDMI KVM to $679.95 for the DualView sibling.

[Aaron @ Jan 9th 2009 8:19AM]

Now THIS is more like it. Looks like if I invest in one of these, I won't have to bother with the VGA model.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 9th 2009 9:37AM]

Last year I bought a little box that does precisely the same job , and it's been doing it with 0 problems since day 1.
It's called "Black Box" from a company apparently called "Black Box" it costed about 400 USD and has 2 HDMI and 2 DVI ports out and one of each in.

[Kent @ Jan 9th 2009 10:55AM]

Note to these companies.
1 - the KVM switch should not cost twice as much as the monitor to which it is connected.
2 - It may be a switch with lots and lots of connections, but it's still just a freaking switch. Stop gouging us.

I think people could save a LOT if they got a standard KVM for the K and M and an HDMI switch (also expensive, but some cheaper ones are out there, and even the expensive are a third this price) for the video.

[theJason @ Jan 9th 2009 11:25AM]

I wonder if this will support higher refresh rates than 24hz like 30hz and 120hz.
I had issues with an hdmi cable that came with my 360 when I used it on other devices pushing lots of data.. I upgraded the cable via monoprice.com and now works better. I had the same issue again when I used a hdmi receiver.
Guess we'll find out via spec sheet and/or testing hands on.