Computers Peripherals Guide: USB Sharing, Wired Keyboard, Apple II Items, and Vintage Ads

Choosing among computers peripherals can get tricky when the short list mixes everyday desk accessories with vintage computing collectibles. The right pick depends less on a single "best" item and more on whether you need a working input device, a way to share a USB accessory, Apple II-era material, or a display-worthy print advertisement.

Quick take

• Best for sharing one USB accessory across several computers: 4 Computers To 1 USB Device Sharing Selector Switch. Its role is clear: connect up to four computers to one USB 2.0 device and switch selection by push button.
• Best for a straightforward typing accessory: Dell Keyboard Wired USB KB216d, KB216p Black Quiet Keys. It is the only keyboard here, with wired USB connectivity, black color, English QWERTY layout, and quiet keys.
• Best for Apple II-era interest: Apple Service Peripherals #077-0217-A / Apple II, IIe, IIc, & IIgs Computers. It is marked for Apple II, IIe, IIc, and IIgs computers and carries vintage appeal.
• Best for collecting or display: 1979 Data General microNOVA Computers Peripherals vintage print Ad. It is an original print advertisement from 1979, not a working peripheral.

Listed price comparison

The spread here is narrow: $9.99 to $15, with the lowest listed price 33% below the highest. That makes the decision more about purpose than about a large price gap.

Decision matrix

Choose the USB sharing selector switch if: your main problem is cable swapping. It is built around USB 2.0 sharing, with USB Standard Type A Female output noted, USB 1.1 backward compatibility, push-button selection, and no external power supply needed.

Choose the Dell keyboard if: you want an everyday desk peripheral rather than a vintage item. The title and attributes point to a black wired USB keyboard with quiet keys, English language, and standard QWERTY layout.

Choose the Apple Service Peripherals item if: your interest is Apple II, IIe, IIc, or IIgs computers. Its strongest fit is for someone focused on vintage Apple home-computer material rather than a modern USB accessory.

Choose the Data General print ad if: you are shopping for computing history or display material. The description identifies it as an original 1979 print advertisement, with each page sized 8 x 10 3/4 inches and presented as a two-page ad.

Concise product notes

4 Computers To 1 USB Device Sharing Selector Switch

This is the most practical pick for a small multi-computer setup where one USB peripheral needs to serve several machines. The description calls out sharing a USB printer, scanner, drive, webcam, keyboard, mouse, card reader, or other USB device, and the push-button selection keeps the focus on simple switching rather than repeated cable unplugging. It also notes support for Windows OS and Mac OS, which suits mixed-computer desks. The main limitation is scope: it is centered on sharing USB devices, so it is not the right choice if what you actually need is a new keyboard, an Apple II collectible, or a vintage advertisement.

Apple Service Peripherals #077-0217-A / Apple II, IIe, IIc, & IIgs Computers

This Apple item is the strongest match for someone specifically shopping around Apple II-family computers. The title names Apple II, IIe, IIc, and IIgs, while the attributes identify Apple as the brand, Apple II as the model, Home Computer as the type, United States as the country of origin, and Vintage: Yes. That makes it more specialized than the USB switch or Dell keyboard. Its limitation is that it is not framed as a modern plug-and-play desk peripheral; shoppers focused on current USB input, printing, or scanner sharing will likely find the other functional accessories more directly useful.

Dell Keyboard Wired USB KB216d, KB216p Black Quiet Keys

The Dell keyboard is the clearest everyday peripheral in the group. It has wired USB connectivity, a black finish, quiet keys, English language, and a standard QWERTY layout, so it suits a shopper who simply needs a conventional keyboard rather than a collectible or switching accessory. Its appeal is also easy to understand from the title: KB216d and KB216p are both named, with quiet keys highlighted. The limitation is equally clear: because it is a wired USB keyboard, it is not aimed at shoppers seeking wireless connectivity or a device-sharing box for multiple computers.

1979 Data General microNOVA Computers Peripherals vintage print Ad

The Data General microNOVA item is for collecting, framing, reference, or nostalgia rather than for adding a working peripheral to a computer desk. The description identifies it as an original print advertisement from 1979, not a reprint or reproduction, and gives the format as a two-page ad with each page measuring 8 x 10 3/4 inches. That specificity makes it the most display-oriented item here. The limitation is fundamental: despite the computers peripherals wording in the title, it is a print ad, so it will not replace a keyboard, share a USB device, or serve as Apple II hardware.

Final recommendation

For most shoppers looking at computers peripherals for actual desk use, start with the Dell Keyboard Wired USB KB216d, KB216p Black Quiet Keys if you need a typing device, or the 4 Computers To 1 USB Device Sharing Selector Switch if your problem is sharing one USB 2.0 device among several computers. The Dell keyboard is the cleaner everyday-accessory choice, while the selector switch is the better fit for reducing USB cable swapping across a four-computer setup.

If your interest is vintage computing rather than active desk use, choose by collection focus. The Apple Service Peripherals #077-0217-A / Apple II, IIe, IIc, & IIgs Computers is the Apple II-family option, while the 1979 Data General microNOVA Computers Peripherals vintage print Ad is the display and print-history option. Because the price range only runs from $9.99 to $15, the strongest decision point is not the small spread; it is whether you need a current USB accessory, an Apple II-related vintage item, or an original 1979 advertisement.