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#247231 - 23/01/2005 15:27 Adaptors for keyboards/mice
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Anyone got any recommendations/good experiences with a particular make of PS/2 to USB keybaord adaptors?

I have a particlarly unique mouse and keyboard, and will need to be able to convert for use with USB without having to buy new ones.

Suggestions? (apart from rude ones, of course)
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#247232 - 23/01/2005 15:32 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: schofiel]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
I have a particlarly unique mouse and keyboard, and will need to be able to convert for use with USB without having to buy new ones.

Well, the one I use with my Twiddler (how's that for unique mouse/keyboard?) is a USBLink MT606-1.

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#247233 - 23/01/2005 15:36 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: julf]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Not heard of that one! Got a URL?

I'll have a look at the adaptor, thanks.

Anyone else?
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One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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#247234 - 23/01/2005 15:59 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: schofiel]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Quote:
Not heard of that one! Got a URL?


http://www.handykey.com/
http://www.epinions.com/cmhd-PDAs-All-Handkey_Twiddler
http://www.linc.org/twiddler.html

THe Twiddler is pretty darn cool. While my left hand was fully out of it - much better now, just not as speedy yet - I was considering getting one (played with one a few years ago), but then the hand started coming back and IMO it's a bit pricey to get just for novelty / coolness...
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#247235 - 23/01/2005 16:02 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: mtempsch]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
THe Twiddler is pretty darn cool. While my left hand was fully out of it - much better now, just not as speedy yet - I was considering getting one (played with one a few years ago), but then the hand started coming back and IMO it's a bit pricey to get just for novelty / coolness...

Just a warning - the learning curve is pretty steep. But it does allow true one-hand, blind operation - perfect for in-car use.

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#247236 - 23/01/2005 16:46 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: schofiel]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
One way of doing it is with a KVM switch. My Belkin switch can take either USB or PS/2 as both input and output.

Probably overkill if you don't actually need a KVM switch though. I am not actually using my switch to switch video anymore. I hate the deterioration you get on video through the things and my new monitor has separate inputs so I switch with those now.
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#247237 - 24/01/2005 14:09 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: andy]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Quote:
my new monitor has separate inputs so I switch with those now.

Now they need to put keyboard/mouse switches directly in the monitors. I'm sure that the video is most of the expense in a normal KVM; they could probably do if for just a few tens of dollars.
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Bitt Faulk

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#247238 - 24/01/2005 19:03 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: schofiel]
DLF
addict

Registered: 24/07/2003
Posts: 500
Loc: Colorado, N.A.
That's funny; I was just now trying to help a cow-orker get a Kensington Optical USB mouse to work through a Logitech-provided PS/2-to-USB adapter, in order to free up the *ONE* (Count-'Em!) USB port on her old ThinkPad for her new USB ThumbDrive thingamabob. No such luck, I'm afraid....
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-- DLF

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#247239 - 24/01/2005 19:11 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: DLF]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
They do make small USB hubs, you know.
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Bitt Faulk

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#247240 - 24/01/2005 19:36 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: wfaulk]
DLF
addict

Registered: 24/07/2003
Posts: 500
Loc: Colorado, N.A.
Where I work, we wouldn't know of such luxuries as USB hubs of which you speak. Honestly, I don't how she got anybody to buy her an OPTICAL mouse, when plenty of perfectly serviceable, dirty, little balls are still rolling around the aisles here....
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-- DLF

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#247241 - 24/01/2005 19:44 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: DLF]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Come on. Here's a 4-port USB 1.1 hub for $8. Surely someone can swing that.
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Bitt Faulk

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#247242 - 24/01/2005 20:02 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: schofiel]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
For my Mac at home, I've got my Kinesis hooked up through a now-discontinued Belkin adapter (they've got a replacement that looks smaller and nicer than my old one). It largely works without complaint. Once every month or two, my keyboard won't be working and I'll have to power-cycle the Belkin adapter to make it work. I've experienced similar needs for power cycling with the internal USB hub in my Apple monitor, so it's hard to say what, exactly, is the cause of the problem.

In practice, the Belkin adapter does all the right things. I still keep my original Mac keyboard plugged in for the odd times that I need the Option key, the CD Eject key, or the volume buttons, none of which are on a standard PS/2 keyboard.

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#247243 - 24/01/2005 21:06 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: wfaulk]
DLF
addict

Registered: 24/07/2003
Posts: 500
Loc: Colorado, N.A.
If we could order from price-competitive 'net vendors, sure. But our process & contracts have so much overhead, that $8 item would be a $40 "luxury," considering she has XP, and therefore can plug/unplug her 2 USB devices at will.

But I'll ask if we've got one that one of the "coaches" may have had purchased for them just laying around, unused. That's possible.
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-- DLF

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#247244 - 24/01/2005 21:29 Re: Adaptors for keyboards/mice [Re: DLF]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
If she bought a USB flash drive, she can afford the $8 for a USB hub.
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Bitt Faulk

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