I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether to get a usb or ps/2 model. I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. Thanks
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:02:40 +0100, davesurrey wrote: > I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several PCs > , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether to get > a usb or ps/2 model. > I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb > into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer maximum > chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are the issue. > Or doesn't it really matter. > Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. > Thanks
Get one of each. Seriously, if you're going to the inconvenience of lugging keyboards around the difference between carrying two, compared to just the one, is quite small. I'm trying to come work out what situations could arise where a computer would not have a keyboard, yet would have a mouse and a monitor as you haven't mentioned a need to carry these, as well.
> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several > PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether > to get a usb or ps/2 model. > I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb > into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer > maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are > the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. > Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. > Thanks
> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several > PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether > to get a usb or ps/2 model. > I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb > into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer > maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are > the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. > Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. > Thanks
Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports USB keyboards. -- Conor www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >> Thanks
> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports > USB keyboards. > --
Hi Conor, What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not? I believe not but would appreciate someone confirming or otherwise. Thanks
> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >> Thanks >"Mr Edge" <"mredge at wizzer.biz"> wrote in message >news:gvGdnXZBMtikj9PRnZ2dnUVZ8nqdnZ2d@pipex.net... > You can get some keyboards with both connectors attached.
> Cheers
Intriguing. I've never seen or heard of one and an albeit quick Google didn't find anything Any pointers/ manufacturers you know of?
You don't mean a 2x ps/2 to usb converter do you? One where a ps2 mouse and ps2 keyboard can connect into one usb socket?
Which raises another question. Am I correct in that an older ps/2 keyboard will need an active ps2 to usb converter as it doesn't recognise usb protocol whereas a newer ps2 keyboard may work with just a passive ps2 to usb adapter?
Conor wrote: > On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: > > I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with > > several PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not > > sure whether to get a usb or ps/2 model. > > I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert > > a usb into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to > > offer maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess > > drivers are the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. > > Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. > > Thanks
> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use > supports USB keyboards.
Yeah.... but I've had to work on laptops where there is only one USB port, which I'd rather keep free for a USB stick so it has been handy to have a PS2 keyboard to keep it free. I've tried using USB hubs in these machines, but for some reason a USB keyboard doesn't always seem to be detected when connected via a hub rather than when directly connected.
On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:03:46 +0100, Conor wrote: > On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >> Thanks
> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports > USB keyboards.
If there's an OS! I made the mistake of trying to install an OS on a box that was built about 2002 and had only a USB mouse - had to do it all from the KB. (That's better than the time when the OS hung during installation and said: "No keyboard detected, press any key to continue". I did, just in case...). -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway
>"Conor" <co...@gmx.co.uk> wrote in message >news:8b6m32Fd6hU1@mid.individual.net... >> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >>> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >>> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >>> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >>> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >>> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >>> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >>> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >>> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this.
My Cherries came with a USB to PS/2 converter, best of both worlds.
>> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >> USB keyboards. >> -- >Hi Conor, >What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. >So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not? >I believe not but would appreciate someone confirming or otherwise.
AFAICR my old mobo wouldn't access the BIOS with a USB keyboard but said USB job plugged into the converter worked fine, I think it also worked in DOS
> "Conor" <co...@gmx.co.uk> wrote in message > news:8b6m32Fd6hU1@mid.individual.net... >> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >>> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >>> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >>> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >>> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >>> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >>> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >>> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >>> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >>> Thanks
>> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use >> supports USB keyboards. >> -- > Hi Conor, > What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. > So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not? > I believe not but would appreciate someone confirming or otherwise. > Thanks
Come on FFS, how many times are you likely to come across a computer running DOS/Win95?
> On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:03:46 +0100, Conor wrote:
>> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >>> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >>> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >>> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >>> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >>> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >>> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >>> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >>> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >>> Thanks
>> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >> USB keyboards.
> If there's an OS! I made the mistake of trying to install an OS on a box > that was built about 2002 and had only a USB mouse - had to do it all from > the KB. > (That's better than the time when the OS hung during installation and said: > "No keyboard detected, press any key to continue". I did, just in case...).
FFS...
There's a lot of friggin grasping at straws here. WELL OVER HALF A DECADE AGO BIOSes were already able to support USB keyboards pre-OS environment.
>> "Conor"<co...@gmx.co.uk> wrote in message >> news:8b6m32Fd6hU1@mid.individual.net... >>> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >>>> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >>>> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >>>> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >>>> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >>>> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >>>> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >>>> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >>>> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this.
> My Cherries came with a USB to PS/2 converter, best of both worlds.
>>> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >>> USB keyboards. >>> -- >> Hi Conor, >> What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. >> So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not? >> I believe not but would appreciate someone confirming or otherwise.
> AFAICR my old mobo wouldn't access the BIOS with a USB keyboard but > said USB job plugged into the converter worked fine, I think it also > worked in DOS
> On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:03:46 +0100, Conor wrote:
>> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >>> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >>> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether >>> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >>> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >>> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >>> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >>> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >>> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >>> Thanks
>> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >> USB keyboards.
> If there's an OS! I made the mistake of trying to install an OS on a box > that was built about 2002 and had only a USB mouse - had to do it all from > the KB. > (That's better than the time when the OS hung during installation and > said: > "No keyboard detected, press any key to continue". I did, just in > case...). > -- > Peter. > The gods will stay away > whilst religions hold sway
Also remember there are 2 different sizes of PS2 plus/sockets.
OK that is going back a bit, but there are sometimes valid reasons for doing that - I have a superb Yamaha midi card I still use, but it needs an ISA slot and W98 or earlier OS. Lol
>> "Conor" <co...@gmx.co.uk> wrote in message >> news:8b6m32Fd6hU1@mid.individual.net... >>> On 26/07/2010 23:02, davesurrey wrote: >>>> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >>>> PCs , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure >>>> whether >>>> to get a usb or ps/2 model. >>>> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a >>>> usb >>>> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >>>> maximum chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are >>>> the issue. Or doesn't it really matter. >>>> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >>>> Thanks
>>> Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use >>> supports USB keyboards. >>> -- >> Hi Conor, >> What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. >> So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not? >> I believe not but would appreciate someone confirming or otherwise. >> Thanks
> Come on FFS, how many times are you likely to come across a computer > running DOS/Win95?
Twice ....today! Well you did ask. Your clients may all have i7 kit but if you were a volunteer working with "silver surfers" then your perspective might be a tad different. You'd be amazed what comes in the door.
> A USB keyboard with a PS2 adapter would work.
I did try to separate out the difference in this thread between a passive adapter and an active converter. So do you really mean an adapter?
<davesur...@antispam.invalid> wrote: >What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. >So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not?
A USB keyboard that *comes with* a passive USB-to-PS2 adapter will work on any PS2 machine - in this case the smarts are in the keyboard itself which detects the PS2 adapter and starts talking PS2 signals instead of USB.
If it's a USB-only keyboard, then you'll need an active adapter.
Cheers - Jaimie -- "The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." -- James Nicoll, rasfw
>>What about an old PC running DOS or even win95? No USB support there. >>So would a usb keyboard plus ps2 adapter work or not?
> A USB keyboard that *comes with* a passive USB-to-PS2 adapter will > work on any PS2 machine - in this case the smarts are in the keyboard > itself which detects the PS2 adapter and starts talking PS2 signals > instead of USB.
> If it's a USB-only keyboard, then you'll need an active adapter.
> Cheers - Jaimie
Thanks Jamie, That was the confirmation (or otherwise) I was looking for. Dave
> Which raises another question. Am I correct in that an older ps/2 > keyboard will need an active ps2 to usb converter as it doesn't > recognise usb protocol whereas a newer ps2 keyboard may work with just a > passive ps2 to usb adapter?
Unless a USB device comes with a PS2 adapter, there's no guarantee (or expectation, AFAIK) that any such device will work.
In article <4c4e8616$0$12162$fa0fc...@news.zen.co.uk>, davesurrey <davesur...@antispam.invalid> writes
>Which raises another question. Am I correct in that an older ps/2 keyboard >will need an active ps2 to usb converter as it doesn't recognise usb >protocol whereas a newer ps2 keyboard may work with just a passive ps2 to >usb adapter?
Short answer: yes. Just make sure you get a keyboard that comes with the USB/PS2 converter and use it if you can't get the keyboard to work over USB in the BIOS setup (usually on older machines).
The converter doesn't need to be active - the smarts are now in the keyboard itself. It'll figure out what sort of port it's attached to and use the appropriate protocol. (The el-cheapos might not do this.)
In article <8b6m32Fd6...@mid.individual.net>, Conor <co...@gmx.co.uk> writes
>Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >USB keyboards.
OP mentioned older machines, though, and those frequently won't recognise USB keyboards in POST/CMOS setup, only when the OS has loaded and run USB and HID drivers. A pain if you need to get into setup.
In article <0uju46hlen6mlkt28o0sud3d8to3mtv...@4ax.com>, Jaimie Vandenbergh <jai...@sometimes.sessile.org> writes
>"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that >English >is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on >occasion, >English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them >unconscious >and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." -- James Nicoll, >rasfw
> In article <8b6m32Fd6...@mid.individual.net>, Conor <co...@gmx.co.uk> > writes
>>Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >>USB keyboards.
> OP mentioned older machines, though, and those frequently won't > recognise USB keyboards in POST/CMOS setup, only when the OS has loaded > and run USB and HID drivers. A pain if you need to get into setup.
Mike, Just a general "Thanks" for your helpful and knowledgeable advice, as ever. Much appreciated.
>>"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English >>is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, >>English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious >>and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." -- James Nicoll, >>rasfw
>I love that quote :-)
Great, isn't it? The only downside is that I don't think I've ever heard anyone defending the purity of English. James is Canadian, maybe they have that Anglophone/Francophone fight still going.
Anyway, if you're interested in the subject I commend "The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English" as an excellent account of the many and various muggings that have taken place! http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0719564557
Cheers - Jaimie -- That's what I remembered, too, but Google told me differently. And I am a slave to Google. Ia! Ia! I'm feeling lucky fthagn! -- Wim Lewis, rasfw
On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:18:47 +0100, Mike Tomlinson wrote: > In article <8b6m32Fd6...@mid.individual.net>, Conor <co...@gmx.co.uk> > writes
>>Every computer has USB ports and every OS you're likely to use supports >>USB keyboards.
> OP mentioned older machines, though, and those frequently won't > recognise USB keyboards in POST/CMOS setup, only when the OS has loaded > and run USB and HID drivers. A pain if you need to get into setup.
There's another possibility that I've encountered: XP, MoBo about 2007, so all OK for UBS, but during boot there was a glitch and I needed the KB. Avast! seems to stop USB from being available until everything has loaded; setting Avast! to load after other services had loaded allowed USB to start.
So some software can be an issue in some setups. -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway
<no_one_you_k...@notthisaddress.com> wrote: > On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:02:40 +0100, davesurrey wrote: >> I want to buy a keyboard to carry around that will be used with several >> PCs >> , old and new, (some running win98. most xp) and am not sure whether to >> get >> a usb or ps/2 model. >> I have a couple of (passive) converter adapters that would convert a usb >> into a ps/2 and vice versa. But which would be best to buy to offer >> maximum >> chance of working over a wide range of PCs. I guess drivers are the >> issue. >> Or doesn't it really matter. >> Appreciate some knowledgeable person throwing some light on this. >> Thanks
> Get one of each. > Seriously, if you're going to the inconvenience of lugging keyboards > around the difference between carrying two, compared to just the one, > is quite small. > I'm trying to come work out what situations could arise where a computer > would not have a keyboard, yet would have a mouse and a monitor as you > haven't mentioned a need to carry these, as well.
"Get one of each"
Now there's the sensible answer at last. At less than a fiver a piece 2 keyboards aren't exactly a fortune.
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