USB Keyboards and micesesss [Archive] - Kicken Hardware Computer Help Forum

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Seth

07-18-2006, 12:42 AM

Can someone please explain the motivation behind USB keyboards and mouses?

Did an engineer at one time say, "PS2 has been the standard for years. It works flawlessly. Let's throw a monkey wrench into the gears"?

I see no advantage to the above, but many disadvantages.

Tortanick

07-18-2006, 03:47 AM

I tried googleing USB vs PS2, quite a bit of info

USB has a higher possible refresh rate.
USB can hot-plug PS2 can't.
and I think PS2 has a max button limit.

"DOS has been the standard for years, lets thrown a monkey wrench into the gears and use Windows"

mylanta

07-18-2006, 07:08 AM

I couldn't agree more Seth, I try as hard as Ican to never use usb for anything. Horrible unstable annoying port and usb mouses and keyboards area nightmare as far as I am concerned.

jcampi

07-18-2006, 07:50 AM

I understand your issues with USB and I'm also a little confused by the usefulness and 'need' for a USB wireless keyboard. A wireless mouse is a different matter. I enjoy using a very nice Logitech USB wireless mouse. The cord of a conventional mouse can be a hassle at times. Mind you - it's not a real big deal, but the wireless mouse is nice to use and doesn't give me any issue at all. Logitech seems to have the hardware/software perfected and the USB Laser mouse performs well.

mylanta

07-18-2006, 09:01 AM

Seth

07-18-2006, 12:31 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

USB has a higher possible refresh rate.
USB can hot-plug PS2 can't.
and I think PS2 has a max button limit.

Ok, but none of those features are needed for a mouse or keyboard.

I understand your issues with USB and I'm also a little confused by the usefulness and 'need' for a USB wireless keyboard. A wireless mouse is a different matter. I enjoy using a very nice Logitech USB wireless mouse. The cord of a conventional mouse can be a hassle at times. Mind you - it's not a real big deal, but the wireless mouse is nice to use and doesn't give me any issue at all. Logitech seems to have the hardware/software perfected and the USB Laser mouse performs well.

Hmmm. I wonder what would be the advantage of a USB wireless mouse over a PS2 wireless mouse?

I couldn't agree more Seth, I try as hard as Ican to never use usb for anything. Horrible unstable annoying port and usb mouses and keyboards area nightmare as far as I am concerned.

Agreed! I went through that nightmare (again!!) at a customers house yesterday. The bios was having great difficulty in detecting the USB keyboard.

Tortanick

07-18-2006, 05:37 PM

Have any of you tried a Razor Copperhead? I fully agree that "normal" mice shouldn't be USB, but if you really want to get a powerfull mouse PS2 just won't cut it

jcampi

07-18-2006, 08:38 PM

I honestly was not aware they make wireless PS2 mice. What's the point if some PCs are doing away with the PS2 port? I honestly have not really had any issues with the wireless USB mice I've used.

mylanta

07-18-2006, 09:04 PM

I have a Microsoft Explorer wireless mouse that has PS2 adapter and another PS2 Ms mouse as well John. Plus there are ps2 adapters that will change any usb mouse to ps2.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/usb-ps2-adapter.htm

dbarrow

07-19-2006, 07:48 AM

Well... for one thing, PS2 ports can be a PITA as far as the physical connection is concerned.
I have one machine where the plug for the mouse is 'sloppy'.
No amount of tape, string, glue, bending or crimping has ever been able to keep the mouse plug from working loose. The slightest bump or vibration and it works itself loose enough to break connection. This is a wireless duo set where the cord is from the base and gets no physical movement. Keyboard plug is fine.
Whenever it gets loose, machine gets stuck on boot or locks in the middle of something because the mouse connection is messed up.
You wouldn't think a slightly loose PS2 connection would cause a machine to lock up, but it does!

After fighting with this for several years, I pulled the PS2 connector/adapter off the cord and stuck the USB connector into a USB port. I had never used USB anything on this machine and had to enable it in BIOS.
No more problems!
Mouse performs faster and the cord don't come loose anymore. Can't begin to tell you the aggrevation I went through with that thing for so long because of that PS2 plug.

Dan18960

07-19-2006, 01:31 PM

The ONLY systems that I have seen going USB are Dells and the clients are HATING IT. They are looking at other systems and staying with ps/2 connections.

I LOVE IT!

kern

07-19-2006, 02:17 PM

I have one machine where the plug for the mouse is 'sloppy'.
No amount of tape, string, glue, bending or crimping has ever been able to keep the mouse plug from working loose. The slightest bump or vibration and it works itself loose enough to break connection. This is a wireless duo set where the cord is from the base and gets no physical movement. Keyboard plug is fine.
Whenever it gets loose, machine gets stuck on boot or locks in the middle of something because the mouse connection is messed up.
You wouldn't think a slightly loose PS2 connection would cause a machine to lock up, but it does!
After fighting with this for several years, I pulled the PS2 connector/adapter off the cord and stuck the USB connector into a USB port.
No more problems!
Mouse performs faster and the cord don't come loose anymore. Can't begin to tell you the aggrevation I went through with that thing for so long because of that PS2 plug.

I had a similar situation with a Logitech cordless duo. using usb port solved the problem.

rVidia

07-19-2006, 05:48 PM

Have any of you tried a Razor Copperhead?

Tortanick:

I've used a Razer Diamondback mouse before. Even if you are a gamer, I don't see the point in needing something like this. If you really "need" to have a fast mouse, why not just go to Control Panel > Mouse > and adjust Pointer Options? Works just as well IMO (--if-- you uncheck Enhance pointer precision, that is).

Tortanick

07-19-2006, 07:30 PM

Fast mouse is bad, on the fly sensitivity change is good. Genrally I find that I need faster speeds to compensate for heavy armour that takes longer to turn but can't aim under normal cercamstances with that same speed.

And its effectiveness in games is nothing compaired to the usefullness of having my thumb on a forward/back button while surfin' the net

Pi rules

07-19-2006, 09:46 PM

I have a wireless PS2 mouse that works very well (and has the two side buttons for forward/backward, very useful!) I'm guessing that eventually, PS2 will go extinct. I don't mind it, but the technology is getting outdated even though it works well.

PS: I haven't encountered that many problems with USB. It's a huge improvement over ancient 9-pin DB ports. Firewire is nice with great thoroughput, but there are royalties on it (come on, Apple).