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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Consumer Hardware & Components > PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse to USB converters

PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse to USB converters
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Eug
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Nov 26, 2002, 08:54 PM
 
Has anyone used these?

I'm thinking of getting a noname one for $20 from a local store. It would be used on my Mac, and would save me from having to buy a USB keyboard.

Here is an example.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/guest_rev1/PS2USB/
     
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Nov 26, 2002, 10:25 PM
 
What the heck is PS/2?

What colour did you get?

I am not much good with trackballs and that looks strange as hell.

Gimmie a pro mouse anyday! Those suckers are comfortable.
     
Eug  (op)
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Nov 26, 2002, 10:32 PM
 
Originally posted by Leia Shoots Like a Girl:
What the heck is PS/2?

What colour did you get?

I am not much good with trackballs and that looks strange as hell.

Gimmie a pro mouse anyday! Those suckers are comfortable.
I guess you're talking about this mouse.

PS/2 is what most PC keyboards and mice are. Or else they're USB with a USB-->PS/2 converter. Unfortunately, the version of the mouse I could find (for $15) is only PS/2, and PS/2-->USB converters are kinda hard to find. I can get the USB mice online, but I didn't feel like paying $40 plus shipping for a USB one.

Fortunately, there are some places that sell dual PS/2 --> single USB converters for cheap. If it works I'll be able to use one each of the bazillion PS/2 keyboards and mice lying around at work with my TiBook. The mouse and keyboard will require one USB port. My USB zip drive will occupy the other USB port. Perfect.

That mouse I got can't be used on a table by the way. It's meant to be used without a table top.
(Last edited by Eug; Nov 26, 2002 at 10:37 PM. )
     
Eug  (op)
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Nov 29, 2002, 03:12 PM
 
So I bought this PS/2-->USB converter here for CAD$30. (US$20) (BTW PS/2 looks like the old Apple keyboard connectors, but it's not quite the same.)

So far it works as advertised on my Win 2000 machine. Plug it in and it's instantly recognized and installed automatically. No drivers. Both the mouse and keyboard work fine.

I'll test out my iBook later. The box says it supports Mac OS 8.6 and higher.

I hope it works as well on the Mac, because it's very small and portable. Weighs only 0.1 lbs - would be easy to carry around with my PowerBook. It's essentially just a pair of female 5" PS/2 cables and a male 6" USB cable attached to a 2" x 1" x 0.5" sealed box in between.
     
Eug  (op)
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Nov 29, 2002, 06:17 PM
 
I'm typing this on my iBook (OS X.2) with an HP keyboard I hijacked from work.

The Windows key is the same as the Apple key, and the ALT key becomes the OPTION key. The mouse is also normally recognized.

A screen grab (Apple-shift-3) does work, but for some reason I can't use the combo of just the left keys. Either I have to use the right keys, or else a mix of the right and left keys. Also, F12 does not eject the CD.

Command-Shift-Esc does work to bring up the Force Quit dialogue box.

Otherwise everything seems to work fine.
     
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Nov 30, 2002, 12:40 AM
 
A PS/2 connector is the mini-DIN style 6-pin connector that you'll see keyboards and mice on a PC use.

and I got a PS/2 to USB converter with my MS Natural keyboard which is quite handy at times.
     
Eug  (op)
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Dec 8, 2002, 04:55 PM
 
So I'm using this with a new Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop, and it works great. (It's the wireless optical mouse and wireless keyboard.)

The keyboard reciever comes with one PS2 plug and a USB plug (which can also be converted to PS/2). With Windows, just plug in the USB plug and everything works.

With OS X, if you just plug in USB, only the keyboard works. You're supposed to run some OS X.1 software to make the mouse work. I don't bother and just use the adapter. Both the keyboard and mouse run fine thru the adapter. Better than running some potentially buggy software.
     
Eug  (op)
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Dec 13, 2002, 12:09 AM
 
P.S. I don't have those funky quirks I did with the other keyboard. I guess Apple likes Microsoft better than HP.

     
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Dec 13, 2002, 09:54 AM
 
It is funny watching you have a conversation with yourself

"Hello, what have we here?
     
Eug  (op)
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Dec 13, 2002, 10:17 AM
 
Originally posted by Landos Mustache:
It is funny watching you have a conversation with yourself
Just how many of these accounts do you have?

Leia's Bun
Leia Shoots
Luke
Lando
Chewy
Han
Yoda
etc.
     
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Dec 13, 2002, 10:22 AM
 
Originally posted by Eug:
Just how many of these accounts do you have?

Leia's Bun
Leia Shoots
Luke
Lando
Chewy
Han
Yoda
etc.
Well you missed a few but I don't understand why that came up? Is that supposed to make me feel guilty or some sort of dis?

I am so ashamed I have multiple accounts

Peace out.
(Last edited by Landos Mustache; Dec 13, 2002 at 10:48 AM. )

"Hello, what have we here?
     
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Dec 13, 2002, 11:14 AM
 
I hope it works as well on the Mac, because it's very small and portable. Weighs only 0.1 lbs - would be easy to carry around with my PowerBook. It's essentially just a pair of female 5" PS/2 cables and a male 6" USB cable attached to a 2" x 1" x 0.5" sealed box in between. [/B]
I recently bought a Viewsonic VG 800 and the shipped the display with a keyboard (PS/2) and a optical USB mouse for free.

I borrowed a PS/2 to USB konverter and I tryed to make it work but no luck with my Dual mirror G4.
     
Eug  (op)
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Dec 13, 2002, 11:46 AM
 
Originally posted by Landos Mustache:


Well you missed a few but I don't understand why that came up? Is that supposed to make me feel guilty or some sort of dis?

I am so ashamed I have multiple accounts

Peace out.
It came up because I've never seen Lando's moustache grace this forum before, and because your multiple personalities seem to talk to each other too.

I borrowed a PS/2 to USB konverter and I tryed to make it work but no luck with my Dual mirror G4.
Strange. I wonder why. Did it say it supported Macs? Mine did.
     
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Dec 13, 2002, 01:18 PM
 
Originally posted by Eug:
It came up because I've never seen Lando's moustache grace this forum before, and because your multiple personalities seem to talk to each other too.
Well you are part right. Yes Lando is new but I DARE you to find any topic where I was talking to myself or backing myself up though.

So there

"Hello, what have we here?
     
   
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