Perfect Arcade Cabinet Keyboard (I think)

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hello all,

I saw a keyboard online that I thought I would share to you all...  Looks like it may be perfect for arcade cabinets.  I'm thinking about buying it.  It's on sale for $49.99 with free shipping with coupon code:  EMCYNZW32  (normally $54.99 plus shipping)

1 - It's wireless
2 - It's compact
3 - It has a built in trackball

What do you guys think?

Here's a link to the product:  Link to Newegg.com product

DeLuSioNaL29

[Herk]

DeLuSioNal29,

     The only concern I would have is that the wireless connectivity may not kick in until windows starts loading drivers and therefore you will not be able to do pre-boot keystrokes, to get into your bios for example.  When I ever used wireless keyboards I would also always have one tucked away that was direct into the keyboard port, not even USB.

Herk

[shateredsoul]

I have a wireless keyboard for my normal comp.. It's connected through a wireless dongle and I've never had any issues with getting into preboot menus (bios and all).

[markronz]

Thats a sweet keyboard.  Wish I saw it before I bought the wireless one I have now...

Regarding the pre-boot business...   I have a wireless one, similar to the one posted, and it also has no problems with the pre-boot key presses.  However, on my other computer, I have a bluetooth wireless keyboard.  This one does not work with pre-boot key presses.  So it depends on what kind of wireless it is.

[Malenko]

most wireless KBs dont need windows to run, so they work just fine in the BIOS screen, they just need the 12v from the USB port to power the receiver; however any special buttons prolly wont work until windows boots (like volume and other short cut keys)

[DeLuSioNal29]

Either way, I only want it so that when I am in windows or the front end, I can simply press a key on the keyboard for maintenance.   I figure I won't need to enter BIOS for any reason.  If I do, I can always plug in another keyboard to the PS2 port, after all, if I'm in the BIOS, chances are I'm installing some new hardware and have the arcade open anyway.

D

[jtfields]

I like it.  I have had a few wireless keyboards in the past and only one has ever given me issues with getting into the BIOS and that was along time ago.  Anyway, this is a timely post for me as I was thinking of getting a small wireless keyboard for my cab.  Unfortunately, for now at least, it's running Win 2000.  The spec's only show it working with XP, Vista and Mac.  I wonder if it would work with Win 2k?

[drventure]

+1

the only issue you might have is battery life. If it's a radio keyboard, those tend to drain the bats pretty quickly.

I have a wireless keyboard from "way way back" (bought it when I was intending on building a home theater PC. I picked it up cheap at some swap meet for like 10$. It's called an "airboard" I believe. Very similar to this

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/keyboard/sk7100.asp

Thing is, it's IR, not radio. so you do have to have line of sight with the receiver.

+BUT+ it takes 2 AA batteries that I haven't changed in, literally, a year or more. Mine doesn't have a trackball, it uses one of those "wobbling nipple" things to control the cursor, not bad, but a trackball would be better.

Still for the price and the battery life, I'm pretty happy with it.

[ark_ader]

I've had wireless (RF) Airboard (IR) and the traditional Wireless keyboards, including blue tooth and I have yet to find one that is operational at POST.

Even USB keyboards with legacy support on a traditional PS/2 PC fails as it detects 6 or 7 seconds after boot.  You have to have a PS2 plugged in to get into BIOS.  I'm sure someone out there will prove me wrong, but nothing has worked up to now.  Crap I have to do that for my main PC. 

You want a suitable keyboard for your cab?

Get something cool and quiet and easy to put away.

[DeLuSioNal29]

The main selling point for me is that it has a trackball built in.  I already have a trackball on my quad cab so I don't need it there, but my new vertical cabinet does not have one, so this nifty little trackball built in the keyboard itself should be great.  Add to that the fact that the I no longer have to use an optical mouse on my lap and it's a clear winner.

D

[shateredsoul]

What kind of batteries does it use?  Seriously though.. if that's an issue buy these rechargeable batteries http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.487 The charger is about 14 dollars and these batteries last forever.  I have energizer and Panasonic rechargeable batteries, and although they did work the batteries always ran out quite quickly with digital cameras and devices.  Not these.  They also have a AAA versions. The best part is that this company takes paypal.. just be prepared to wait about 3 weeks for delivery (it's being sent from China). I have my wireless mouse, keyboard, xbox 360 controllers, logitech controller, sony digital came, beard trimmer,  all working great off these batteries. The best part is that you hardly have to change them.

*edit* ark_ader  .. I'm not sure why you've had those issues, my wireless hp kb can go into bios just fine.

[Necro]

I don't have the link available right now, but there's a small keyboard that has a touchpad at the bottom, is wireless, and the keys are like a blacberry's keyboard.  The entire thing is about the size of a calculator and it runs something like $40.  

I think THAT is by far the perfect Arcade Cab keyboard.  can be hidden in the coin box it was so small.  

Found it: http://efo.buy-lowest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180

Something like that, but I saw it on another site in white.

[DJ_Izumi]

Even USB keyboards with legacy support on a traditional PS/2 PC fails as it detects 6 or 7 seconds after boot.  You have to have a PS2 plugged in to get into BIOS.  I'm sure someone out there will prove me wrong, but nothing has worked up to now.  Crap I have to do that for my main PC. 

I think you'll find that almost everyone would disagree with you.  Afterall USB keyboards are the primary form of keyboard sold with new PCs.  If the majority of PC users had lost the ability to go into the BIOS to change settings, you'd have heard something by now.  It'd be kinda a big deal.

[jtfields]

My six year old main computer has a wireless USB keyboard connected and I have no problems getting into the BIOS.  Maybe some really old PCs might have a BIOS that cannot detect a USB keyboard.  I believe mine has a setting in the BIOS to enable USB keyboard.  If not then I know I've had a PC that had that setting because I recall the first time I used it I had to track down a PS2 keyboard to get into the BIOS for the first time. Once I enabled USB keyboard support I didn't have a problem from that point forward.  Shouldn't be an issue with any reasonably recent BIOS as USB keyboards have become the standard (heck, I'm sure there are plenty of newer PCs without PS2 inputs at all.)

[1UP]

Where are the function keys?  Don't think I'd want to configure Mame with that.  But I like the one from the OP.    I have one similar that has an analog stick instead of the trackball.  Really convenient, I just keep it on top of the cab where you don't see it.

I don't have the link available right now, but there's a small keyboard that has a touchpad at the bottom, is wireless, and the keys are like a blacberry's keyboard.  The entire thing is about the size of a calculator and it runs something like $40.  

I think THAT is by far the perfect Arcade Cab keyboard.  can be hidden in the coin box it was so small.  

Found it: http://efo.buy-lowest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180

Something like that, but I saw it on another site in white.

[jtfields]

I don't have the link available right now, but there's a small keyboard that has a touchpad at the bottom, is wireless, and the keys are like a blacberry's keyboard.  The entire thing is about the size of a calculator and it runs something like $40.

Wow, that is cool.  I'll have to consider that.  I would like someting with volume control though.  My cab is such that I don't have physical access to a volume knob for the speakers so I have to control the volume through Windows.  Wife jumped all over me last night for playing Donkey Kong after the kids were in bed.

[RayB]

I prefer my cheaper solution:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=flexible+keyboard

Just roll it up and leave it in the area behind the coin door.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I think THAT is by far the perfect Arcade Cab keyboard.  can be hidden in the coin box it was so small.  

Found it: http://efo.buy-lowest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180

This would be perfect if there were a TAB key somewhere.    However, for maintenance I could always hold the Player 1 start and press the coin (5) button to acess the tab menu if I had to.  Hmm.

As for the folding keyboards, those are great, but I'm really looking for something that has a mouse input device built in.

D

[shateredsoul]

I think the option you posted should work fine for the needs you specified. If you buy it, let us know what you think.

[Necro]

I'm guessing with a bit of AHK ingenuity you could get the one I posted basically doing what you needed.  If you're going to do hardcore stuff - just whip out a real keyboard and plug it in.  The intent of this was having something readily available that you could do a few tweaks with.  Definitely not going to replace a 'real' KB/mouse combo for getting everything setup from scratch.