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No keyboard drawer?
Donkbaca:
So I am getting ready to build my first cab and I have been thinking alot about the keyboard drawer. I want to hide my keyboard and make it a little hard to get to so kids that come over don't highjack my system. Then I saw these:
http://bit.ly/byhacJ
And I started thinking, maybe I should just mount 2 of these discretely under my CP, that way if I ever need to use a keyboard/mouse I can just plug one in and not have to worry about concealing a keyboard drawer, or sticking one behind the coin door.
It would make for an easier cabinet build too, no drawers to make
Thoughts?
Benevolance:
The concept will work fine. I have a single keyboard that I switch between my Xbox 360 and my arcade cabinet, so I mounted a USB hub just inside the cabinet to connect it. I don't have to worry about kids, so I made accessing my cabinet really easy with a pull-away door, but a little external port like you linked would work about the same. I just plug in the keyboard when I need it.
My cab as a trackball, though, which I use as a mouse. I don't know that plugging a mouse in would be quite as handy - my CP top is pretty oddly reflective and has more than a few dings. The once or twice I tried to use an optical mouse on the surface was frustrating, as the cursor tended to leap about all over the place. But my arcade cabinet doubles as my media center while I'm working in the kitchen, so I need the mouse more frequently. You might not need to use a mouse as frequently and/or have a better surface nearby that cooperates with an optical mouse better.
Donkbaca:
Yeah, for more info, I am looking to do a CP with 2 joys, 7 buttons a piece and no track ball. The cab will only be used to play games on, so the only times I would need a mouse/keyboard would be to maybe add something or fix something that breaks in the software. So I don't intend on using them much/at all.
Stobe:
I was never a fan of the keyboard drawer. I usually hide a wireless keyboard/mouse combo either inside the coin door, on the top of the cab, or in a different room. I seldom find myself using it anyhow. Once you get everything right, stop messing with it! Any changes in software you want to make should be implemented in the next cab you build >:D
-Stobe
trevski:
I use one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keysonic-ACK-540RF-Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad/dp/B002WB1JYQ
Has a usb receiver that plugs into your PC inside the cab then you can just stash the keyboard wherever you like
and then stand infront of the cab to use it (although 1 handed can be a little tedious) I just chuck mine on top of
the cab out of the reach of little fingers.