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How much do you use your keyboard on your MAME cab?

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sshaw10:

Putting a cabinet together loosely based on Knievel's Evolution but I'm wondering if I need a keyboard drawer.  I just got a small Logitech wireless keyboard with built in mousepad for my HTPC and love it, I figure if I don't need the keyboard much I can just put one in the bottom of my CP box or Logitech even let's you pair one keyboard to multiple receivers, I could just use the one keyboard for HTPC and MAME.  Saves building a pull out tray and cords.  Looks like most CP's have all the operating buttons you need.  If anyone can comment on how much they need the keyboard and if this is a good idea I'd be grateful.

BobA:

Only time I use a keyboard is when setting up a system or adding a new emulator.  Use a wireless HTPC kb and mousepad that can be put in a drawer away from the cabinet for small touchups.  Use a logitech full wireless KB and mouse if I have alot of files to move and emulators to setup.

korbitz:

Only used the keyboard during construction, whilst playing i never had to use it, occasionally i would plug it in to tweak something but that was few and far between

JDFan:

Another option would be using a mouse ( or even the joystick ) and the windows On screen Keyboard program ! ( See here  for details -- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/type-without-using-the-keyboard-on-screen-keyboard )

DaveMMR:

I never really got why people built keyboard drawers into arcade cabs.  :dunno Seems like excess work for the occasional tweaking or, worse, for playing a FPS standing up.

So the answer is you never, ever need a keyboard (or admin buttons) if you set it all up correctly. It's actually a better idea to keep a keyboard as far away from the machine as possible if guests are using it. Unintentionally changing settings is very easy thing to do in MAME.



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