3 Mice and 2 Keyboards on one PC.

[markb]

I'm updating my Control Panel and would like to use all of the following all of the time:-
A USB Cordless Mouse/Keyboard
A Serial port trackball
A PS2 mouse hack for a spinner
A PS2 Keyboard Hack

I've managed to get them all working together in windows however does anyone know of any potential drawbacks in particular with Mame in running with this configuration before I go ahead and start cutting holes for my new panel.

[Tiger-Heli]

I don't see any potential problems, I've basically been using a USB keyboard with a KeyWiz, so about the same as your USB keyboard-PS/2 KB hack (not that the PS/2 KB hack will be comparable to the KeyWiz . . .), but why don't you try it out for a week or so as a desktop PC and see if you notice any problems?

[u_rebelscum]

The only real problems I see is if the spinner moves while using the trackball (or any mouse device moves while using another).

Windows will drop anything you're dragging in windows, mame games will stop shooting if you're holding down a different mouse's button, and movements will be affected by who much that other device is moved.

For example, you're playing arkanoid with the spinner and your youngest brother/sister/son/daughter, or youngest acting friend, or your elbow zip spins the trackball.  The spinner will still "work" but the game's paddle movement will be the sum of the spinner + the trackball. 

OTOH, most people don't notice this.

You might some simular stuff with the different keyboards, but it's even less noticeable.