ps/2 or usb?

[joshbr7257]

im going to buy the ipac2 and i want to know what the differences are between the 2?

[AlanS17]

The connection options are pretty much just for preference. They work the same.

For instance, a Mac user wouldn't have a PS2 port.

[joshbr7257]

does it matter if you use dos mame? or mame32? or windows mame? what about front ends?

[elvis]

When you say "USB" do you mean a USB-gamepad chip, or a USB-keyboard chip?

Obviously the I-Pac(tm) is a keyboard encoder, but people here have a bad habit of referring to things under a generic banner.

If it's a keyboard encoder, USB or PS/2 doesn't matter.  Most systems will enable USB-PS/2 compatability within the motherboard's BIOS so that even DOS can take input from the encoder via USB.  Linux 2.4/2.6, MacOSX and Windows 2000/XP will all handle USB keyboards natively.

If it's a USB joystick/gamepad encoder, that's a different story.  DOS is out of the question here from the word go.  MacOSX, Linux 2.6 and Win2k/XP are all fine from an OS/Kernel and MAME point of view, but you're going to have to check up on your frontend of choice to make sure it allows mappings from USB-joystick device inputs to the frontend.  I know from personal experience that MAMEWah under Win2K/XP is fine, and so is AdvanceMenu under Win2K/XP and Linux 2.6.  Anything else you're going to have to check for yourself, or hope that someone who has used/written them is kind enough to spot this thread and answer.

Performance wise, it doesn't matter squat.  I know there have been massive fights in here between USB fans and PS/2 fans over whose encoder is 2ms faster than someone else's encoder, but at the end of the day it doesn't make any bloody difference to me playing on my 2-player cabs as to which I use, and I've tried various brands in various USB and PS/2 setups, and it all feels the same to me.

[joshbr7257]

ok the site wants to know first if i want a usb or ps/2 encoder, then second its giving me a cable? and wants to know:
it askes if i want a ps/2 cable or usb cable??? what do i choose?

http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/product.php?xProd=3&xSec=2

[Tahnok]

I used a hacked PS/2 keyboard and mouse for my CP and regret it. Now, all I can use to work on the computer is the only USB keyboard and mouse I have, rather than the many PS/2 ones I own.

Also, USB is much easier to hot swap.

[joshbr7257]

but the I-PAC has a built in keyboard plug, so you can still use a keyboard

[markrvp]

but the I-PAC has a built in keyboard plug, so you can still use a keyboard

Ultimarc suggests that if you are going to use a keyboard connected to the Ipac passthrough that you hook-up the Ipac via the PS2 cable.

So to answer your question, order the PS2 version with the PS2 cable.  Then plug it into the PS2 port on your PC.  You can always get the USB adapter cable later.

[danny_galaga]

yeah, the adapter is only about 5 bucks extra. the key board emulator is exactly the same, just you get the extra cable. and i've heard that its hard to get USB drivers for DOS (but i dont know this from experience, just what ive read on this forum). so if youre going for DOS, bear that in mind...

[joshbr7257]

i think ill go ahead and get the ps/2 version with the ps/2 cable. thanks