Key Wiz question?

[Edgedamage]

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of using the Key Wiz vs the Ipac.

[rampy]

well... you're likely to start a flame war with that one =P

basically the key wiz is cheaper, and ships cheaper if you are domestic US and has a few more inputs than the ipac/2

The ipac comes in a usb flavor, which the key wiz does not (ps/2 only -- by design).

THere's some minor differences in the shift/shazaam button, but i still don't understand what they are =P

One thing to consider if shipping ends up being the deciding factor ---> if you end up buying OTHER stuff from ultimarc like the j-sticks or the ArcadeVGA card then (assuming the other things pointed out earlier are a wash for you personally) then maybe go with the ipac =P

either way i'm sure you'll be happy...  I use a keywiz but would have been fine with an ipac/2 ps/2

*Shrug*

Rampy

[BobA]

Major disadvantage is that you cannot daisychain the keywiz.  When the kb is in use the keywiz is bypassed.  This is to cut down on the software overhead according to keywiz and is probably a good idea if you do not need the feature.    Value wise it is the cheapest.

BobA

[Valence]

I don't have an  Ipac but I do have a keywiz.

The shifting difference is that

with the IPAC. There are two actions to it.
1 action to cause the Ipac to "Shift" into secondary mode (This would be  alternate inputs defined somewhere?) and the other would be the actual button.

example.  Escape input is defined as "Shift" and  player 1 Button 1. So to escape the game. You have to depress the "Shift" button and then depress the 1 button. 2 different actions.

The keywiz has a "Shazaaam" button. This only requires 1 action to accomplish the same goal. You assign, through the keywiz program, that when the "Shazaaam" input is grounded (Which is what all the buttons, including the Ipac, are actuated off of) and the actually input (could be any button) is grounded, that will cause the secondary function. Basically, you hit 1 button once  and it will cause it to actuate the secondary function. (Off of the top of my head, I don't remember if it stays grounded while it isn't depresses untill another button is pushed? RandyT? I think it does though)

But there is a trade off for this. If you use it like this you have to use two wires for every button that uses the "shazaaam" function. You also must use a diode in series with each wire.

If you don't plan right, you can cause problems, because when the button (with the two wires) It will shift all the inputs into secondary mode. So if player 2 is playing with you and you have escape mapped to "Shazaaam" and player two button 1 and you press coin1 which is mapped to "Shazaaam and any other button and player 2 presses button 1, it will escape the game. Confused yet with that huge run on.  Sorry.  Both the Ipac and the keywiz would be effected by this but it would be easier to do it with the keywiz.

Both work great and both have great customer support but if you live in the states, the keywiz is cheaper.

[Edgedamage]

Well thanks for the replies I have used four ipac's with no problem. The reason I was looking at the keywiz was the price. But looking at their site on the ordering section
they make no mention about international orders. Where as ultrimarc the first thing you are asked is which country do you live. That seems like they welcome international orders. Where as the keywiz site you get the impression that they only like USA orders only.