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iPac2 - how does the USB work?
Flip_Willie:
Some computers don't have many USB ports, and since the ipac has a ps/2 keyboard passthrough, it doesn't take up any extra slots at all. The USB cable is like $2 extra dollars, too.
Plus, the PS/2 cable is a lot longer than the USB cable. (Atleast when I bought them).
One big down side to getting the PS/2 cable is that a computer can only detect the Ipac (a PS/2 device) on boot up. So if you have it unplugged and your computer is on, you would have to reboot to get it to work. Kinda sucks actually.
Just as it is,
Flip Willie
patrickl:
--- Quote from: Scumgriever on January 08, 2007, 12:51:04 pm ---
--- Quote from: benarcade on January 08, 2007, 12:45:47 pm ---Why would anyone get it without the USB?
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure that the cable is anything different from a standard USB to PS2 converter is it? If thats the case then lots of people have boxfulls of cables and converters lying around and may not want another.
--- End quote ---
It is not a USB to PS2 converter cable. The ipac switches between USB and PS/2. The cable just connects it to the right connector.
Besides a PS/2 to USB keyboard convertor is not something many people will have laying around. Maybe you are confusing this with the ones for mice?
benarcade:
Is there any downside to going with the iPac2? I've heard of people frying their controller by plugging in at the wrong time. Does the iPac2 have that problem?
Flip_Willie:
I have had my I-Pac 2 for a quite a long time, and I have never had trouble with it at all. Provided you wire up the buttons and joysticks correctly, you shouldn't have any problems with it.
Basically, the only downside to the I-Pac 2 is the price (In my opinion anyway). Randy T at www.GroovyGameGear.com sells the keywiz Eco, which is basically the same, just a lot cheaper. ( I have never tried it myself though).
Just as it is,
Flip Willie
penjuin:
--- Quote from: benarcade on January 08, 2007, 10:01:59 pm ---Is there any downside to going with the iPac2? I've heard of people frying their controller by plugging in at the wrong time. Does the iPac2 have that problem?
--- End quote ---
The frying you have heard of is actually the frying of the keyboard controller on the motherboard of the computer. This can happen if you keep plugging and unplugging a ps/2 keyboard or mouse. Thus anything that uses a ps/2 port has this problem.
I have an ipac4, and have never had a problem with it; it is a great piece of hardware.
Also, you mentioned using a ps/2 -> usb converter. That is not a good idea. The ipac has been designed so that it can have as many keystrokes as possible at once and thus needs to use its own usb configuration. If you use that converter, you will inhibit your encoder to only 6 keys at one time. That may be ok for small games, but a street fighter like game with two players might get hectic. You need to use the patch cable for maximum performance. As a point of comparison, the ps/2 port can take 20 keystrokes at once iirc.
Hope I helped!
-penjuin
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