Anything wrong with a USB keyboard?

[optoman]

I just bought a USB keyboard by mistake and was wondering if there are any advantages or disadvantages to having it. I don't want to return it because they will charge a 15% restocking fee and I have to pay for shipping.

Thanks

 

[Shooters]

A lot of people use USB keyboards; there's nothing wrong with it.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I know USB mice have higher CPU utilization than standard ps/2 mice, but I haven't the slightest clue about keyboards. I can't imagine anything wrong with it.

 

[Viper GTS]

Personally, I prefer to keep keyboards & mice on their dedicated connections. The one time I tried a USB mouse I was not impressed.

Give it a shot & see what happens, be sure to enable DOS support in your BIOS.

Viper GTS

 

[HansXP]

And I prefer to get rid of those damn PS/2 ports

USB keyboards are fine, I recommend enabling "USB Legacy Support" in the BIOS so that you can use it in DOS.

 

[MGMorden]

Anybody know if they work in linux (out of the box I mean, I know I can get it after some recompiling) w/ legacy support on? I've got one box w/ USB but it's keyboard port is slap worn out (I have to sit there and hold in the connector while I type ).

 

[HansXP]

Yes, it will work if legacy support is on. That basically makes it look as though there is a keyboard on the PS/2 port for OSs that can't handle USB keybs.

 

[John P]

The main problem I see with USB keyboards and mice is that if for some reason you need to boot into "Safe Mode" you will not have a keyboard or mouse to navigate with. That's why I don't bother with them.

 

[HansXP]

That's why there is legacy support-it lets any OS, any time, use a USB keyboard/mouse. That's also why Windows 2000 supports those things even in safe mode.

 

[AMDPwred]

I've got a USB keyboard and love it. Never had a problem.

 

[Mem]

Same here no problems with USB keyboard or Mouse,I use it in safe mode and full Dos mode with no problems.

 

[bevancoleman]

USB keyboards and mice you great in linux, the lastest verions have native support for USB devices.

 

[cheetoden]

Does using USB mice and keyboards save on IRQ's?

 

[rommel]

usb is not recognized in dos mode though...so you better keep the old one around

 

[rommel]

uh nevermind...lol

 

[HansXP]

Well, it depends if your BIOS will let you fully disable PS/2 keyboard and mouse support. If they do...you save 2 IRQs. If not...you don't But it doesn't matter with 2K/XP anyway, they don't use IRQs in the traditional sense.

 

[HansXP]

<< uh nevermind...lol >>



Damn, I was just getting ready to flame you for not reading all of the posts

 

[SUOrangeman]

USB keyboard and mouse in Win2K (+safe mode), WinME, and Linux Mandrake.

-SUO