USB fun, fun, fun

[Nightmercy]

Okay, there are a million and one posts about PS/2 versus USB, and there seem to be the exact same number of good and bad experiences on both sides of the coin.

Here's my question:
Has anyone ever found that a USB mouse/keyboard (Intellimouse Explorer/Microsoft Natural Pro) combination just acts plain flaky?

Sometimes my mouse will crash Unreal Tourney, sometimes my shift key will stick without it ever being pressed, sometimes I will be unable to type at all, sometimes the computer will just hang and all I can do is move the mouse but not access anything with the keyboard, or click anything with the mouse.

I have tried plugging the mouse both into the keyboard hub and the USB port directly on my mobo, but this doesn't seem to fix the problem.

Didn't have any problems with my old PS/2 periphs, but I would like to try to get the USB working without having to pick up a pair of converters and throw them in instead...

Here is another question on USB:

What is the point of a USB joystick? I am looking into buying one, but it doesn't make sense to me to use a device that you need to constantly control something onscreen with, while it is going to be skipping all over the place every time the CPU is being used.

And answers/suggestions?

 

[BoberFett]

I figure until I have a computer without any PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse and my sound card doesn't have a controller port, I'm not going to switch to USB. What's the point? There doesn't seem to be any real advantage to USB, and if you use USB those other ports are just wasted.

My $.02

 

[thorin]

Check this thread from earlier today on USB vs OC'd (high refresh) PS/2 mice.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=196546

USB Keyboard and Mice (and Joysticks for that matter) are all CPU dependant (the same as WinModems) for each USB device you throw on there you are using about 2% of your CPU (700MHz) to communicate with the device since there is no hardware controller (6% if you're using all 3 devices in question).

Thorin

 

[cavingjan]

I've had a USB keyboard (belkin) for 2 years now. It was a birthday present so I won't complain. Its nice and I've only had the problem of the shift key sticking even if its not pressed (I thought it was only me but I guess not). My trackball was supposed to be a USB model but the store screwed up and sent me the wrong one and they are out of stock so I'm stuck with it.
I've liked the USB though. I can plug a regular 2 button mouse into the keyboard and I could do away with those IRQs but I like my trackball too much. I do notice a great speed difference between the PS2 trackball and the psuedo-USB mouse. The mouse is a lot slower but that can really be handy in Photoshop. Use the trackball for everything except the fine detail.
I have never noticed a problem with the keyboard arrow keys bouncing around with high CPU usage. Even if I happen to be using the webcam or usb tv capture at the same time.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Packet]

I don't think you will ever see a preformance hit using USB over PS/2.

I find USB very nice, for the hot swapping abilities.

 

[Spearfodder]

I have a usb joystick (reflex 3dpro, made by thrustmaster I think. It's very responsive, for a $40 stick I've been happy with it. Every bit as responsive at the old ms sidewinder pro it replace, which I had just worn out.

I've got both a ms natural and a ms intellieye optical, but I plug both into ps/2 ports, since linux doesn't support the usb thang yet. Don't need a jstick in linux since I don't play that kinda game there, but sure need the mouse & kb.

 

[Prodigy^]

I *really* don't see the point of using an USB port for mouse and keyboard either......I mean, how important can hotswapping be for these two components?

 

[Speedo]

I love my Logitech Mouseman Wheel USB... Smooooth

Seriously though, I have only used this USB device yet, and it works great. I like not having to run PS2Rate which caused strange behaviours from time to time...

 

[Sir Fredrick]

I prefer to use my USB ports for something they actually improve performance with: USB scanner, USB webcam, USB digital camera, USB printer. Beats using a paralell port.