Why isn't PS2 DEAD?

[mfenn]

Lets put it in other way.

Why the existence of this port disturbs so much?

It is in the back. "Out of sight out of mind".

Because sometimes 8 USB ports just isn't enough! D: :hmm: :awe:

 

[RebateMonger]

I really miss the old AT keyboards with solid audio and physical "clicks". It's very frustrating to not be sure whether you hit a key solidly or not. There was no question about it with those old IBM keyboards.

 

[JackMDS]

I really miss the old AT keyboards with solid audio and physical "clicks". It's very frustrating to not be sure whether you hit a key solidly or not. There was no question about it with those old IBM keyboards.

I still have one of the old AT Keytronic 101. It is Beige and very heavy. :sneaky:

I do not use it, but I do not have the heart to "pitch" it away. ()

 

[piasabird]

USB motherboards do not work any better than a USB keyboard. I see no need for a USB keyboard. However, I suppose you could unplug your keyboard if it is USB. Other than that there ae no other advantages.

I guess you could build a keyboard with a fan on it that runs off of USB.

 

[Cerb]

I own 0 USB keyboards. I own several PS/2 keyboards, of which 4 are working IBM Model Ms (2 full size, 2 late-model "hacker" style), and one is a dead parts Model M. I have no intention of getting rid of my PS/2 keyboards. I now use only wide-bottomed mugs near them, having killed one with water.

But do you see serial or parallel ports on new MB's? I haven't.

I have. Many of them...just not on the space-starved rear IO panel. Keyed headers, just the old days, are fine by me. With all the integration today, I've got spare case slots (even with eSATA and extra USBs taking some up), and they are niche ports...but they are there, and work with age-old software.

With serial and parallel, headers and cables have been commonplace for years, between old AT boards, and later, using add-on cards for more ports, so it's no big deal not to have it on the rear. PS/2, OTOH, does not have that legacy.

 

[Modelworks]

The reason is simple. It provides backwards compatibility. Requires no special support on the motherboard, all the chipsets support it natively already, and the sockets are only about 50 cents in bulk. It also works without being enumerated by the bios in a failure.

Not many people realize that almost any motherboard bios failure can be recovered by using a ps/2 keyboard and a pci graphics card because the board chipset support those natively without requiring much help from the bios.

The interface I hate to see on boards still is floppy drive connectors. But again they are there because in a system failure the floppy has native support that can restore a system even with a bad bios.

 

[corkyg]

The interface I hate to see on boards still is floppy drive connectors. But again they are there because in a system failure the floppy has native support that can restore a system even with a bad bios.

Agree! Nowadays you can get an internal floppy drive that combines media slots all on USB - no need for the slow internal floppy pin connector.

 

[Anubis]

Once you've had a setup where you can't get into BIOS with a USB keyboard, you'll understand...

yep exactly why i still have a few sitting around

 

[n7]

PS2 is still more reliable than USB.

Agreed.

As for why it's on enthusiast boards?

Because overclockers want it.

USB can be buggy, especially when OCing.
I've seen weird issues with USB keyboards where the board randomly decides it doesn't want to detect the keyboard during POST, which becomes extremely irritating when you are trying to get into the BIOS.

That's where i pull out the good old PS2.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I wish PS2 had never died. It was much more reliable then USB for mouse/keyboard and now with everything USB, you always have to take up 2 ports. Even today, there are lot of situations where USB wont work well. Also USB KVMs are pieces of crap. I have yet to see one that actually works properly. I remember my old PS2 kvm, I would hit the hot key and boom, I'm on the next PC. USB KVMs are slow, and often bug out and lose connection etc.

PS2, how I miss you!

 

[Zap]

I've always heard people say that they have problems with USB keyboards in the BIOS, but I've personally never seen it.

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I can remember one specific instance in recent times that I've seen this happen. It was a socket AM2+ MSI motherboard with Nvidia 750a chipset and the keyboard was a Razor brand. I had to get into BIOS to change the boot order (swapped HDD and it wouldn't boot). Had to borrow a Logitech G15 from someone temporarily to go into BIOS. Once in Windows the Razor keyboard worked fine.

the sockets are only about 50 cents in bulk.

You're probably over-estimating the cost. If it were 50¢ I think mobo manufacturers would have dumped them.

Also USB KVMs are pieces of crap. I have yet to see one that actually works properly. I remember my old PS2 kvm, I would hit the hot key and boom, I'm on the next PC. USB KVMs are slow, and often bug out and lose connection etc.

I've had PS/2 KVMs lose connections too, and at work I have two USB KVMs which work just fine. I think USB KVMs are fine as long as they are made well.