A couple X-keys questions

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06-02-2009, 12:56 AM
lazygirl

A couple X-keys questions

My first stroll out of the newbie forum (even though I am obviously still am one). I did some searching but couldn't locate the answer to my question.

I'm thinking about buying some variation of x-keys hardware.

1) My primary computer is a laptop with no PS/2 port. The recommendations seem to lean strongly towards PS/2 over USB. But if I am going to have to get a converter to plug it into my USB port, does it matter? Would I loose all the efficiency benefits of the PS/2 if I am sending it through my USB port anyway?

2) Is it possible to use multiple x-key pads? For example, an X-keys Pro plus a desktop? I read in someone's post they have PS/2 ports built into the pads for daisy-chaining, so presumably you could link 2 together and use both sets of keys as long as you didn't overlap the functions mapped to the keys?
2a) If they were USB versions, could you plug two into 2 different USB ports?

Thanks for the help.
06-02-2009, 11:47 AM
lazygirl

I thought I would report that I called Pi Engineering today and got the answer on #2. According to them, you can have up to 15 keypads on one computer before they start to cause conflicts.

Still looking for the answer to #1 from someone more hardware savvy than yours truly.
06-02-2009, 12:24 PM
Sajuuk

RE: A couple X-keys questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'lazygirl',index.php?page=Thread&postID=206185#pos t206185

1) My primary computer is a laptop with no PS/2 port. The recommendations seem to lean strongly towards PS/2 over USB. But if I am going to have to get a converter to plug it into my USB port, does it matter? Would I loose all the efficiency benefits of the PS/2 if I am sending it through my USB port anyway?

Go with the USB version. It'll probably suit you the best because you can edit the keymaps without having to have a seperate PS/2 keyboard with you. (Because you're on a laptop.)
06-09-2009, 02:01 AM
Gomotron

People that have touted the PS/2 version over USB have made that argument mostly based on using a hardware keycaster to control multiple computers.

Personally, I use a USB version through a USB-based hardware keycaster and have had very few problems. There have been a few times when I am spazzing out and mashing a ton of buttons that some keys don't get turned "off" but this is rare.

They do make some PS/2 to USB convertors, but you have to be careful because some of them (i.e. the cheaper ones) supposedly don't necessarily transmit the proper keycodes.