geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nathanscribe on Thu, 31 March 2011, 15:52:51

Title: USB but not PS/2 functionality
Post by: nathanscribe on Thu, 31 March 2011, 15:52:51

Just a quick and very probably silly question:

I have an Alphasmart Neo2.  When plugged in over USB it functions as a regular keyboard.  Type on it, and it's like using any other keyboard plugged in to a computer's USB port.

So why would it not work as a regular keyboard when plugged in to PS/2 with an adapter?

I'm guessing things are more complicated than my simple brain has heretofore grasped.

Title: USB but not PS/2 functionality
Post by: woody on Thu, 31 March 2011, 17:36:39

Easy.
Every protocol has their own requirements. Seems some are not covered somehow/somewhere.

Title: USB but not PS/2 functionality
Post by: woody on Thu, 31 March 2011, 17:48:28

Quote from: ripster;322294

Still, the guy that plugged his keyboard into an Ethernet cable is still my favorite.

Reminds me of an old joke: (sorry for lousy translation)

There is a test in the Police Academy, where each subject is given three types of objects with triangular, circular and square shapes, which he/she should push through similar holes on a plate. After the test, the results are announced - "We have the pleasure to notify the participants that they have all passed the test. Yet we have separated them into two groups - smart enough, and strong enough."

Title: USB but not PS/2 functionality
Post by: nathanscribe on Fri, 01 April 2011, 04:26:48

Quote from: woody;322298

smart enough, and strong enough.

Made me smile after a bad start to the day!

I don't suppose anybody has had USB working under MS DOS 5..?

Title: USB but not PS/2 functionality
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 04:54:48

The reason you can use a USB to PS/2 adapter with a mouse is that the mouse outputs both PS/2 and USB signals. Most keyboards will not do this.