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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: wumpyr on Fri, 23 January 2009, 19:03:41

Title: M13 trackpoint ps2->usb?
Post by: wumpyr on Fri, 23 January 2009, 19:03:41
Do you need to use the ps2/usb active converter, like clickykeyboard's one (http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/11298/subcatid/0/id/124184) for the trackpoint ps2 on the M13?

I tried a passive converter and it didn't seem to work.  I only have one ps2 port on my thinkpad replicator and if I plug it directly in there, it works fine, but if I would like to enable both keyboard and trackpoint simultaneously, I will need to convert at least one of the ports to usb.  Yes, I could just convert the keyboard port, I know.  This is just an academic question really.

thanks
Title: M13 trackpoint ps2->usb?
Post by: cchan on Fri, 23 January 2009, 19:41:36
Does a PS/2 y-adapter work? I believe some of my friends have used that on their laptops with only one PS/2 port to use both a keyboard and mouse with it at the same time. Personally, my laptop has two PS/2 ports on the dock, so I have no need for such a device. But it may well work for you.
Title: M13 trackpoint ps2->usb?
Post by: bhtooefr on Fri, 23 January 2009, 19:57:17
Exactly. You need a Y adapter.

But, for USB, you do need to use an active converter. A passive converter is for a device with a PS/2 plug that can also speak USB itself. Seeing as the M13 predates USB by three or four years... ;)

I've used a Belkin F5U119vE1 with the M13, and it worked... note, though. Plug in the mouse FIRST, *THEN* the keyboard.
Title: M13 trackpoint ps2->usb?
Post by: wumpyr on Fri, 23 January 2009, 22:07:54
Ah ok. Y adapter.  For no particular reason I dismissed that option!

I'm off to buy one, thanks.  I looked through the huge amount of computer stuff I have and couldn't find one.  That'd be right.

I did discover in my hunt though 2 original Novell NE1000 BNC ISA network cards, some 5.25 inch floppies (one having the classic Montezuma's Revenge on it), old intel processors such as an 80286-16 and i386 and the chip extractor tools that go with them!
Title: M13 trackpoint ps2->usb?
Post by: wumpyr on Fri, 23 January 2009, 23:33:55
Bought a Y adapter.  Seems to work fine.  Thanks geeks.