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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: nowsharing on Wed, 31 March 2010, 17:14:54

Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 31 March 2010, 17:14:54
The legendary Blue Cube PS/2 to USB adapter for about $10 shipped worldwide.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330379092620

I think this is the best deal for those of us who live "internationally," please correct me if I'm wrong.  

I'm in Brazil and it arrived rather quickly (3 weeks), with no duties.

edit: Ripster's picture is so much better
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: Rajagra on Wed, 31 March 2010, 22:36:43
I bought mine there, seems to be a good seller.

*Purely for reference* this seller (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250587239544) describes the blue cubes as:
Quote
EAN:      5053952012107
SKU:    AME-5053952012107
Title:    NEWLink USB PS/2 Keyboard Adapter (N01210)
Manufacturer:        NEWLink
Dimension Size:    5.98 x 3.54 x 1.97 Inches
Model Number:    N01210


I don't recall seeing any brand name etc on the one I bought.

EDIT>
Whoa!
Searching on Newlink N01210 got me to:
£1.70 with free postage from amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEWLink-USB-Keyboard-Adapter-N01210/dp/B001GXR72E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270093141&sr=8-3)!!!
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: eunjea on Thu, 01 April 2010, 02:08:12
I found this.
http://www.amazon.com/PS2-Keyboard-To-USB-Adapter/dp/B000BSJFJS/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270099995&sr=8-36
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: Half-Saint on Thu, 01 April 2010, 03:42:40
Nice! I bought a couple from cable*star UK. Usually keep one in my laptop bag all the time, just in case. Should probably stock up on those from amazon while they're cheap :D
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 01 April 2010, 03:46:58
Got two from them, good seller.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: nowsharing on Thu, 01 April 2010, 08:02:20
Quote
Whoa!
Searching on Newlink N01210 got me to:
£1.70 with free postage from amazon UK!!!
That's an incredible price for you Brits, nice find.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: spremino on Thu, 01 April 2010, 08:55:10
AFAIK, this is the most recommended adapter available for Model Ms, isn't it?
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: skcheng on Thu, 01 April 2010, 09:01:52
Quote from: spremino;168625
AFAIK, this is the most recommended adapter available for Model Ms, isn't it?


I think it's the recommended adapter for any PS/2 keyboard.    Supposedly it almost always works.   I just ordered 2 myself from Universal Parts.   $12 for two of them.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 01 April 2010, 10:45:33
Quote from: skcheng;168627
I think it's the recommended adapter for any PS/2 keyboard.    Supposedly it almost always works.   I just ordered 2 myself from Universal Parts.   $12 for two of them.

It spazzes out completely when used with an SGI AT-101 (and presumably the original 'old logo' Dell AT-101 and other Alps-made AT-101s). The Belkin works slightly better with it, but resets a lot, which may make it unsuitable for prolonged use... I haven't used it for long enough with the Belkin to know otherwise.

Everything else should have no problems. And it's much cheaper than the Belkin too.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: brkz on Tue, 06 April 2010, 10:12:06
Quote from: Rajagra;168548


Searching on Newlink N01210 got me to:
£1.70 with free postage from amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEWLink-USB-Keyboard-Adapter-N01210/dp/B001GXR72E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270093141&sr=8-3)!!!


Thanks for heads up on this, picked up one for when The Man comes and takes away ps2 from motherboards.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: kishy on Tue, 06 April 2010, 10:52:49
I WILL find a keyboard the blue cube does not work with. It will happen.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: Rajagra on Tue, 06 April 2010, 14:16:09
Quote from: ripster;170038
He was also the first to rip Floppy drives out of a PC.  Some of the Vintage Folks are STILL pissed about that one.


We aren't pissed about it. We're just pissing ourselves laughing at the fools who choose to do without the utility that floppies provide.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: kishy on Tue, 06 April 2010, 14:19:57
Quote from: Rajagra;170101
We aren't pissed about it. We're just pissing ourselves laughing at the fools who choose to do without the utility that floppies provide.


Something like that...
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: Rajagra on Tue, 06 April 2010, 14:43:37
Hey, I know that sound. It's what I get when I load this image:
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: cryticfarm on Tue, 06 April 2010, 14:53:57
Quote from: ch_123;168660
It spazzes out completely when used with an SGI AT-101 (and presumably the original 'old logo' Dell AT-101 and other Alps-made AT-101s). The Belkin works slightly better with it, but resets a lot, which may make it unsuitable for prolonged use... I haven't used it for long enough with the Belkin to know otherwise.

Everything else should have no problems. And it's much cheaper than the Belkin too.


wait a sec the blue cube doesn't work with the at101?
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 06 April 2010, 14:57:03
You are probably getting the AT-101W.  The "Blue Cube" works with that one.  The AT-101s are fairly rare in comparison to the "W" models.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: cryticfarm on Tue, 06 April 2010, 14:59:47
oh sorry thanks
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 06 April 2010, 15:01:18
No problem.  It can be confusing.  The "W" just signifies that it has Windows keys.
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 06 April 2010, 15:58:28
$10 per cube? Cyberguys sold me three cubes for $21, shipped.

Oops. Was I supposed to remain off topic?
Title: Blue Cube PS/2 to USB Adapters ~$10 shipped worldwide
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 06 April 2010, 16:26:04
Quote from: itlnstln;170122
No problem.  It can be confusing.  The "W" just signifies that it has Windows keys.

Not just that. The AT-101W was made for Dell by Silitek. The AT-101 was by Alps for a bunch of different companies including SGI and Dell. They look somewhat similar but are different internally.

Oh, to add to the confusion, I think Silitek also made an AT-101 which was similar to their later AT-101W but without Windows keys. Just in case you thought there was an easy pattern going on here.