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Are USB keyboards more reliable than PS2?
I had a stack of brand new PS2 DEC keyboards, I had most of them fail to be recognised after some use,
but having sat in a cupboard for maybe ten years. Same thing with some new IBM PS2 keyboards.
I have never had a USB keyboard fail.
I ask as I have a lovely compact Cherry PS2 keyboard, bought new 11 years ago, used a couple of times and has
sat on a shelf since. I just realised it's PS2 and is it going to be ok, are PS2 plugs unreliable?
Electrolytic capacitors don't like sitting idle for years, it could be there are some dead caps in there that need replacing.
The PS/2 connector itself is unlikely to give any grief, it's just bits of wire.
Out of necessity I use a PS/2 trackball, and I've found the connector to be a bit delicate. The pins are quite thin, & if you're a bit impatient & don't take care to line them up with the socket, it's easy to bend them. Of course with USB you've got the old 'try it one way, turn it around, try it the other way, & then turn it back around & push it in the first way' routine (unless it's USB-C).Quote:
Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix
Electrolytics, I hadn't thought about them at all. Something to think about if my lovely cherry keyboard doesn't work.
I was wondering about a trackball, the keyboard and mouse are on a pull out shelf on a machine and there is very
little room to wizz about with a mouse. my only experience of a trackball was the little DEC laptops, they had them
and I wasn't a fan. maybe I will try one.