[Coco] MC-11 Status Update

Tue Jul 28 15:23:48 EDT 2015

Hi Mark

the problem is quite simple, most of the interface for old machines only 
works with qwerty keyboard
if you buy one  from amazon.fr you will find a ps/2 azerty keyboard the 
signs on the key does not match the result
if you look for a ps/2 qwerty you find some but most of the time mini 
keyboard so small that it's hell to use
and most of the time badly mapped

if you buy a normal size keyboard most of the time it's  a usb keyboard 
with an adaptator
the adaptator + keyboard is just not working

if you try to buy from amazon.com you will find a nice keyboard + extra 
taxes + transport
the keyboards becomes really expensive and you have a high chance to get 
a usb keyboard
with a non working adapter...  (so I don't take the risk)

that's why I'm building my own keyboard interface. I searched for more 
than a year for a solution
I found one, I'll be able to use an azerty keyboard completely localized 
on my old machines

I'm tired of struggling with these ps/2 keyboard and I would have 
preferred to see a usb
connector on Darren's board.

--
didier

On 28/07/2015 15:34, Mark Marlette wrote:
> What specifically was the issue? Not working in ps/2 mode?
>
>
> Are these dual mode keyboards? USB with maybe ps/2 support?
>
>
> My experience has been zero issues with ps/2 keyboards. Yes there are bad keyboards but never bought a new bad one.
>
>
> I agree with Aaron on usb and ps/2.
>
>
> Getting keys either usb or ps/2 to the coco is easy. Getting them to output any  key press is a bit harder.
>
>
> In the Cloud-9 PS/2 interface both RSDOS and NitrOS-9 tables are fully supported with many macro and pre canned tables as well. Programmable macros of the 12 function keys 50 keys each max.  Both keyboards can be used simultaneously if one prefers.
>
> Regards
>
> Mark
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>
> From:"Didier Derny" <didier at aida.org>
> Date:Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 8:00 AM
> Subject:Re: [Coco] MC-11 Status Update
>
> Frankly after having bought around 10 keyboards most of them not working
> in ps/2 mode
> I took the simplest resolution to never use a ps/2 keyboard again
>
> my apple IIe is using a usb keyboard
> my c64/vic20 have already been connected to a usb keyboard  (even with a
> national keyboard)
> for my coco2/coco3 it's on its way...
>
> I won't buy 10 keyboard again to find a working one (or pay a high price
> for the transport)
> the one I found several years ago [not sold anymore] (it was the
> parallax keyboard for the propeller)
>
> I love national keyboards :)  and my fingers are not fitted for qwerty
> keyboards :)
>
> the usb only allow what was programmed in the chip used for usb
> if you only have HID devices software you won't connect a mass storage
>
>
>
> On 28/07/2015 13:34, Aaron Wolfe wrote:
>> Contact a business equipment/computing supplier. In the US examples are
>> staples, office depot, office max, Ingram micro, CDW, etc.  You probably
>> won't see PS/2 devices in a retail store because its become uncommon for
>> home use, but they all sell them.  PS/2 devices are still used by many
>> companies for security purposes on desktops and especially on servers. A
>> USB port allows many dangerous devices such as portable mass storage, while
>> ps/2 connectors are pretty safe, so it is not uncommon to have usb disabled
>> on company owned computers.  Amazon also carries quite a few, if they
>> deliver to your area.  Not expensive.
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 28, 2015, 3:33 AM Didier Derny <didier at aida.org> wrote:
>>
>>> In my country, if it is still possible to find good ps/2 mouse, qwerty
>>> ps/2 keyboards are not common we have to buy them overseas
>>> most of the keyboard are just usb with a non working usb to ps/2 adapter
>>> and azerty keyboard are not properly decoded
>>>
>>> After having tried to find for my old machine some usb interface I'm
>>> finally building mine
>>>
>>> I would love to buy Darren's Board it looks quite nice but with ps/2 I'm
>>> not so sure to buy one
>>> I love his  cocoSDC and I guess his new board is also very good.
>>>
>>> --
>>> didier
>>>
>>> On 28/07/2015 04:01, Zippster wrote:
>>>> Well, make that over 600.  I guess a lot of those were adapters and
>>> similar.
>>>> - Ed
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 27, 2015, at 8:53 PM, Zippster <zippster278 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Yeah, I think most older USB keyboards will support the adapters.
>>>>>
>>>>> But as Al was indicating, PS2 keyboards are commonplace.  A quick ebay
>>> query turns up
>>>>> over 6,000 listings with a wide variety of prices (starting at almost
>>> nothing) and styles.
>>>>> - Ed
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jul 27, 2015, at 7:51 PM, Steve Batson via Coco <
>>> coco at maltedmedia.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I have some old keyboards around that may work then...I guess I'll
>>> wait and see what the end state of this thing is. I would be fun to use to
>>> build up a system.
>>>>>> On Jul 27, 2015, at 5:25 PM, Al Hartman <alhartman6 at optonline.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> A PS/2 to USB adapter only converts the pin assignments. The keyboard
>>> has to have the circuitry within it to detect that you have attached the
>>> adapter and switch to PS/2 mode.
>>>>>>> That's why these adapters don't work with every keyboard.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There are active adapters that have circuitry, they will cost a bit
>>> more money. But, you can still find PS/2 keyboards if you look on Amazon,
>>> eBay, and elsewhere.
>>>>>>> -[ Al ]-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 5:27 PM, Steve
>>> Batson via Coco wrote:
>>>>>>>> Cool so I suspect that it would work fine with a PS2 to USB adapter.
>>>>>>>> This sounds like a great homebrew computer that you could build up
>>> for all
>>>>>>>> kinds of control projects and things like that
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Coco mailing list
>>>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>>>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Coco mailing list
>>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>> --
>>> Coco mailing list
>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>>
>