T21 and USB Keyboard - not compatible?

[marcdw]

I was looking for an inexpensive keyboard to pickup locally
and came across the Logitech Classic Keyboard 200.
Simple and small for under $20. USB.

I attached it to the Dock II and then discovered that it's not
usable until Windows loads thus it's no good for getting into
the BIOS or selecting an OS in the grub boot menu.

Is this a normal thing with USB keyboards and the T21?
The keyboard I replaced, a tiny Sejin brand, was PS/2 and
worked fine.

This Logitech keyboard is available in PS/2 at their website
but not at the store around the corner. I reckon if I wind up
having to order something I'll just get an IBM from eBay.

Marc

[SMA]

With a T21 and a Logitech Ultra-Flat Keyboard I just reproduced the scenario described.
So that will have to be how it works.
Also tried the same usb keyboard with an usb to ps2 adapter and attached it to the ps2 port on a port replicator.
It did not work either.
Tried with an old ibm ps2 keyboard, and that worked.

[marcdw]

I wound up getting the IBM SK-8811/32P5000 off of eBay.
I like fairly small keyboards and this one is semi-compact
at 16" across.
I believe these were included with some NetVista machines.

Key feel leaves a lot to be desired though.

What I need to know though is what are the two keys
above the left and right arrow keys?
Looks like a picture of a document with one left arrow
and one right arrow.

Haven't really figured out what they do but right at this
moment while typing I pressed the left button and the
browser went back a page. Pressed the right button and
it went forward.
So at least as far as this browser is concerned (SlimBrowser,
Trident-based) it's the back/forward function.
Elsewhere I'd have to experiment.

I went searching to see if there were any drivers but
came up empty.

Also, I'm trying to find a keyboard utility similar to the UNIX
xkeycaps where I can remap some keys (not macro stuff).
I have two, KeyTweak and RemapKey (from Win Resource Kit)
but neither have the feature of showing me what keys I'm
pressing on the keyboard (visual feedback).
I reckon a keyboard tester really.
I did have one but it expired long ago. Most I've come across
are time-limited shareware.

Hmm, should I put this in a general hardware forum?

Marc

[rkawakami]

Browser forward and back keys are exactly what they seem to be. They were not available with the T2x systems but started to appear on later machines.

Can't recommend any keyboard remapping utility but if you need a keyboard diagnostic, the only one I know of that provides the visual feedback you want, and is free, would be PC Doctor for DOS. You can download a copy of the three diskette version for the T2x systems from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4YZM3F

or grab an .ISO image which can be burned onto a CD from here:

http://www.kawakami-ca.com/ibm_t2x/ibm_t22_pcdiag.iso

You boot the system with the diskettes or CD and select the Interactive menu. There's a keyboard test there. Don't know if it works on a PS/2 connected keyboard though.... and it won't be able to check/verify the two browser keys since that was not available with the T2x systems.

[marcdw]

Thanks.
I've been meaning to grab that .ISO image for some
time. No floppies on my T21 'cept for a USB.