T42 external keyboard question

[Facetious_Nickname]

Sorry if this is a dumb question - is it possible to use an external keyboard with the t-42? I've got an old Model M that would be nice to use, with an old-fashioned 6-pin connector (6-pin mini-DIN is the phrase, I think?). The female on the left rear of the t-42 is close, but not close enough.

Thanks.

[davidspalding]

What you think is a PS/2 connector on the left rear is S-VIDEO; not for keyboards.

Clickykeyboards.com sells a PS/2 (6-pin mini-DIN) to USB adaptor that will handle the power requirements of the old Model M keyboard (which is as much as 100x that of most USB keyboards). I've bought a keyboard and some accessories from him, he's reputable and a pleasure to do business with.

I use a late-model, PS/2 Model M on my MiniDock at work, plugged into the USB adaptor or straight to the MiniDock's PS/2 connection,... and it's splendid. If you're not using a dock, I'd suggest you get a powered USB hub, that way you're not putting the power draw on your mainboard's USB connections. In the last 5ive months, I've heard of 3 T4x's needing planar replacement due to USB burnout.

[gauthier]

Hi,

the left port of your t42 should be the svideo output.

I'm also using an old fashionned model m with included trackpoint, and since I don't have dock or such, I'm using the adaptator found on this page:

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cf ... /id/179740

You should be aware that with ibm tools activated under windows, some key combinations does'nt work as expected:

right ctrl + up, down or left = sound volume
right ctrl + space = REALLY ANNOYING under eclipse = resolution switch
right ctrl + f1 = access ibm

there might be others.

As the question arise, is there a way to set individual speed for multiple pointing devices under windows? I ask this because the trackpoint on my external keyboard is slooooooww.

Thanks

[davidspalding]

The "mouse" control panel pretty much sets all the speeds. Though the Ultranav wizard might boost the sensitivity of your keyboard Trackpoint.

My own solution is to use one or the other ... not Trackpoint + superfast Laser Mouse. In your case, a slower optical or ball mouse would probably match the old Trackpoint speed.

[gauthier]

Hi,

David, I've just checked the fact that internal track(point|pad) sensitivity setting is totally independant with windows standard settings.

But in fact it behave such that windows standard settings is applied to both, and ultranav settings are applied relatively above standard's ones, so you can boost or slow down the internal track(point|pad) as compared to external devices that are only affected by standard settings.

My problem here is that my windows sensitivity settings are all way upward and the trackpoint of the external keyboard still feel too slow.

Does anyone know a way (registry or misc. tool) to increase the standard windows settings range, allowing better settings in my case?

Another thing will be the ability to edit theses settings independantly for each attached pointing device (external mouse + external trackpoint)?

Thanks for your insight!

[davidspalding]

YMMV and probably does. I find that when I plug in a (MS) laser mouse, it skitters very fast all over, until I load an Ultranav Wizard profile I created for "External laser mouse." Now ... I can't rightly remember exactly how I set that up. I think I set both Ultranav controls and MAIN.CPL (Mouse control panel parameters) to the "Goldilocks zone," then captured those settings in UN Wiz.

[davidspalding]

I'm also using an old fashionned model m with included trackpoint, ....

e n v y . . . I like those black ones particularly.

[Facetious_Nickname]

What you think is a PS/2 connector on the left rear is S-VIDEO; not for keyboards.

Clickykeyboards.com sells a PS/2 (6-pin mini-DIN) to USB adaptor that will handle the power requirements of the old Model M keyboard (which is as much as 100x that of most USB keyboards). I've bought a keyboard and some accessories from him, he's reputable and a pleasure to do business with.

I use a late-model, PS/2 Model M on my MiniDock at work, plugged into the USB adaptor or straight to the MiniDock's PS/2 connection,... and it's splendid. If you're not using a dock, I'd suggest you get a powered USB hub, that way you're not putting the power draw on your mainboard's USB connections. In the last 5ive months, I've heard of 3 T4x's needing planar replacement due to USB burnout.

I took your suggestions & picked up the USB adaptor & a little powered USB 4-port hub (D-Link). Very nice. Hmm...wait a sec...you're an anonymous stranger on the internet, weren't you supposed to give me bad advice then steal my identity?

Thanks much...

[christopher_wolf]

I'm also using an old fashionned model m with included trackpoint, ....

e n v y . . . I like those black ones particularly.

I <3 the black Model M

[davidspalding]

Thanks much...

You're welcome, glad my suggestion(s) worked out well for you.