Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On Fri, 2008-02-15 at 12:09 +0930, Iain Buchanan wrote: On Thu, 2008-02-14 at 20:21 -0500, David Relson wrote: On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:29:58 + Mike Williams wrote: On Thursday 14 February 2008 22:58:13 David Relson wrote: Have you thought about a PS/2 to USB adapter? I'm presently using a PS/2 keyboard _and_ a PS/2 mouse connected to a single USB port (with a Y adapter -- dual PS/2 inputs and USB output). D'you know what, I didn't even realise such a thing existed! I've probably got dozens of USB to PS2 adaptors, and never imagined the opposite. A dual PS2 to USB could well do the trick, and my local Maplin have some in stock, a bit pricey but the company will pay. Here in Michigan they seem a bit pricey, as well. A single PS/2 to USB adapter is a few dollars but the dual PS/2 to USB Y adapter is $16.00 (or worse). I had hoped to use one with my PS/2 only KVM but the combo doesn't work. I suspect the issue is with the KVM as I have 2 different Y adapters and neither works. Sigh :- The Dell business models (precision) docking stations have 2 PS2 ports. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DELL-Dock-Station-PR01X-LATITUDE-INSPIRON-FREE-DELIVERY_W0QQitemZ320215888408QQihZ011QQcategoryZ3709QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem A docking station would be an excellent idea if you need the peripherals to work without fussing with cables. If/when you do need to pick it up to move / replace something, you don't need to worry about unplugging replugging 6 different cables in the right spots... You can even tie / screw the docking station down (or get one of those D-View laptop stands) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Dell-D-View-Laptop-Stand-NEW_W0QQitemZ200199102199QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3708QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem sorry about the ebay links, but dell of course doesn't list these things in their products page... -- If you buy a docking station, double check what kind of AC-adapter you use. A PA-12 (65W) is not powerful enough to supply a docking station. You'll need a PA-10. Some notebooks are shipped with a PA-10, some with a PA-12 with no apparent system. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part
OT: Cheap PS2/USB keyboard/mouse adaptors. WAS: Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On 15 Feb 2008, at 01:21, David Relson wrote: ... Here in Michigan they seem a bit pricey, as well. A single PS/2 to USB adapter is a few dollars but the dual PS/2 to USB Y adapter is $16.00 (or worse). I had hoped to use one with my PS/2 only KVM but the combo doesn't work. I suspect the issue is with the KVM as I have 2 different Y adapters and neither works. Sigh :- Here are these cables for only $5 delivered (worldwide): http://ledshoppe.com/Product/com/CA4036.htm I have used Ye Olde Ledde Shoppe on a number of occasions and have been very happy with their service. A delivery failed to arrive once I contacted CCnow (the payments processor) and the purchase price was refunded immediately; a replacement order I made with Ledde Shoppe arrived a few days later. These Y-cables are supposed to work with KVMs, but I have only had my KVM a couple of weeks, so haven't gotten around yet to testing thoroughly. My KVM is (apparently) PS2 only, but it does have a PS2 / USB keyboard setting in the configuration menus, so it might be worth playing with that if yours is the same. Stroller. -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
Re: OT: Cheap PS2/USB keyboard/mouse adaptors. WAS: Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:45:58 + Stroller wrote: On 15 Feb 2008, at 01:21, David Relson wrote: ... Here in Michigan they seem a bit pricey, as well. A single PS/2 to USB adapter is a few dollars but the dual PS/2 to USB Y adapter is $16.00 (or worse). I had hoped to use one with my PS/2 only KVM but the combo doesn't work. I suspect the issue is with the KVM as I have 2 different Y adapters and neither works. Sigh :- Here are these cables for only $5 delivered (worldwide): http://ledshoppe.com/Product/com/CA4036.htm I have used Ye Olde Ledde Shoppe on a number of occasions and have been very happy with their service. A delivery failed to arrive once I contacted CCnow (the payments processor) and the purchase price was refunded immediately; a replacement order I made with Ledde Shoppe arrived a few days later. These Y-cables are supposed to work with KVMs, but I have only had my KVM a couple of weeks, so haven't gotten around yet to testing thoroughly. My KVM is (apparently) PS2 only, but it does have a PS2 / USB keyboard setting in the configuration menus, so it might be worth playing with that if yours is the same. Stroller. I'm willing to gamble $5 on a company I've never heard of. If it works with my KVM it'll be great (and I'll be able to return the $16 cable that doesn't work). Even if it just works with my keyboard and mouse I'll be able to return the cable. How can I lose??? David -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
[gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
Hey all, I need a laptop. But the requirements are slightly odd. This is for a machine to stay in our colo cage for use as a barcode scanner, serial interface, basic GUI, and ssh server management console, etc. It needs to have USB for an eToken, PS2 for a barcode scanner, serial to manage PDUs KVM etc, on-board ethernet, and not be flimsy, big, or expensive. Obviously we can easily get a USB to serial adapter, meaning we'd need at least 2 USB ports, but a PS2 keyboard port seems a rarity now-a-days. Battery life isn't really important. Doesn't need to be a properly ruggadized, just sturdy. 15 or so screen, with a decent resolution to fit webpages and OO documents etc, 17 is too big. 512-1G of ram, so-so CPU (this P4M 1.8 I'm using is way more than powerful enough). Can anyone recommend a laptop that does all these things, runs Linux happily (Gentoo of course), and isn't a Thinkpad (I was forced to use one a few years ago, and hated it). Thanks -- Mike Williams -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:14:58 + Mike Williams wrote: Hey all, I need a laptop. But the requirements are slightly odd. This is for a machine to stay in our colo cage for use as a barcode scanner, serial interface, basic GUI, and ssh server management console, etc. It needs to have USB for an eToken, PS2 for a barcode scanner, serial to manage PDUs KVM etc, on-board ethernet, and not be flimsy, big, or expensive. Obviously we can easily get a USB to serial adapter, meaning we'd need at least 2 USB ports, but a PS2 keyboard port seems a rarity now-a-days. Battery life isn't really important. Doesn't need to be a properly ruggadized, just sturdy. 15 or so screen, with a decent resolution to fit webpages and OO documents etc, 17 is too big. 512-1G of ram, so-so CPU (this P4M 1.8 I'm using is way more than powerful enough). Can anyone recommend a laptop that does all these things, runs Linux happily (Gentoo of course), and isn't a Thinkpad (I was forced to use one a few years ago, and hated it). Have you thought about a PS/2 to USB adapter? I'm presently using a PS/2 keyboard _and_ a PS/2 mouse connected to a single USB port (with a Y adapter -- dual PS/2 inputs and USB output). Also a USB hub might work to connect multiple USB devices to a single port. HTH, David -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On Thursday 14 February 2008 22:58:13 David Relson wrote: Have you thought about a PS/2 to USB adapter? I'm presently using a PS/2 keyboard _and_ a PS/2 mouse connected to a single USB port (with a Y adapter -- dual PS/2 inputs and USB output). D'you know what, I didn't even realise such a thing existed! I've probably got dozens of USB to PS2 adaptors, and never imagined the opposite. A dual PS2 to USB could well do the trick, and my local Maplin have some in stock, a bit pricey but the company will pay. Thanks very much. -- Mike Williams -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
RE: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
Obviously we can easily get a USB to serial adapter You can still get laptops with real serial ports (HP sell them). You might want to investigate whether you can manipulate the USB serial adapter to your requirements. I tried once with setserial and it didn't work - I havent had time to look into it further (potentially driver dependent??). Minicom works fine for configuring routers/unix boxes however. absydos adam # file /dev/ttyUSB0 /dev/ttyUSB0: character special (188/0) absydos adam # setserial /dev/ttyUSB0 Cannot get serial info: Invalid argument -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:29:58 + Mike Williams wrote: On Thursday 14 February 2008 22:58:13 David Relson wrote: Have you thought about a PS/2 to USB adapter? I'm presently using a PS/2 keyboard _and_ a PS/2 mouse connected to a single USB port (with a Y adapter -- dual PS/2 inputs and USB output). D'you know what, I didn't even realise such a thing existed! I've probably got dozens of USB to PS2 adaptors, and never imagined the opposite. A dual PS2 to USB could well do the trick, and my local Maplin have some in stock, a bit pricey but the company will pay. Here in Michigan they seem a bit pricey, as well. A single PS/2 to USB adapter is a few dollars but the dual PS/2 to USB Y adapter is $16.00 (or worse). I had hoped to use one with my PS/2 only KVM but the combo doesn't work. I suspect the issue is with the KVM as I have 2 different Y adapters and neither works. Sigh :- -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] slightly OT, laptop for gentoo
On Thu, 2008-02-14 at 20:21 -0500, David Relson wrote: On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:29:58 + Mike Williams wrote: On Thursday 14 February 2008 22:58:13 David Relson wrote: Have you thought about a PS/2 to USB adapter? I'm presently using a PS/2 keyboard _and_ a PS/2 mouse connected to a single USB port (with a Y adapter -- dual PS/2 inputs and USB output). D'you know what, I didn't even realise such a thing existed! I've probably got dozens of USB to PS2 adaptors, and never imagined the opposite. A dual PS2 to USB could well do the trick, and my local Maplin have some in stock, a bit pricey but the company will pay. Here in Michigan they seem a bit pricey, as well. A single PS/2 to USB adapter is a few dollars but the dual PS/2 to USB Y adapter is $16.00 (or worse). I had hoped to use one with my PS/2 only KVM but the combo doesn't work. I suspect the issue is with the KVM as I have 2 different Y adapters and neither works. Sigh :- The Dell business models (precision) docking stations have 2 PS2 ports. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DELL-Dock-Station-PR01X-LATITUDE-INSPIRON-FREE-DELIVERY_W0QQitemZ320215888408QQihZ011QQcategoryZ3709QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem A docking station would be an excellent idea if you need the peripherals to work without fussing with cables. If/when you do need to pick it up to move / replace something, you don't need to worry about unplugging replugging 6 different cables in the right spots... You can even tie / screw the docking station down (or get one of those D-View laptop stands) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Dell-D-View-Laptop-Stand-NEW_W0QQitemZ200199102199QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3708QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem sorry about the ebay links, but dell of course doesn't list these things in their products page... -- Iain Buchanan iaindb at netspace dot net dot au The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but That's funny ... -- Isaac Asimov -- gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org mailing list
