Posted by Retrocactus on January 18, 2002 at 12:59:37:
In Reply to: I-Pac or keyboard hack? Newbie help sought posted by guy manley on January 18, 2002 at 12:15:49:
: 1. Are there disadvantages to keyboard-hacks (not counting ghosting)? Would it be less versatile?
Try playing a two player SFII game with a keyboard and see what happens when you try to do all your combos at the same time...too many keys pressed and you get your butt kicked.
: 2. Are there real advantages to USB connections, because a USB keyboard isn't much less than a USB I-Pac. But, if ps2 is sufficient, why drop coin on either?
USB Keyboard and USB I-pac are about the same price except you won't have to spend hours soldering the connections on the keyboard if you get an Ipac
: 3. If I choose to expand in future (swappable panels, etc...) will I run into trouble w/ the keyboard?
Depending on how you connect the buttons to the keyboard (or Ipac) you shouldn't have any different issues with either if you plan on building swappable panels - choose a cable format (ehternet, printer, whatever cable you have m/f connectors for and enough connections) and make a connector that is wired to the keyboard or ipac and separately wire the panels that contians the buttons/joysticks that will connect to the keyboard/ipac connection. There are other threads here on this topic so I won't get too into it.
Bottom line, go with an Ipac or similar encoder instead of the hassle of a keyboard hack. Unless you really want to learn how to solder and potentially wreck a few keyboards in the process, stay away from a keyboard hack.