USB vs. legacy

[Sukhoi]

For items like mouse, printer, joystick, etc., is USB or legacy generally a better idea? I've never owned anything USB before, though on my new computer I'll have the opportunity to go all USB. Is that a good idea? I think I remember hearing that USB has higher CPU usage than legacy stuff, but I doubt it would be so popular if it did. Any opinions are welcome.

 

[Colt45]

I personally perfer legacy peripherals.

I might be a tad biased though, seeing as ive never used USB

 

[SUOrangeman]

My current USB devices are:

Keyboard
Mouse
Digital camera
Printer
Scanner
MP3 player
IrDA adapter to sync my Palm
And at least one hub or two somewhere along the way

At one point in time, I had all of these devices (minus one hub) connected to my main PC. Heck, I installed SIX operating systems (WinME, Win2K, WinXP, Linux, FreeBSD, QNX RTP) with said devices connected. Granted, I didn't get all of them working in every OS, but all of the Windows OSes were fine.

The only reason why I don't have all of these deives connected to one system now is beacuse I have set up an XP "server" that allows me to print/scan/play-n-serve-MP3s over my home LAN.

BTW, I plan to go dual Athlon with these components very soon. Should be wickedly fun.

THe key with USB, for me, is hot-plug-ability. I can unplug and replug nearly all of my USB devices without hanging up something.

-SUO

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

USB, definately. Windows will auto detect 99% of the USB devices out there anymore, it seems, and for one, my USB mouse has been much more responsive than say, a PS2. When you use USB for a while it'll spoil ya. The amount of CPU used with a USB peripheral like a mouse or keyboard is so small it makes no difference unless you're on a real slow computer, I guess.

 

[Derango]

<< USB, definately. Windows will auto detect 99% of the USB devices out there anymore, it seems, and for one, my USB mouse has been much more responsive than say, a PS2. When you use USB for a while it'll spoil ya. The amount of CPU used with a USB peripheral like a mouse or keyboard is so small it makes no difference unless you're on a real slow computer, I guess. >>



the MB on my new system (comming this week ) supports 8 USB devices (4 USB 2.0, 4USB1.1). So...I like USB

 

[Sukhoi]

Hmm, USB is sounding good.

One question - are there DOS drivers for USB? Drive Image needs to be run in DOS, and I need a mouse to use it.

 

[DBandit]

what about usb linux support? is it good?

 

[Derango]

<< what about usb linux support? is it good? >>



Mouse and keyboard support is very good. I got my USB printer working once...anything else is probably going to take a little work.

 

[ViRGE]

<< Hmm, USB is sounding good.

One question - are there DOS drivers for USB? Drive Image needs to be run in DOS, and I need a mouse to use it. >>


That's a BIOS thing. Set the BIOS to handle the USB devices(by default, it leaves it up to the OS, which is what you want with Windows), and it will cause DOS to treat it like any other keyboard.

 

[neuralfx]

well as far as working on systems .. All USB boxes are a NIGHTMARE .. I remember those Compaq Breadboxes that were all USB .. Comcraq soon quit making those .. For KB/Mouse I don't see why anyone uses USB unless for the Optical stuff .. but that's just me ..
-neural

 

[NFS4]

<< well as far as working on systems .. All USB boxes are a NIGHTMARE .. I remember those Compaq Breadboxes that were all USB .. Comcraq soon quit making those .. For KB/Mouse I don't see why anyone uses USB unless for the Optical stuff .. but that's just me ..
-neural >>


Whatever! My system is ALL USB with NO legacy devices enabled. No Parallel/Serial/PS2/Floppy. Never had a problem with any of the devices. Everything works perfectly It's time to stop living in the past USB peripherals I use:

Audiovox Maestro PocketPC
PQI SmartMedia/CompactFlash Reader
Planar 18.1" LCD (4-ports on back)
USB 2.0 PCI card (4 ports)
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro
Gravis Xterminator Gamepad
Epson C60 Printer
HP Scanjet 3300C
USB Headset

 

[zemus]

Firm believer in keeping the mouse and keyboard legacy

reason, performance is garenteed with the legacy keyboard and mouse, USB can not garentee this when having to share with other devices

for everything else, USB is definatly the way to go though. Well except sound, thats just plain dumb.