Home > Consumer Reviews > Adesso PS/2 to USB Adapter, connects 2 PS/2 connectors to 1 USB port/hub (ADP-PU21 )

I am using this adapter for connecting a keyboard and a mouse to one of the USB ports of my IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad T43. Without requiring the installation of any drivers, the adapter works under both Linux (Ubuntu Breezy Badger) and Windows XP Professional. From time to time, the LEDs on my keyboard and the light of my optical mouse flicker for a moment, but this does not have any adverse effects on the functionality.

I have a 4 port KVM switch that I use to switch my monitor, keyboard, and mouse between various computers. However, I had no way to attach my Mini Mac to this device since the Mini Mac only has USB ports (no PS2 ports) for mouse and keyboard. I bought this adapter to connect the Mini Mac to the KVM, and it works great!

I have 4 computers connected through a KVM switch, and the newer ones have no PS/2 ports. I've tried virtually all of the available alternatives, and this is the only one which has worked right out of the box with both an HP laptop (Vista) a Dell Desktop (Vista) and a Gateway desktop (XP SP2). The workmanship on other splitters was awful--I returned one of the alternatives you can find on Amazon 3 different times--once the mouse worked, but not the kbd, once the kbd worked but not the mouse. I tried another unit where the kbd and mouse wire had to be swapped, and it stopped functioning in about two weeks. The replacement shipped for that one did not work at all...

This one worked right away on three different machines.

Go buy a cheaper one that you'll have to RMA 2 or 3 times before you give up, convince yourself that I'm right, and then come back and get this one. For the extra $8-$10 this one costs you'll be much happier.

I'm one of those IBM Model-M "clicky keyboard" people. I won't use any keyboard but an IBM Model-M.

Unfortunately, the Model-M keyboard uses a PS/2 connection and does not interface to newer USB only computers.

So, an IBM keyboard user needs a PS/2 to USB adapter.

There are adapters out there which simply cross the wires. These DO NOT work with the Model M.

There are adapters out there with an active controller chip in them which (supposedly) properly converts the PS/2 signal format into USB.

Now, here's the big point... the PS/2 protocol is bi-directional. That is, the keyboard sends signals to the computer, BUT the computer can also send signals to the keyboard (such as "turn on the num lock lamp" or "do a reset").

I've tried every active controller that I could find with my Model M keyboard.

NONE of them sent communications back TO the printer... except the Adesso adapter.

The Adesso adapter sends all data transactions between the keyboard and computer... in both directions.

I was using a different adapter before and had random problems such as no reset (I had to momentarily unplug the keyboard) and the worst problem was multiple keystrokes.

Sometimes it would do thissssssssssssss <- add a bunch of characters that I never typed.

The Adesso adapter doesn't do this. It sends data to the keyboard so that the motherboard can send reset commands to it and prevent lockups.

Bottom line: I've tried ALL of the active adapters with my IBM Model M keyboard and the Adesso adapter is the ONLY ONE that works flawlessly.

If you have a Model M, this is the ONLY adapter you should consider buying.

Adesso PCK-308T keyboard's Glidepoint features work fine with my laptop computer and this adapter, but not on a small Dell Optiplex SX280 at work, which lacks PS-2 ports. The touch-pad scrolling feature is very nice to have, but unfortunately it's not a seamless set of drivers. Adesso probably did not test on a wide range of systems before releasing these products.

I've used several PS/2 to USB adaptors, and noticed no differences from Adesso's.