Hello Jean,

  JP> That was a very nice post, Andy.

Thanks.

  JP> No M*c here. But I do use an adapter from USB to DIN for my
    > mouse on a Thinkpad. The mouse is USB into the DIN on the
    > Thinkpad...I have not tested if any other device, USB, could be
    > connected this way. Sorry, yes I did. I connected the USB
    > printer to that DIN socket and it did not work, I guess that it
    > needs a +5v current to work.

That is a different kind of mini-DIN to USB adaptor (I use these too, for
the same reasons that you give).  Mine are small green wedges, about half
the size of a standard pack of gum. One end is a female USB socket that
accepts (and presumably only works with) a USB mouse and the other is a
mini-DIN male that plugs into the computer.  Note that the mini-DIN PS/2
mouse port is a different animal to both the mini- DIN serial port found on
older Macs, and the mini-DIN ADB port used on those older Macs for their
keyboard and mouse. I wouldn't be surprised if similar (purple?) adaptors
were available for connecting a USB keyboard to a PS/2 keyboard port.

  JP> This way, I still have the two USB ports open for other devices,
    > a printer and a card reader.  The best of three worlds !

My (USB equipped) printer is connected via a traditional Centronics
parallel cable. USB devices laying around include a video-conferencing
camera, a flatbed scanner, a 100 Mb Zip drive, a cheap digital still camera
and card readers for Smartmedia and Memory Stick.  These are spread between
several machines though.

- Andy Ball

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