Trade-off?


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Posted by Mojo2000 on 10, 2001 at 1:03 PM:

In Reply to: All I need is ESC? posted by Deefish on 10, 2001 at 12:31 PM:

: I just want to wire one button on my MAME machine to the escape key on the keyboard. I looked inside it and it has that matrix type membrane. How can I do this without spending alot on a Ipac or Ke72 or some such device to interface with the keyboard. I am looking for the easiest solution for a novice.

A couple of thoughts.

1. I don't particularly think hacking keyboards is easy per se. IMHO, it's the kind of thing you do if you REALLY REALLY badly want to save money AND you have a lot of patience and time. Or you're really clever.

2. You can spend a LOT on a Hagstrom KE-72, or you can spend a quite reasonable (IMHO) amount on an I-Pac. When was the last time you checked www.ultimarc.com on the latest price for an I-Pac? Especially in comparison to a KE-72?

3. EASIEST != cheapest. Or in BASIC: Easiest <> cheapest. There is always a tradeoff. I-Pac is DA BOMB if you want ease. With an I-Pac you don't even need a separate ESC button if you don't want one! That encoder allows "shift" keys to allow dual functions for each button - for example, MAME maintenance and control etc.

You can still explore the BYOAC website for loads of examples in keyboard hacking if you really want. But it's up to you to figure out whether the keyboard you have hacked is going to be an "easy" job.


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