AKI - ATARI keyboard interface USB/PS2

I'm thinking of adapting my atari 800xl so I can use a usb keyboard .. or a ps2 keyboard. The parts are coming from Lotharek(in Poland) and they are going to cost about $16(ps2) and $33(usb). Shipping for one or the other, or both, is about $17.


This is the usb device


This is the ps2 device

My thoughts:

I saw a short youtube vid on the usb job.
The ps2 option is less expensive and I'm guessing it might be easier.

What are your thoughts?

Have you done this? Have you seen it done?

Thanks for viewing,

Cy

 

Interesting idea @cykurtz. Is there a particular reason you want to use a PC keyboard or is it "just because"?

Personally I like keeping my Atari 8-bits as original as possible apart from new storage solutions like SD cards. Otherwise I would just go for Altirra on my Windows computer instead.

If I was going to do something like this though, I would probably be inclined to go for the USB option simply because it is far easier to get a new USB keyboard these days.

 

By the way, enjoying your contributions to the forums so far

 

My 800xl keyboard is fine except for one key. The semicolon. It 'presses' if I breathe funny

 

Definitely, agreed, Al - keep em coming cykurtz - you're like a breath of fresh air with your posts, buddy