USB exception
Date: Jan 9th, 2004 9:47:56 am - Subscribe
Mood: bouncy
I used to hate USB when it first came out for some reason. Maybe because it caused lockups and crashes. The simple installation instructions never seemed to work right. Back in the days of windows 95, which by the way, I have 3 copies laying around available for free to anyone that wants them. They are 150 miles away so immediate delivery is unavailable.
So first I got an USB webcam from earthlink. That crash monkey settled down after my reluctant entry into windows 98. And of course, linux renders it completely useless.
Then came the digital camera, again from earthlink. This however had an optional com port, that I frequently employed. Unfortunately, installing both the still and web camera, proved pointless, since whichever one was installed second thought it was the first one. Afterwards the one previously working would crash.
Then after building my brother his computer, he bought me a printer. Since I was to cheap too buy an IEEE 1284 printer cable, I tried out the USB. It would work great if the steps were followed exactly, and until the USB cable was unplugged and replugged. That would require complicated driver reinstalls. This, on a couple of times, due to inexperience and the pitfalls of windows 98 led to a format and complete overhaul. Eventually, I got an IEEE 1284 printer cable for about a dollar at directron.com via instore pickup and stayed with that until I ran out of ink. So for about two years I have not even bothered to hook up the printer. Now that UTSA is going to start charging, it is time to reinvest in ink cartridges.
One day scanning the hot deals, I noticed I could get a scanner for around fifteen dollars after rebate from staples. I bit and got the Visioneer 8100 USB scanner. It is nice and I usually don't have problems with it. Once again it is the installation that is the culprit of problems. With this toy I am able to switch USB ports without problems. This could be due Windows 2000 I now run. Maybe the printer will do the same on the new platform. Of course with this scanner there is no hope for Linux, due to Visioneer failing to release drivers. I did get the rebate.
Not too long ago I found myself in need of a new keyboard. Hearing rumors of faster response time, I went out to OfficeMax and made the purchase of the cheapest black USB keyboard. It is nice, but I still preferred the custom colored, with dislikeable keys removed, old one. It was, after all an old AT keyboard, my first. With the adapter I was having trouble making it fit in the back. So I made the switch.
The only other original computer part, besides my monitor, (The floppy, I recently tried to give away, so it's no longer in the computer and far from accessible.) was my nice Mouseman Wheel. The presenting problem was the lint and other accumulated garbage began to collect in the ball; clicking and pointer stopping prevailed. I resolved to get an optical mouse. Funny to note that my brother had an optical mouse back around 1989. I wonder where they went for ten years. So I got an USB Logitech MX300 optical mouse for Christmas. I like it's motion, but it is smaller then my Mouseman. It will take getting used to. Companies should make mouses for people that do not have small hands.
So the point is that now my peripherals are almost all USB. The lone exception is my Creative remote control. I see no reason to buy a new remote control until I get my tV tuner, but that will be awhile. From hate to... not hate. I think USB is kind of neat, having all the devices plug into one kind of port.
If you read this far, congratulations. If it was someone else's blog, I wouldn't have.
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