[trekiej]

You have to worry about keyboard and mouse compatibility if you buy one of the older systems. IIRC, the Personal Iris and Iris Indigo use proprietary keyboards and mice.

Thanks, that helps a lot.

[jan-jaap]

You have to worry about keyboard and mouse compatibility if you buy one of the older systems. IIRC, the Personal Iris and Iris Indigo use proprietary keyboards and mice.

Correct, the older systems (Professional IRIS, PowerSeries, Crimson, Onyx, Personal IRIS and Indigo) used serial keyboards with DB9, DB15 or mini-DIN connectors. That last one is tricky because it *looks* like a PS/2 connector but it isn't. Magic smoke will escape if you attach a PS/2 keyboard to an Indigo or Onyx. Their keyboards can be recognized because the cable is separate, and the mouse attaches to the keyboard with a short ( ~ 50cm) cable rather than with the standard 6ft cable directly to the system itself. When in doubt google the part numbers on the keyboard/mouse before using them.

The pre-PS/2 keyboards and mice are interchangeable: you can use the keyboard and mouse of an Indigo (mini-DIN) with a PowerSeries (DB15) or vice versa if you have the right adapter cable. I do this all the time because I dislike the older optical mice (the ones that need the reflective metal mouse pad with the grid)

[trekiej]

You have to worry about keyboard and mouse compatibility if you buy one of the older systems. IIRC, the Personal Iris and Iris Indigo use proprietary keyboards and mice.

Correct, the older systems (Professional IRIS, PowerSeries, Crimson, Onyx, Personal IRIS and Indigo) used serial keyboards with DB9, DB15 or mini-DIN connectors. That last one is tricky because it *looks* like a PS/2 connector but it isn't. Magic smoke will escape if you attach a PS/2 keyboard to an Indigo or Onyx. Their keyboards can be recognized because the cable is separate, and the mouse attaches to the keyboard with a short ( ~ 50cm) cable rather than with the standard 6ft cable directly to the system itself. When in doubt google the part numbers on the keyboard/mouse before using them.

The pre-PS/2 keyboards and mice are interchangeable: you can use the keyboard and mouse of an Indigo (mini-DIN) with a PowerSeries (DB15) or vice versa if you have the right adapter cable. I do this all the time because I dislike the older optical mice (the ones that need the reflective metal mouse pad with the grid)

Ugh, sounds tricky.
Edit:
I will be happy to stop by here to get help before I start.

[thunderbird32]

If you happen to get an older system, I know DrakWare makes a USB to Indigo converter. It's only advertised as being for the Indigo and Onyx, but I suspect it would work fine with any of the pre-PS/2 systems. I use his Sun to USB converter to use my Sun Type 5c with my work machine, and it works great. He also sells NeXT Soundbox clones (ADB and non-ADB) as well, which is really cool as those are getting quite rare. No actual sound though, they just work as I/O boxes. :(

[ColanderCombo]

The pre-PS/2 keyboards and mice are interchangeable: you can use the keyboard and mouse of an Indigo (mini-DIN) with a PowerSeries (DB15) or vice versa if you have the right adapter cable. I do this all the time because I dislike the older optical mice (the ones that need the reflective metal mouse pad with the grid)

Speaking of that does anyone know a good source for DB15->miniDIN adapters suitable for using an indigo style cable with a PowerSeries/Crimson? My naive searches haven't turned up anything yet. Am I best just making my own?

[trekiej]

If you happen to get an older system, I know DrakWare makes a USB to Indigo converter. It's only advertised as being for the Indigo and Onyx, but I suspect it would work fine with any of the pre-PS/2 systems. I use his Sun to USB converter to use my Sun Type 5c with my work machine, and it works great. He also sells NeXT Soundbox clones (ADB and non-ADB) as well, which is really cool as those are getting quite rare. No actual sound though, they just work as I/O boxes. :(

Thanks for the link.

[trekiej]

If you happen to get an older system, I know DrakWare makes a USB to Indigo converter. It's only advertised as being for the Indigo and Onyx, but I suspect it would work fine with any of the pre-PS/2 systems. I use his Sun to USB converter to use my Sun Type 5c with my work machine, and it works great. He also sells NeXT Soundbox clones (ADB and non-ADB) as well, which is really cool as those are getting quite rare. No actual sound though, they just work as I/O boxes. :(

Thanks for the link.

Looks like I will have to wait before I can buy a system.
It may be January or after. bummer.