Re: Will USB function as a game port


"Jo L" <bdwyjogold@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:5vb3l4lj6l0jf009fitmhuapshtn2deces@xxxxxxxxxx
| On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:08:16 -0600, "Shenan Stanley"
| <newshelper@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
|
| >Jo L wrote:
| >> I have an old Jump Music keyboard new in the box. Jump Music has
| >> long gone out of business. To my surprise, the "learn to play"
| >> software did install on my current laptop running XP-Pro. The
| >> keyboard (requiring no separate power supply) is supposed to
| >> connect to the PC through a "game port" with the fifteen-pin cable
| >> supplied. The problem is that my Dell laptop does not have a
| >> fifteen-pin port to accept the male end of the cable. If I am able
| >> to purchase a cable to connect the keyboard to the USB port, do any
| >> of you have an opinion on whether the USB will operate the same way
| >> as a game port?
| >
| >Anteaus wrote:
| >> Other option is to look for a Soundblaster PCI card on Ebay. Many
| >> of them have a game port.
| >
| >philo wrote:
| >> OP said he has a laptop
| >
| >*** D. wrote:
| >> That makes a difference? <snork>
| >
| >Although, there are laptop *docks* that have PCI slots, I would venture to
| >state that most laptops do not have PCI slots that would work with the
| >suggested solution.
| >
| >So, yes - the fact that the OP has a laptop and has not provided information
| >as to whether or not a docking solution is involved, much less one with an
| >available PCI slot would make a difference whether or not the solution given
| >("... look for a Soundblaster PCI card on Ebay ...") is a viable one or just
| >a shot in the dark.
| >
| >Now - one could expand on that solution with suggestions for
| >PC/PCMCIA/USB/etc solutions - something the OP could come back and provide
| >available specs for said laptop and a viable solution just might be located.
| >Then again - might not. Although I would bet there is some "USB-to-xxxx"
| >device out there. hah
| >
| >--
| >Shenan Stanley
| > MS-MVP
|
|
|
| From OP: This Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop has two USB slots and two
| PCMCIA slots and typical ports for external monitor, keyboard and
| mouse - but no way to connect a PCI Soundblaster card or the existing
| 15-pin cable. I have a docking station but have never had cause to use
| it. In looking at the dock, it has the same ports as the laptop but
| not the game port.
|
| When I first bought the subject piano keyboard, I connected it to a
| very old Dell Latitude LM laptop (which I no longer have) running
| Windows 95 using a matching docking station that did have the
| necessary female 15-pin game port.
|
| In searching Ebay and PC zone, PCMCIA and USB notebook Soundblaster
| devices do not appear to be available with the 15-pin port. Those
| with cables provide accommodation for parallel and serial connections.
|
| I will look further into a PCMCIA solution and will let you all know
| if I find one. Otherwise, I might have to try and purchase a PCI card
| with 15-pin accommodation and see if I can get the keyboard working
| with a desktop PC...or just forget about the piano and maybe take up
| the accordian or bagpipes - ya think?
|
| Jo

Google for "usb to game port" and you will find a lot of adapters.


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