Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

My new Dell laptop came in.
After making sure the internet worked, I put it and the mouse
from my old computer in my briefcase and put it in the truck.
I have a class with new Kansas police report forms to go to on Wed
and figured I wouldnt put anything in the laptop til then.

Well, I am getting ready at home and decided to do double check everything
before I went to bed. Guess what, on new computers the mouse plugs into the USB? port. (shows the age of my old laptop) It doesnt have the old style mouse plug in. Gonna have to stop at Wally World in the morning on the way to class and get one.

And last but not least, if you are going to use it in your vehicle, make sure to order the cigarette plug in charger when you order the computer. DUH

Funny you mentioned this. I just had my new Dell PC delivered to me on Friday. The mouse and also the keyboard now go into a USB port. When I ordered the computer they told me I would have 6 USB slots, 4 in the back and 2 in the front. I was kind of disappointed to find out that two of them had to be used for the mouse and keyboard.

I have a laptop with Bluetooth. I have a wireless Bluetooth mouse so there is nothing plugged into the USB ports. If your new computers have Bluetooth you may want to consider getting wireless keyboard and mouse for it.

I use a $25 Microsoft USB Optical Mouse. I've had it for like a year and a half, and it's a pretty reliable thing. The top part creaks like an old door now, but it was good for the money.

Just don't use Gateway. The only thing I like from Gateway is their speakers and keyboard that came with my old PC. My dad later gave me his Sony Vaio, but I kept all of my peripherals, and got a USB mouse.

Everything is turning to USB nowadays, and I like it. You can take the USB plug out, and not have to restart the computer for the computer to know it's there. I still use a keyboard with a PS/2 cable though.

Can you not just use the built in mousepad? Or are you doing a presentation in the style of standing up 5 feet away from the computer? If so, invest in a wireless mouse. Back in middle school, they used those. Now they just use remotes that have buttons configured to act as a mouse.

Just don't use Gateway.

That's more of an opinion, i've had a pc from them since '99 and it still runs as fast as when we got it (back when Gateway still had amd processors :D )

Anyways, have you ever thought about getting a usb splitter for the mouse/keyboard?

If this is what you're thinking of
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7334/7334306_sa.jpg

then they have em at best buy for 30 bucks
link: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7334306&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat33400050027&id=1118845445350

Before you mention it, if you have any old (parallel port) printers laying around, chances are your new Dell won't have the ports for it either. It's all going USB.

Before you mention it, if you have any old (parallel port) printers laying around, chances are your new Dell won't have the ports for it either. It's all going USB.Parallel to USB cable. About 6 bucks. No drivers required for 2000 and above. ;)

Funny you mentioned this. I just had my new Dell PC delivered to me on Friday. The mouse and also the keyboard now go into a USB port. When I ordered the computer they told me I would have 6 USB slots, 4 in the back and 2 in the front. I was kind of disappointed to find out that two of them had to be used for the mouse and keyboard.Theoretically, you can have up to 127 devices on a single USB port (daisy chain hubs). You just have to make sure you can POWER them all (USB provides limited power through the bus, but most decent USB hubs can be self-powered).

If you've got a Bluetooth-enabled laptop, follow Valor's suggestion.

Parallel to USB cable. About 6 bucks. No drivers required for 2000 and above. ;)

Yea, the parallel to USB cable normally works. Except with stupid HP Laser Printers who use their own proprietary Centronics connector.

Yea, the parallel to USB cable normally works. Except with stupid HP Laser Printers who use their own proprietary Centronics connector.I have several different models of HP laser printers that work just fine with the particular brand of cable I use.