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RSS FeedUSB vs. serial keyboards: Which is better?
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| USB | 74% | 51 votes | Total: 69 votes | |
| Serial | 26% | 18 votes |
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Add to FavoritesSerial Cables have been around since the keyboard and its no surprise USB (Universal Serial Bus) has taken over the market. Its hard to understand how one would think Serial keyboards even close to the ease of install plug-n-play of a USB device.
When USB devices were first introduced the main issue was not all PC's had the appropriate drivers installed and the Internet had yet to auto find anything you needed. As that was years ago that is no longer an issue. Luckily the lifespan of most personal computers is around 4 years and we are well beyond that time span since the USB hit the streets. Current PC's have 6-10 USB ports with some even omitting the Serial attachment altogether. Serial cables have always been too short and with the sole port your options are limited on where to run the cord. USB ports are typically located on all sides of a PC and extenders are a dime a dozen if you look hard enough. Have the USB port in many different location has been a tremendous help in not only install of a new keyboard but for spacing as many computer desks have compartments that make it very difficult to get to the back of the computer as well as feed those wires up to where a keyboard would likely go. Being able to plug directly into the front of a PC has not only solved that issue but made swapping hardware a breeze.
Serial Cables are not completely obsolete. If you still own one and it functions you don't lose any real functionality of basic keyboards. The speed is the same and the quality is no different than the same model with a USB connection. The problem you will find is most of the major brands and newer advances in keyboards will only come with a USB connection. If you tried shopping for a serial Keyboard you options would not only be limited you may not be able to get any of the bells and whistles you were looking for.
One of the biggest advantages of the USB device, specifically keyboards, are they do not need a reboot if something is knocked loose. The old serial port keyboards need a complete shut down and reboot if it is ever unplugged are moved to a new PC. USB keyboards are as easy as Plug i in and start typing, hence the name Plug-N-Play. Wireless technology is also available only through USB devices and can eliminate placement issues altogether.
With technology always getting better why would you want a abacus when yo could have a calculator!
Learn more about this author, B J Abel.
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Serial
As long as your computer has a serial port, there's no reason not to use a serial keyboard. USB keyboards don't have any added benefits over serial keyboards except for the greater prevalence of USB ports on computers than serial ports.
USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is an extremely useful computer hardware/software system that lets you connect almost any device to your computer. The great thing about USB is right in the name - it's universal. That means that instead of having one port for your keyboard, another for your mouse, and a third for your printer (the way it used to be with PS/2 keyboard/mouse connections and LPT1 serial printer connections), you can connect everything using just one type of port. USB is extremely powerful and very useful, which is exactly why you should take advantage of a serial keyboard if you have the option to. Many computers now, especially desktops, have both serial and USB connections. The one problem many people have with USB is just that there are too many things that use it to connect to the computer! This means that there's no space left for a keyboard, especially if you have an unused serial port waiting to be used for your keyboard.
Also, serial keyboards are less expensive and offer all the same functionality, so there's no reason not to buy one. However, there are a few cases in which you would want to use a USB keyboard over a serial one. If you want your keyboard to be wireless, chances are it's going to connect via USB. There are also many gaming and other specialty keyboards that are only available on USB.
For most regular applications, though, using a serial keyboard is easier, cheaper and works just as well. If there's a serial port on your computer waiting to be used, indulge it and plug in your keyboard. The truth is, serial ports are a dying breed. They are slower and far less universal than USB, but while you've got them, you might as well use them. You can always use a USB hub to increase the number of USB ports on your computer, but this causes major lags in performance and slows down your computer quite a bit.
Learn more about this author, Sanjit Datta.
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