2 keyboards 1 PC
 

I'm trying to get my son to make some use of the pc, but I have an ergonomic keyboard, which I don't think is ideal for him to learn on.

So I want to get him one of these : http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=697148

so what I'm looking for is a splitter that let me connect both keyboards to the pc, and let me switch between the 2 - I don't need something fancy like the belkin one that lets you run both at the same time - I just want a physical switch that will let me swap them over, without unplugging.

Anyone know where I can get them from?

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

just use it as usb will just work (had to add a bit cuz i left my post half finished)

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

If they are both USB, just plug them into two slots (or a usb hub). Windows supports multiple keyboards and mice.

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

ah, ok - I didn't know that - you learn something new every day.

I'll use that as a last resort, but I'd prefer something that would 'turn off' the other keyboard - so that it can't be used accidentally whilst the main one is being used

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

Have you got a front USB slot on your PC? If so, just plug the kiddy-keyboard in when you want to use it, & unplug it when you don't. The first time you plug it in it might want you to install a driver for it [though with a keyboard that basic I doubt it], but after that you can plug it in or unplug it as & when necessary; it's not like using a PS2 port [little round 1], where you're supposed to shut down the PC before connecting/disconnecting a keyboard.

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

How old is your little one Mr L_M?? Is he of an age where the 'function' buttons might get used? Cos that keyboard doesn't seem to have any :confused:

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

nah, he's 3 - so it's very basic usage - just some educational games, java development and so on :)

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

Search for a "USB Switch" like this on eBay
The multi-function USB 2.0 share switch allows you to share either up to 4 devices with 1 computer or 1 device with up to 4 computers. A common use for this item would be to share a USB printer between 2 computers.

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

Why not just unplug the keyboard when not in use and put it out of harm's way - if you're worried about your PC's USB ports getting abuse, get a cheap hub?

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

a ) 'cos I don't want to be going under the desk plugging/unplugging things - (little) monkey see - (little) monkey do - I've got enough problems with him turning the pcs on and off because that's what he sees daddy doing - so the least playing around the better

b ) anything that involves plugging/unplugging anything will put my wife off doing it for him - although my wife works in IT, she's a technophobe - to the extent where when she got her first pc, her sister (an accountant) had to put it together for her... (and by 'together' I mean plugging in the mouse & keyboard and so on...)

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

LOL, sounds a bit like Dilli's son, who was rather technologically precocious at that age. :)

Bit of an odd career choice then. :confused:

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

Yeah I was just thinking that myself :erm:

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

Have you got any that you can recommend (educational games)

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

I like that keyboard, I'm going to get one I love the colours and the big buttons.:D:D:D Well I do have finger like telegraph poles.

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

As do I :) Could do with a 1.5x size normal keyboard to stop "mashing"

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

You can disable the keyboard in Device Manager (CP, System, Hardware, Device Manager, Keyboard) can't you?

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

Yeah, well she just sees it as a job, goes in, programs, goes home - and has no interest in anything like that when she leaves?

He's quite partial to Doom :) (joke)
I'm not sure whether recommendations are any good - we've got him some Bob the Builder one, some Thomas the Tank engine ones and some Noddy ones - becasue these are the things that he likes, so it's easier to engage him with those ? - best advice I can see is try and get a game that involves a character that your child(ren) like?

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

I can highly recommend this one...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hasbro-Plays.../dp/B00004UA6R

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/11/28.jpg

The cash register sits on top of the keyboard and clips into place, and then the child uses the big buttons, barcode reader thingy, credit card swipey thingy, cash drawer, etc... The games themselves are of a good quality and are fun to play.

Have a look on ebay for them, as they're sometimes on there and they go for a lot less than the price on Amazon. I think we still have ours in the attic... might try and dig it out one day.

Playskool also do some other ones of a similar nature... a kitchen for girls and a Tonka one for boys - so you can instill some political uncorrectness in them from a young age :)

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

The playhouse disney site is very good, structured, regular updates and a subsite where you can see what different activites your child is doing on the computer.
Don't know if it is accessible from the UK but over here it is a $50 a year subscription which is worth the money IMHO.
http://playhouse.go.com/v1/marketing/
And it has Agnes DiPesto (well Allyce Beasley) doing the voiceovers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyce_Beasley

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

So the long and the short of it is, that this isn't possible without a big chunky usb box - oh well

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

so your case does not have front usb? you can get extensions which will sit from the back of your pc and just leave a cable so in short no you dont need a big clunky box you either plug the keyboard into a front port or plug it into an extension and bite the bullet and remove the young ones keyboard when not needed this to me is hardly a hardship and your just trying to make life difficult for yourself ;)

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

They do make small dainty ones, as Bob explains: http://www.usbswitch.com/index.html

Re: 2 keyboards 1 PC
 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311272

You have to find the ID of the device but then you can enable disable it from the command line...

Back before bootcamp properly supported macbooks I used this to switch the speakers off when I put headphones in my macbook (you used to have to change a reg entry and disable/re-enable the soundboard :Yikes:)

Anyway that got pretty tedious pretty quickly so I wrote a couple cmd scripts to enable/disable the device and load the appropriate .reg file.

Should be easy enough to put the command in a script then shortcut it to an icon on the desktop to run it.

Could have a couple icons, Keyboard ON, Keyboard OFF each to pass the appropriate command to devcon to enable/disable it :)