== How my PS/2 to USB conversion issues have shaken out

In [[this entry PS2ToUSBInterestingIssue]], I covered my problems
with trying to find a good PS/2 to USB converter so that I could
keep using [[my favorite keyboard and mice ../linux/HomePeripherals2015]].
Since then I have more or less come up with a solution, although
it's not a complete one.

Based on [[Chris Wage https://twitter.com/cwage]]'s recommendation,
we got a PS/2 to USB converter that's specifically beloved by the
IBM Model M fans. Specifically, the ZioTek 'PS2 Keyboard & Mouse
to USB Adapter'; here is [[its Amazon listing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G7WYZG]] (which is where we
got it). This appears to do an excellent job of converting PS/2
keyboards to USB; I used it for several days on my office machine
without noticing anything different or experiencing any problems.
Unfortunately it's not as good with my PS/2 mouse. Oh, the mouse
works, but it's kind of jerky and stuttery compared to the smooth
pointer movement I get through the PS/2 port. The result is usable
but not pleasant. Fortunately the ZioTek converter can be used with
the keyboard alone.

(As always, one never knows if these things are going to stay in
production and remain unchanged over the long term. Since this
model's cheap, I intend to buy several so I have spares.)

This is not an ideal situation, of course, but I have at least three
options. First, now I only really need a single PS/2 port on any
new machines, for the mouse (although I'd still like two).  Second,
I can try to find a PS/2 to USB converter that handles the mouse
smoothly even if it mangles keyboard input and just use it for my
mouse. And third, I can explore USB mice, either [[the Contour Mouse
http://ergo.contour-design.com/ergonomic-mouse/contour-mouse]] or
(as suggested by a commentator [[here ../linux/HomePeripherals2015]])
a mouse with a side thumb button that I can repurpose as the middle
mouse button. And who knows; by the time I exhaust the first two
options, perhaps someone will be making a genuine three button USB
mouse.

(The tempting crazy option is [[to sail off into the uncertain
waters of mechanical USB keyboards MiniKeyboardContemplation]], or
even that and a Contour Mouse. In a way, it feels like I have
[[computer chair reluctance ../FurnitureThought]] here; it's quite
possible that the results would be clearly better than my current
setup.)

PS: The one thing I haven't tested is how well the ZioTek converter
works in the BIOS during early boot (apparently some USB keyboards
and converters have issues here). On the other hand, Amazon reviewers
seem to have had this work.