I was being obnoxiously retro, and thinking PS/2 rather than USB. If
you have a PS/2 socket, then why not put the mouse there, and free up
the USB load? May avoid some "can't USB from this OS" problems too.
It's kinda amazing that we've had USB for ~8(?) years now and there are
still glitches with it - either devices are intermittently detected,
especially if plugged in permanently, or software which should run in the
background insists on sitting in the taskbar. Makes you think that maybe
there's a err, flaw in the concept??;-)
BTW I have both of the above right now.
USB can charge batteries and power lamps, but when you have "too many"
USB gadgets attached, it's usually a power draw thing. Knowing that
battery chargers are made to budget, and how batteries can pull juice,
we may see adverse effects on other USB devices at times.
There is one interesting device from A4Tech -- one of the few companies
which actually makes keyboards & mice AFAIK -- which uses a USB connection
from a special mousepad to power the mouse inductively:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=26-123-131&depa=0/
I dunno what it is but something makes me feel uncomfortable about this
arrangement... the sort of thing you'd want to at least see and touch
before buying.
OTOH, PS/2 is a drag if you forget to plug in the mouse before power
up (strangely, PS/2 keyboards don't seem to mind)
Used to be that plugging in either would often blow a fuse on the mbrd
IIRC.
Rgds, George Macdonald
"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??