Whadya think of Abit's upcoming max motherboards?
 

I think that they look interesting. Abit is goint to be producing "MAX" motherboards for both AMD and Intel platforms that have no legacy ports, meaning they have no PS/2 and serial ports (I don't know about parallel). To compensate, the mobos will have more USB ports and appear to have firewire. My next box will be a gaming/multimedia box, so I wouldn't mind more USB ports standard. I think what the motherboard's success will rely on is if the mobos have any USB problems (high fsb, booting, etc.).

<edit> Link: http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjs...en_0203131.htm </edit>

I wonder why I've always bought an Abit board :D

But ATA133, is just a gimic.... The real deal will happen when Serial ATA comes out... That is when life will get interesting.

Hmmm. I kinda like it. I mean I don't use any PS/2, serial, or parallel devices right now. I have a USB printer, a USB wireless keyboard/mouse, etc. That's the only HUGE difference I see w/ that motherboard vs. the others. The sound, LAN, etc is just more integration that all the vendors are doing.
-Kev

Too bad Acer and other OEM's did this a while ago (1997?).

I KNOW acer did it, because I had a customer bring me her computer to fix the CD rom... and I had no where to plug my kvm into :( I had to go out and get a cheapo USB keyboard, because I promissed to deliver it to her that evening....

I think legacy PS/2 ports are a good idea. Even Windows XP doesn't load USB devices in safe mode, and my bios doesn't recognise USB keyboards either. I have my USB mouse and keyboard attatched to PS/2 ports through the included dongles for that and stability.

Edward

I dont see the point in making a legacy-free mobo. i mean do the ps2 ports bother anyone? I mean its not like you will get conflicts if you want to use a USB keyboard and have an empty ps2 port. many people use legacy ports(including me), and if you dont want to, theres no reason that you cant use a regular mobo with legacy ports and just leave them blank.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/images/2002-03/at7.jpg


personally I don't have any issues with it, I like all the features, I wouldn't miss the pci slots or old style ports, and most importantly I hope the board oc's like hell. remember when the imac was introduced, it had usb only, not many people liked it at first, but now everyone has usb products, and it's completely acceptable

I have Win XP Pro and my Logitech Wireless mouse works in safe mode. It is USB. But I don't think my Nomad Jukebox works in safe mode so mebbe it just loads keys/mice?

-Kev

Wierd maybe my comp just doesn't like my mouse and keybaord :( logitec too.

Edward