found this ADB switch...is it safe to use

Trash80toG4

Active Tinkerer
Apr 1, 2022
910
260
63
Bermuda Triangle, NC USA
Maybe it was for copy-protection dongles? Weren’t expensive software protected by ADB keys back in the day? I seem to remember it was the reason the Power Mac G3 retained 1 ADB port.
That wouldn't be a use case, dongles are almost invariably pass thru. Can't think for a single reason why a three-way ADB switch for peripherals wouldn't work for using in reverse. Don't think it's theoretically possible to implement ADB so that it's not bi-directional or device independent?

PowerMacs G3 had ADB because USB wasn't introduced until iMac rollout, IIRC. ;)
 

Fizzbinn

Tinkerer
Nov 29, 2021
189
183
43
Charlottesville, VA
That wouldn't be a use case, dongles are almost invariably pass thru. Can't think for a single reason why a three-way ADB switch for peripherals wouldn't work for using in reverse. Don't think it's theoretically possible to implement ADB so that it's not bi-directional or device independent?

PowerMacs G3 had ADB because USB wasn't introduced until iMac rollout, IIRC. ;)

I think they’re talking about the Power Macintosh G3 Blue & White, which had USB but retained ADB as well. Last Mac with ADB I think?
 

retr01

Senior Tinkerer
Jun 6, 2022
2,473
1
793
113
Utah, USA
retr01.com
Ah! Interesting, though implementing only a single ADB port goes all the way back to the x100 NuBus PowerMac generation. So not a sendoff message in the B&W. ;)

:) Thought it was funny, though. In 1999, Apple says to the customer: "Oh, you need ADB? We left one for you. Next time, get a USB keyboard and mouse."