The availability of a PS2 port with supporting software capability can make this process much, much easier. This capability is often overlooked in the initial purchase of a scale, because the user does not always foresee the need for manually entering alphanumeric characters. A scale without PS2 capability can be a large enough liability that the user will eventually be forced to purchase a new scale with the capability.
A classic illustration of the need for this capability is a prescription scale where the pharmacy decides that it wants to enter the drug name along with the NDC code number. Entering the numbers may be easy and straightforward; however, entering the drug names would so cumbersome and daunting a task that it would require the purchase of a new scale with PS2 capacity.
One of the penalties that the user must pay for adding the keyboard is increasing the footprint size for the device. To this end, there are miniature keyboards that may well provide the total capability required with a much smaller footprint. For instance, many applications do not require the numeric keypad, which represents a fair amount of the space on a computer keyboard.
The term “PS2” as used here also includes the modern USB port. The USB port has almost entirely replaced the PS2 port as the keyboard port of choice. Either of these ports work, provided that the proper software will allow the connection of a keyboard. Manufacturers such as Torbal offer a miniature slim keyboard expressly for this purpose. There are many such devices in the marketplace and usually available wherever computers are sold. If the keyboard is to be used where chemicals and other powdered substances are to be weighed, it would be wise to choose a membrane keyboard which is inherently sealed to dust and water.