From - Fri Sep 5 22:33:15 1997 Path: netaxs.com!news-out.microserve.net!news-in.microserve.net!zdc-e!super.zippo.com!lotsanews.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!www.nntp.primenet.com!globalcenter1!news.primenet.com!bpvh From: bpvh@primenet.com (Bradley P. Von Haden) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Apple IIgs compatible Mac ADB mice, trackballs and other devices Date: 5 Sep 1997 17:48:00 -0700 Organization: Primenet (602)416-7000 Lines: 218 Message-ID: <5uq980$mvb@nntp02.primenet.com> X-Posted-By: bpvh@206.165.6.202 (bpvh) Xref: netaxs.com comp.sys.apple2:121896 The Apple IIgs can use some Mac ADB mice, trackballs, touchpads and miscellaneous other ADB devices (note: there is a separate list for keyboards). The following ADB devices work with the Apple IIgs. 'Reviews', where available, are included. These reviews, solicited or found in the online world, are used only with the permission of their authors. Additions, corrections and reviews (hint, hint - positive, negative, different, etc) are encouraged. Last updated: 05 Sep 1997 Some ADB mice that work on a IIgs: Apple ADB mice Interex Ergonomic Interex Mac-100A Interex Mac-180 Jameco Mac Mouse (P/N 119327) LogicTech 3 button MouseMan (M/N M-AC13-4MD) - Review MicroTrac Mouse Systems Optical ADB Mouse Mouse Systems Optical ADB Little Mouse - Review NeXT ADB Precision Instruments - Review Sun Mouse Some ADB trackballs that work: CH Products RollerMouse Identity Systems Technology Mac Compatible Trackball Interex Mac-200 Mac Compatible Trackball Kensington TurboMouse ADB (old) Kensington TurboMouse ADB v3.0 [note: later versions NOT IIgs compatible] Logitech Trackman Marble for Macintosh (P/N 804219-0000) - Review MicroSpeed Trackball for Mac ADB MicroSpeed MicroTRAC Trackball - Review Precision Instruments Macintosh ADB Trackball - Review Other ADB devices that work: Cirque Glidepoint touchpad Touche Technologies TouchPad - Review Electric Crayon (Quality Computer) Mice Reviews: LogicTech 3 button MouseMan (M/N M-AC13-4MD) (Made in Ireland) [Tony Cianfaglione] I use a Logitech ADB three button mouse with my GS and all three buttons function well. The left button selects the item, the middle button scrolls left or up and the right button scrolls down and right among the GS desktop items such as Finder lists or lists of items in programs such as Print Shop GS and Appleworks GS. The two scrolling buttons also work on any GS finder list. It comes in extremely handy when scrolling through subdirectories containing hundreds of files. You can scroll a lot faster and with much more precision that you can by using the up or down scroll buttons within the window itself. My GS is accelerated to 13.75 mhz and the scroll function is fantastic. The 3 button mouse is the way to go as far as I'm concerned. Mouse Systems ADB Little Mouse (M/N 403323-001) [Don V. Zahniser] An optical mouse that is slightly smaller than the standard Apple mouse. The mouse button is larger than that of the Apple mouse, covering about the front 1/3 of the mouse body. Switch action is more sensitive than the Apple mouse. Comes with a metal mousepad with an imprinted pattern that the mouse responds to. Felt strips on the bottom of the mouse make it self-cleaning. 'Faster' than the Apple mouse (less movement of the mouse for the same cursor movement) and ultra-reliable. Precision Instruments Mouse [Ryan Suenaga] Category 12, Topic 32 Message 62 Sat Dec 03, 1994 Shopping tip for you. . . I was at Computer City tonight and picked up a "precision instruments" brand mouse which is two buttoned (one for chording) and, not only was it cheap (29.99), not only does it work, but the documentation actually says (verbatim): "Your pointing device is compatible with the MACINTOSH, MACINTOSH II, MACINTOSH IICX and _APPLE II GS.-" We do get a little respect, sometimes. . . Trackballs: Logitech Trackman Marble for Macintosh (P/N 804219-0000) [Don V. Zahniser] An ergonomically-designed trackball with 3 mouse buttons that correspond to the index, middle, and third finger positions. The thumb moves the trackball (about 1.25" diameter), which is mounted on the left-hand side of the assembly. Software is provided for programming the buttons on the Macintosh, but on the GS, all three buttons act as a normal mouse button. On a ROM 01, fast mouse speed is fine for normal use, but slow is better for activities that require precision. A really nice, comfortable, easy to use trackball. Does not have a free-wheeling spinning action as on some larger trackballs. Appears to be immune to dirt build-up. MicroSpeed MicroTRAC Trackball [Don V. Zahniser] Category 12, Topic 32 Message 222 Tue Mar 28, 1995 D.ZAHNISER [IronTooth] at 18:39 EST Well, there was this really cute little MicroTRAC (by Microspeed) trackball there, and it sort of followed me home. It's one of those little thingies that can be used with laptops, with a total footprint about 2/3 the size of the mouse that came with my GS. I have it attached to the side of my keyboard right now. It's a three button mouse - er, trackball. Left has standard mouse button action, right is a double-click button, and center (behind the little ball) is a click-lock button. It's got an LED that lights up when the mouse button is down (great for those 2am CoPilot sessions ;^). Action on the ball is pretty good (far better than my defective Kraft), but certainly not as smooth as the Kensington Expert Mouse that I use on my Vectra at work. I kinda like it :^) Don V. Zahniser Delivered by: CoPilot v2.55 & ANSITerm v2.12 ------------ Category 12, Topic 32 Message 224 Sat Apr 01, 1995 D.ZAHNISER [IronTooth] at 11:14 EST A quick update on the MicroTRAC - This little critter has a decided X-Y axis preference; I think it's because it doesn't have a diagonal idler bearing. This makes it harder to track from corner to corner of the screen. OTOH, it is GREAT as a 'mouse' in AppleWorks, where inadvertant diagonal movement of my mouse was driving me crazy trying to position the cursor (and yes, I did play with the mouse sensitivity settings). The other neat thing about this micro-ball is that I have it mounted on a bracket from one of the screws holding the keyboard case together. I work the ball and switches with my fingers, and my thumb is resting right next to the 'Enter' key at the keypad. I actually need to move back and forth to the keyboard less than before when negotiating menus and dialogs. Having the Enter key so 'handy' compensates to a great extent for the X-Y preference. Don V. Zahniser Delivered by: CoPilot v2.55 & ANSITerm v2.12 Precision Instruments Macintosh ADB Trackball [Ryan Suenaga] Category 12, Topic 32 Message 154 Sun Mar 12, 1995 R.SUENAGA1 [Ryan] at 23:49 EST For those interested in a GS compatible trackball; Precision Instruments makes one; it's labeled as a Macintosh ADB but it works just fine with my GS. Got mine for just under $40 at the local Computer City, and yes, even the lock light works. . . Ryan Graduate School: What to do when you _really_ don't want to grow up! (And delivered by Copilot and PT 3.1 :) Other ADB devices: Touche Technologies, Inc Touchpad (ADB version) [Don V. Zahniser] Although this touchpad appears to work pretty well some of the time, it has one glaring flaw: It will not 'release' the button action in some instances. The effect is that the user moves the cursor to the proper position, but when attempting to 'double-click', the cursor will move (drop) even when the finger is no longer touching the pad. My suspicion is that the Touche touchpad is marginally too sensitive for the GS. The Macintosh software supplied with the touchpad supposedly allows for adjustment, but this option is not available on the GS. I have tried it on two ROM 01 systems with the same results. Reviewers Contact Information: Tony Cianfaglione [ab616@chebucto.ns.ca or ip-nsaug@chebucto.ns.ca] Ryan Suenaga [A2LAMP@genie.com] Don V. Zahniser [d.zahniser@genie.com] **** bpvh Internet: bpvh@primenet.com GEnie: B.VONHADEN **** **** Posted by an Apple IIgs using my own Proterm 3.1 File Macro ****