[net.micro.cbm] Mouse for 64?

mcphee@cavell.UUCP (Scott Mcphee) (08/15/86)

I am looking for a high quality mouse for the C64.
I don't want to settle for a "mouse" that sends back joystick-like
signals.  Is there a mouse on the market that can be hooked up to 
the C64 to give proportional feedback?  Where can I get it?

Scott McPhee.

porter@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Jeff Porter) (08/18/86)

> I am looking for a high quality mouse for the C64.
> I don't want to settle for a "mouse" that sends back joystick-like
> signals.  Is there a mouse on the market that can be hooked up to 
> the C64 to give proportional feedback?  Where can I get it?
> 
> Scott McPhee.

Commodore is updating the 1350 mouse with the 1351 mouse this fall.
This mouse emulates both a joystick and paddels (ie: POTX, POTY)
and, with the right software interface, is VERY nice.  The only
software currently with this interface is GEOS. (just released)

Should be available this Fall.

Jeff Porter
Commodore Engineering

fred@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Fred Bowen) (08/19/86)

> > I am looking for a high quality mouse for the C64.
> > I don't want to settle for a "mouse" that sends back joystick-like
> > signals.  Is there a mouse on the market that can be hooked up to 
> > the C64 to give proportional feedback?  Where can I get it?
> > 
> > Scott McPhee.
> 
> Commodore is updating the 1350 mouse with the 1351 mouse this fall.
> This mouse emulates both a joystick and paddels (ie: POTX, POTY)
> and, with the right software interface, is VERY nice.  The only
> software currently with this interface is GEOS. (just released)
> 
> Should be available this Fall.
> 
> Jeff Porter
> Commodore Engineering

ACK!  I mean NAK!  The new 1351 mouse does indeed have 2 modes (seems
everything we make these days has at least two modes!)  but to describe
them as joystick and paddle mode will not win you any favors  (especially
from the 1351's innovator, who fortunately does not read net.anything).

The 1351 mouse has two quadrature inputs for both X and Y, which internal
logic converts to direction and movement signals.  The 1351 interfaces to
the system in two ways, 'joystick' and 'proportional', selected by the user
when the mouse is plugged in (i.e., powered up). 

In joystick mode, any mouse movement is converted ino a pulse on one of four
output lines, corresponding to  UP, DOWN, RIGHT, or LEFT.  It looks just like
a 1350 to the system, which is to say it looks just like a joystick with an
extra button (hangs on a POT line).

The second operating mode is proportional (or true mouse) mode.  While this
interface utilizes the POTX and POTY lines,  it looks nothing like a paddle.
6-bit counters track the change in mouse position modulo 64, counting up or
down based on the transitions of the quadrature inputs.  This information is
passed to the system by playing some very stange but wonderful games with the
POT lines. The upshot of the whole thing is virtually no system overhead for
monitoring the mouse, yet the smooth, natural feel we all expect from a mouse.

No baloney here- it's a *real* mouse for the 64/128.  Don't call it a paddle!
-- 
Fred Bowen			uucp:	{ihnp4|seismo|caip}!cbmvax!fred
				arpa:	cbmvax!fred@seismo.CSS.GOV
				tele:	215 431-9100

Commodore Electronics, Ltd.,  1200 Wilson Drive,  West Chester,  PA,  19380