[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Trackball Recommendations? IBM Keyboards for AT&T 6386?

drz@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (donald.r.zimmerman) (10/26/89)

I am in the market for a decent trackball for use with my AT&T 6386E
20 MHz, 80386 machine. I need to use this with the following programs:

	Autocad
	Harvard Graphics
	Windows 386
	Orcad (Schematic Capture)
	
The trackball should emulate a Microsoft mouse so that I can use it with 
these and other programs.

Has anyone had any experience with trackballs on the AT&T 20 MHz 386s or
on other 20 MHz 386s? Any idea on durability or sensitivity?

BTW, I have been looking at a keyboard from JDR Microdevices that has a 
built-in trackball. Has anyone connected an IBM compatible keyboard to 
the AT&T 6386 or 6386E? Can it be done with a home-made adapter cable?
Any idea who makes keyboards with trackballs?

Please e-mail any responses directly to me as I seldom get a chance to 
read the news. I will post the results of this inquiry to the net in a
few days.

Thanks in advance...

Don Zimmerman     att!hoqub!drz     201-949-0206

dlow@hpspcoi.HP.COM (Danny Low) (10/26/89)

>I am in the market for a decent trackball for use with my AT&T 6386E
>20 MHz, 80386 machine. I need to use this with the following programs:
>	Autocad
>	Harvard Graphics
>	Windows 386
>	Orcad (Schematic Capture)
>The trackball should emulate a Microsoft mouse so that I can use it with 
>these and other programs.

There are several trackballs available that emulate a Microsoft mouse.
They come in both serial and bus versions. Serial is the most flexible
and potentially has the least compatibility problems.

The big problem with a trackball is dragging. With most trackballs this is
a two-handed or very awkward one-handed operation. Two trackballs that
may solve this problem (I have not tried them) are the new Mouse System
trackball with a button lock and the new Logitech trackball that is
designed so your thumb moves the ball. The problem with the Logitech
trackball is it comes only in a right handed version. The Mouse System
trackball appears useable by sinistral people. Both are new products
and availability may be low right now.

			   Danny Low
    "Question Authority and the Authorities will question You"
	   Valley of Hearts Delight, Sillicon Valley
     HP SPCD   dlow%hpspcoi@hplabs.hp.com   ...!hplabs!hpspcoi!dlow