swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan) (11/03/89)
This is NOT a commercial - only some information on a new product. I felt
it might be helpful, so here it is.
I came across this in November Comuter Shopper's "Software Spotlight"
(appearantly a column highlighting new products). Has anyone heard of, or
seen this thing? How well does it work?
From November Computer Shopper, page 362:
START ARTICLE --------------------------------------------
Precision Trackball
Amiga users who don't like to use a standard mouse now have AmTRAC. This
trackball pointing device is designed for use in CAD/CAE, desktop
publishing, and other graphics-intensive applications and will work with
all standard models of the Commodore Amiga, including the 500, 2000,
2000HD and 2500. [I would assume the 100 as well - JS]
AmTRAC has three buttons located directly above the trackball, with left
and right buttons performing tha same functions as the two buttons found
on the standard Amiga mouse. A center button, toggling the cursor drag on
and off, eliminates the need to continuously hold a button to drag the
graphics cursor. To install AmTRAC, simply plug it into the same
connector as the standard Amiga mouse. It occupies less than 4.25 inches
of desk space and, since it is stationary, frees up the space adjacent to
the keyboard. The trackball, unlike conventional pointing devices, does
not contact the work surface and therefore requires no regular cleaning.
AmTRAC is available from MicroSpeed, Inc.'s list of authorized dealers,
OEM's, system integrators and VAR for $99. MicroSpeed also has a direct
account program for large corporate users. For more information, call
(415)490-1403 or write to the company at 44000 Old Warm Spring Blvd.,
Fremont CA 94538
END ARTICLE -----------------------------------
Hmm. Just in time for those developing a laptop Amiga!
Joel Swanswarren@eugene.uucp (Steve Warren) (11/07/89)
In article <1980@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> swan@jolnet.UUCP (Joel Swan) writes: [...] >AmTRAC has three buttons located directly above the trackball, with left >and right buttons performing tha same functions as the two buttons found [...] Why do they keep coming out with trackballs that have the buttons up top? If the designer is thinking about it he'll put two copies of the buttons at the lower left & lower right, where your thumb hits if you are right or left handed, respectively. If he really wants to make it nice to use he'll make curved indentations that follow the natural curve of the thumb. I love my trackball, I use it all the time. But I hate the button placement. I also hate the tactile response of the buttons. These are obvious flaws and it seems like it would be easy to do it right, so I don't understand why different manufacturers all make the same dumb mistakes. I think the middle button to toggle drag-mode on/off is just a work-around for bad button placement. --Steve ------------------------------------------------------------------------- {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.COM
robin@sabre.uucp (Robin D. Wilson/1000000) (11/09/89)
>In article <1980@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> swan@jolnet.UUCP (Joel Swan) writes: >>AmTRAC has three buttons located directly above the trackball, with left >>and right buttons performing tha same functions as the two buttons found In article <2845@convex.UUCP> swarren@convex.COM (Steve Warren) writes: >Why do they keep coming out with trackballs that have the buttons up top? I personally would rather have the bottons on top. I am much better able to move a trackball with my thumb and palm, than I am with my fingers (my fingers tire easily :-) ). Also, I completely disagree with the assertion that the shift-lock mouse button is a workaround for a bad design. EVEN IF the buttons are on the bottom, the shift-mouse is a good idea, because it is naturally more difficult to hold down a button while moving the ball. For the best design, one would have a user configurable trackball, maybe with a 360 degree rotatable socket for the ball; so you could rotate the socket 180 degrees if you wanted to switch the position of the bottons to the bottom or top (depending on the default), or 90 degrees if you want them on the side, or 45 degress... never mind. (Okay, I was getting excited already!) I do; however, agree with the fact that the bottons should have a "good" feel. They shouldn't be spongey, wobbley, loose, or stiff, OR HARD TO PUSH!!. But they should probably have a noticable click (not neccessarily audible) so that you can feel them going down. I'm ready to buy one right now. Anybody want to build it?? +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |The views expressed herein, are the sole responsibility of the typist at hand| +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |USNail: UUCP: | |2323 Wells Branch Pkwy., #G107 cs.utexas.edu!romp!ibmaus!auschs\ | |Austin, TX 78728 !sabre.austin.ibm.com!robin | |Home: (512)251-6889 | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
fgd3@jc3b21.UUCP (Fabbian G. Dufoe) (11/10/89)
From article <2845@convex.UUCP>, by swarren@eugene.uucp (Steve Warren):
> Why do they keep coming out with trackballs that have the buttons up top?
They did it right on the new Mac laptop. The button runs all the way
across the bottom of the trackball. All in all, an impressive machine.
--Fabbian Dufoe
350 Ling-A-Mor Terrace South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33705
813-823-2350
UUCP: ...uunet!pdn!jc3b21!fgd3swarren@eugene.uucp (Steve Warren) (11/10/89)
In article <2820@d75.UUCP> robin@reed.UUCP (Robin D. Wilson/1000000) writes: >>In article <1980@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> swan@jolnet.UUCP (Joel Swan) writes: >>>AmTRAC has three buttons located directly above the trackball, with left >>>and right buttons performing tha same functions as the two buttons found > >In article <2845@convex.UUCP> swarren@convex.COM (Steve Warren) writes: >>Why do they keep coming out with trackballs that have the buttons up top? > > >I personally would rather have the bottons on top. I am much better able to >move a trackball with my thumb and palm, than I am with my fingers (my fingers >tire easily :-) ). OK, admittedly this is a matter of personal taste. I just happen to think my taste is better ;^). Anyone for a trackball-button-placement-religious- war? Naw, I guess if you want your buttons up top you have a right to have them there. But really, I've experimented (rotating the case) with using my thumb on the buttons, and it really does feel natural. And I've always preferred using the flats of my fingers to manipulate the ball. I guess it comes from all those games of Marble Madness I played in arcades before the days of the Amiga. > Also, I completely disagree with the assertion that the >shift-lock mouse button is a workaround for a bad design. EVEN IF the buttons >are on the bottom, the shift-mouse is a good idea, because it is naturally >more difficult to hold down a button while moving the ball. OK, leave it in there, just design it so I don't need to use it ;^). >For the best design, one would have a user configurable trackball, maybe with >a 360 degree rotatable socket for the ball; so you could rotate the socket 180 >degrees if you wanted to switch the position of the bottons to the bottom or >top (depending on the default), or 90 degrees if you want them on the side, >or 45 degress... never mind. (Okay, I was getting excited already!) Those are good ideas, but how about this: Put a menu button on each of the four corners of the case, so you can reach them top or bottom, and left or right handed. Put a "toggle select" button in the middle of the top and the middle of the bottom. Then, let the track ball rest in a spring-supported cradle suspension, so that to click on an item all you need to do is press down firmly on the ball. Let the spring tension be user-adjustable, so people can tailor its response to their own preferences. Finally, put a switch in that has the effect of locking the spring in a fixed position, and simultaneously switching one of the middle switches (top or bottom - user decides ;^) into a click button (thus allowing the user to disable the "ball-click" feature - it might get irritating in arcade games where you are trying to manipulate the trackball at high speeds). I think this would be the ideal track ball, and I would gladly pay $100 for a device that allows me to use it in the most natural way possible. --Steve ------------------------------------------------------------------------- {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.COM
blgardne@esunix.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) (11/10/89)
From article <2820@d75.UUCP>, by robin@sabre.uucp (Robin D. Wilson/1000000): > For the best design, one would have a user configurable trackball, maybe with > a 360 degree rotatable socket for the ball; so you could rotate the socket 180 > degrees if you wanted to switch the position of the bottons to the bottom or > top (depending on the default), or 90 degrees if you want them on the side, > or 45 degress... never mind. (Okay, I was getting excited already!) Call me crazy, but if you want to use a trackball "upside down", wouldn't running ESUOM from the last batch of Fish disks do the trick? If you reverse both the hardware and the software, you come out right side up, right? You'd still have to switch the mouse button functions, but I think I remember seeing a hack to do that in software too. -- Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland 580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108 Here: utah-cs!esunix!blgardne {ucbvax,allegra,decvax}!decwrl!esunix!blgardne There: uunet!iconsys!caeco!i-core!worsel!blaine (My Amiga running uucp) OPUS LIVES!!!