dm@pnet01.CTS.COM (Dan Melson) (09/10/87)
About the end of July, I posted inquiries about replacing the ST mouse
a track ball. I thought an update might be beneficial to some people.
Through magazines and referrals, I found the name of two companies who
furnish them. They both start with a Wico track ball and modify it,
and both have two buttons. The end products are similar. Here is a
complete product review.
Zebra Trackball made by
Zebra Systems, 78-06 Jamaica Avenue,
Woodhaven, NY, 11421
Initial inquiry mailed- July 20
Initial response- July 25 or 26
Long distance phone call for ordering info- July 31
Order mailed with personal check- August 1 ($29.95 + $2.95 shipping)
Wrong merchandise arrived- August 7
Merchandise returned- August 13
Correct merchandise arrived- August 20.
The action had a tendency to jam electronically at one vertical point
initially, but this appears to have vanished with use. Response is good,
with very close to zero slop, and I speak as one with a lot of trackball
use. The buttons respond well to multiple action. Furthermore, as an
unexpected bonus, they included a plug in cord that enables you to use
the buttons on the mouse with the trackball, although so far I haven't
wanted to, as the trackball buttons are very satisfactory. Button
placement could be improved by placing the small ('right') button on
the right hand side of the ball, but otherwise a very satisfactory
purchase. My order for a second should already be in the mail as
you read this. As a side note worthy of interest, the wrong merchandise
these people sent me was the equivalent device for a Commodore Amiga,
so those of you with friends who have other mouse using machines
might be interested in passing it on to them.
Mouse Ball, made by
E. Arthur Brown Company, 3404 Pawnee Drive,
Alexandria, MN, 56308.
Initial inquiry made- July 20
Initial response- July 24
Order mailed with personal check- July 24 ($29.95 + $3.00 shipping)
Inquiry on my order's status mailed- August 25
Merchandise recieved- September 9 ("Lost in the computer - sorry")
Again, a modified Wico trackball. Did not have the bad point in the
electronic action, but didn't have the mouse button accessory, either.
As with the Zebra product, the action is highly satisfactory, both
on the ball and on the buttons. Again, the small ('right') button
coud benefit from being moved to the right of the ball, but that's
a minor quibble. A worthwhile purchase.
AND I NO LONGER HAVE TO PERMIT A RODENT ON MY DESKTOP!
Hope this helps those of you who don't like the mouse any better than I do.
DMgreg.trice@canremote.uucp (GREG TRICE) (05/29/89)
Can somebody recommend a high quality trackball to replace the mouse on an ST? --- * Via ProDoor 2.9a --- MaS Relayer v1.00.00 Message gatewayed by MaS Network Software and Consulting/HST for questions or help in replying to messages contact mshiels@tmsoft or michael.shiels@masnet.uucp