hendrick@fozzy.UUCP (Bill Hendricks) (02/23/89)
Wouldn't the Commodore mouse be a likely suspect as a replacement/alternative to our Atari ST mouse? The one problem (there *has* to be a problem, of course :-)) would be that the connector doesn't seem to fit directly in to the ST...it seems the Commodore mouse has a larger "head" over the actual connector, prohibiting insertion. However, a simple extension might circumvent this problem. I'm unable at this time to vouch for the electrical compatibility, however. Perhaps in the near future I'll post this. I was gratified to read the posting regarding the use of the MicroSoft mouse, including the wiring translation. My problem there is that the dealers around here want about $100 for it; I think the Commodore mouse goes for about $80 at Sears. Regards, Bill
hendrick@fozzy.UUCP (Bill Hendricks) (02/23/89)
Well, I went right out and bought a Commodore 1351 mouse last night, (at Toys R Us, for $39.88!) and raced home to try it. <grin> I checked the pinout assignments of the ST mouse (found in the ST owner's manual) against those of the Comm. mouse, and was happy to see that they are identical. <grin> So, after carefully carving approx. 1/8" of plastic from the opening around the mouse connector on the ST, I plugged in the C= mouse... no go. <frown> Reading the Commodore doc, I found that this mouse has two modes of operation: joystick and proportional...neither of which is compatible with the ST. <frown> I *was* able to swap the guts of the Commodore mouse with those of the ST mouse, and with some finagling, got the ST hardware working inside the (IMHO) preferable Comm. mouse housing. However, that does not address the problem of a direct replacement for a faulty ST mouse. Sorry. So much for that idea. Maybe I'll look into the possibility of the Amiga mouse working, assuming it's different from the 1351. Has anyone out there already done this? Regards, Bill
richb@ozvax.GWD.TEK.COM (Richard Bousquet) (02/28/89)
In article <270@fozzy.UUCP> hendrick@fozzy.UUCP (Bill Hendricks) writes: > >Wouldn't the Commodore mouse be a likely suspect as a >replacement/alternative to our Atari ST mouse? > >I was gratified to read the posting regarding the use of >the MicroSoft mouse, including the wiring translation. >My problem there is that the dealers around here want >about $100 for it; I think the Commodore mouse goes for >about $80 at Sears. > >Regards, >Bill If you try the MicroSoft mouse you you would find the $20 difference to be minimal. The feel of the MicroSoft mouse is just clearly superior to other mice in that price range! And, by the way, I do not work for MicroSoft or am in any way related to them - just an impressed consumer. I am, of course, referring to the MicroSoft II mouse (the rounded white one). Regards, Richard -----------------------------------------------------------------
Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET (Z4648252) (03/16/89)
Radio Shack has a serial mouse for $49.00 that has a great feel to
it. It fits the hand much better than the ST mouse and the buttons aren't
as stiff. However, I think before I change from the Atari mouse that I'd
like to get an optical one but admit not knowing if it would work or not.
At any rate, I notice that the Radio Shack mouse does not have the
same pin configuration as the Microsoft one. In fact, it is only using
five of the nine pins that are available on its connector.
Jeff Beadles, I've tried replying to your message in which you
explained the mouse setup but my messages keep bouncing back. SIGH. We
are needing to use SERIAL mice, right?
Larry Rymal <Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>nobody@tekecs.GWD.TEK.COM (-for inetd server command) (03/18/89)
In article <890316.08534234.014695@SFA.CP6> Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET (Z4648252) writes: > [Stuff deleted about Radio Shack mice] Well, since several people have had problems getting email to me, I'll respond here. (Sorry everyone else! :-) 'n' if you want... > Jeff Beadles, I've tried replying to your message in which you >explained the mouse setup but my messages keep bouncing back. SIGH. We >are needing to use SERIAL mice, right? NO! The Atari ST uses a buss mouse. All Microsoft mice are buss-style internally. They use an in-line adapter to convert it to a serial interface if needed. Here's the differences when you but a Microsoft Buss mouse, or a Microsoft Serial mouse: (I'm talking about the Microsoft mouse that is white, with two buttons. It's oval, and fits the hand rather nicely. On the bottom, it says: "InPort (tm) Mouse".) Microsoft BUSS SERIAL The "Mouse" itself X X (It is the EXACT SAME "MOUSE") A "Buss" card for a PC X A Buss -> serial converter X (This is a small box, around 1x1x3 (inches)) Two serial cables. (One 25 pin, and one 9 pin) X Some silly IBM-PC software & drivers X X (Not needed for the ST.) NOTE: They sometimes try to sell expensive programs with the mouse, like CAD programs, PC-Pain brush, etc. Get the cheapest one you can (unless you want the software :-) I own an Atari ST, and my wife has a PC clone (Tandy 3000). She has a "Serial" mouse. I bought a "buss" mouse for my ST. We've traded mice with no ill effect. Either mouse will work on either computer, buss or serial. To reach me via email, here's several paths: uucp: ..uunet!tektronix!quark.wv!jeff Internet: jeff@quark.wv.tek.com CSnet: jeff%quark.wv.tek.com@RELAY-CSNET If all else fails, Jeff Beadles Tektronix, Inc. M/S 61-215 P.O. Box 1000 Wilsonville, Or. USA 97077-1000 Best of luck, -Jeff Beadles
viljanen@kreeta.cs.Helsinki.FI (Lea Viljanen) (03/24/89)
In article <890316.08534234.014695@SFA.CP6> Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET (Z4648252) writes: > > Radio Shack has a serial mouse for $49.00 that has a great feel to >it. It fits the hand much better than the ST mouse and the buttons aren't >as stiff. However, I think before I change from the Atari mouse that I'd >like to get an optical one but admit not knowing if it would work or not. It will work. I've briefly seen an optical mouse connected to the ST. The glimpse was very short and I can't remember what optical mouse was it, but as far as I could see, the wiring was very simple. If there is sufficient interest, I could find out more about it. >Larry Rymal <Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET> """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Lea 'LadyBug' Viljanen ____ University of Helsinki, Finland viljanen@finuha.bitnet \ / . ' Dept. of Computer Science viljanen@cs.helsinki.fi \/ |_ 'Small is beautiful'