GUBBINS@RADC-TOPS20.ARPA (Gern) (02/25/88)
As Russ had pointed out, Radio Shack sells for $49.00 a mouse that they claim is 100% MS mouse compatible. Everyone else claims the same, except they are not at all hardware compatible, just 100% compatible thru the software interface (which is great IF you have the software for your machine and the provided PC stuff won't work on a Z-100). If your program contains its own MS mouse driver (MS-Windows), then you are stuck unless your mouse is HARDWARE compatible with the mouse that is expected. Painter's Apprentice has a mouse driver for the Z-100 that will support either a MS or Logitech mouse or a joystick, tracball, Koala Pad thru a product of mine. MS-Windows for the Z-100 (without torture) only supports a MS-mouse. The MS-mouse serial version runs for about $100-$129 including PC software and drivers useless on the Z-100. Clarkson had a special deal of naked MS-mice in a plastic bag for around $80. Walt bought the Radio Shack Mouse #25-1040 for $49.00 and we tested it here (first, thru DB-25 to DB-9 cable from my MS-mouse). It worked VERY well. The Radio Shack mouse even had a nice feel to it and appears to be 100% hardware compatible to the MS-mouse. Do note that it comes with a DB-9 connector and the DB-9 to DB-25 optional (ripoff) cable is the wrong sex for the Z-100. If you replace the DB-9 with a DB-25 as Walt Posted, you should be very happy with a $49.00 MS-like mouse. I am working on a J1 version of Russ's mouse driver, so stay tuned for wiring the DB-25 with the other sex and wiring changes. In spite of what I usually think of Radio Shack stuff, the RS-mouse #25-1040 has earned the Gern Seal of Approval for Happy Z-100ing. Cheers, Gern -------
malpass@LL-VLSI.ARPA (Don Malpass) (02/27/88)
I second the "endorsement" of the Radio Schlock mouse for use with Painter's Apprentice, in spite of it's ominous part number of -1040A and my normal bias against RS. I also endorse PA itself, which I've had some fun with and even used for the worthwhile project of "How can I rearrange the furniture in the den [aka computer room] to make it less of a disaster area?" This is one of those projects that would take a couple of hours with a quadrille pad and scissors but can be shortened to several days with the aid of a computer. But with PA it was easy. I'm glad I did it all! don [malpass@LL-vlsi.arpa] PS. The adapter cable is no big deal, particularly if you also have made yourself a 25 conductor "sex-change" RIBBON cable which has both a male AND female DB25 on EACH end to use for those frequent occasions when any cable you want to use has a DB25 of the wrong sex. Never forget the malpass-principle: Given a binary choice, the correct answer will be chosen 31% of the time.