| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1334.1 | Trackball? | CPDW::ROSCH | Ray Rosch VRO6-2/B6 273.5710 | Wed Aug 30 1989 09:55 | 2 |
| Why not use a Trackball?
|
| 1334.2 | | KONING::KONING | NI1D @FN42eq | Wed Aug 30 1989 19:20 | 9 |
| Perhaps the question is whether there are any trackballs supported
by DECwindows.
Good question... I remember Atlant Schmidt interfaced a trackball to
a DEC workstation once, but that was done by using some of the guts
of a VSXXX mouse as adapter. Not the optimal answer.
paul
|
| 1334.3 | When mice turn into UFOs... | SUBWAY::GRAHAM | if ya want home cookin, stay home | Wed Aug 30 1989 22:01 | 12 |
|
In a manufacturing floor, pointing devices could become "unidentified
flying objects" ;-) (espcially during labor scuffles or disputes).
We had an "electrician union hide customer's mice because of
some misunderstanding between management and union!
In addition to the other replies, why not investigate using Motif,
an environment where a robust keyboard/pointing device can replace
the mouse.
Kris....
|
| 1334.4 | Look in back issues of DR and DN | LBDUCK::SCHOELLER | Who's on first? | Wed Aug 30 1989 22:03 | 7 |
| I vaguely remember reading about a trackball quite a while ago. It was in one
of those 2 paragons of accuracy _Digital_Review_ or _Digital_News_. The article
described a trackball that was plug compatible for the DECstandard Mouse and
had 3 buttons.
Dick
|
| 1334.5 | Trackball/Spaceball | LDPMAX::gabriel | LDP Technical Consulting Group | Thu Aug 31 1989 10:18 | 15 |
|
At SIGGRAPH this year, there was an ISV who
had used a trackball/spaceball on a VAXstation 3520
I believe. I think the name of the company that makes the
trackball/spaceball is Spacial Systems. There phone
number is:
(508) 369-8588
/Joe
|
| 1334.6 | Trackball from Itac Systems Inc. | SANCHO::PHOENIX | this space available... | Thu Aug 31 1989 11:31 | 32 |
| The 6-FEB-1989 issue of Digital News contained an article on a
Digital-compatible trackball manufactured by Itac Systems Inc of
Garland, Texas. To quote:
"The device has three user-definable buttons that surround the
trackball. A fourth toggle button on the sloped portion of the
wrist pad controls the speed of the cursor in a 4:1 ratio.
"Mouse-Trak is priced at $179 for Digital computers. Models for
Sun Microsystems Inc., Apollo and IBM machines are also available.
"Itac Systems Inc., 3121 Benton St., Garland, Texas 75042,
(214)494-3073 or (800)533-4822."
We purchased three units from Itac in March for testing purposes and
have found them to be a very good substitute for a mouse. They are about
4" x 8" (10.5cm x 20cm) and have the standard Digital mouse pin
connector. We've used it on workstations and VAXmates without any
trouble - they're great on a limited-area desktop (like mine ;^) or on
the shop-floor (which is where we intend to use them when -and if- we get
workstations down there). Also, the buttons are assignable via jumpers
(i.e., button #2 can be assigned to act as #3 and vice versa) or you
can disconnect a button.
Hope you find this helpful...
Gary Phoenix
TFO (Thin Film Media)
Tempe, AZ
(602)894-5607
|
| 1334.7 | | PRAVDA::JACKSON | King Cynic | Tue Sep 05 1989 10:11 | 9 |
| There's also Evergreen Systems in California (don't remember where, but
it's one of the big cities) that makes a trackball that is
compaible with the DEC corporate mouse. I've used it on both DECwindows
and UIS with no problems.
-bill
|
| 1334.8 | Evergreen Trackball info | STAR::KAPLAN | Running w/the blade guards disengaged. | Tue Sep 05 1989 10:38 | 20 |
|
I did some extensive testing of the Evergreen Trackball within the VMS
Development group and found it to be functionally equivalent to the
corporate mouse for all DECwindows applications.
In brief, we found that while mechanics of the trackball we quite good,
the ergonomics were so-so. Many people like it for the reduced
real-estate space on the desk and the lack of "sticking" (from dirt or
poor desk surfaces). Under some circumstance it is easier to use the
mouse, but for most applications the trackball works just as well.
The trackball evaluated was made by Evergreen Systems Intn'l.
818-991-7835 and will plug compatible with the corporate mouse. I
believe they make a tempest version as well.
If you need the technical specs or additional info, send mail.
-jonathan
|
| 1334.9 | VSXXX-AB bitpad | PDVAX::P_DAVIS | Peter Davis | Tue Sep 12 1989 14:50 | 11 |
| There is also a bitpad available from Digital which plugs into the
mouse jack. It's the VSXXX-AB, and can be used with either a 4 button
cursor (the first 3 buttons cororespond to MB1, MB2, and MB3), or with
a two button stylus.
For drawing applications, etc., the bitpad is a hell of a lot easier to
use than a mouse. For mundane menu selection, etc., the mouse is
probably easier.
-pd
|
| 1334.10 | | KONING::KONING | NI1D @FN42eq | Fri Sep 15 1989 15:53 | 9 |
| If you do use the bitpad, watch out for the fact that you get distortion.
An inch on the pad won't be an inch on the screen, and an inch horizontally
won't be an inch vertically.
I found this out the hard way, tracing a complex picture -- having been
warned earlier and forgetting all about it. :-{
paul
|