From owner-freebsd-hardware Wed Dec 9 17:06:32 1998 Return-Path: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id RAA25528 for freebsd-hardware-outgoing; Wed, 9 Dec 1998 17:06:32 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG) Received: from picnic.mat.net (picnic.mat.net [206.246.122.117]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id RAA25521 for ; Wed, 9 Dec 1998 17:06:30 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from chuckr@mat.net) Received: from localhost (chuckr@localhost) by picnic.mat.net (8.9.1/8.8.5) with ESMTP id UAA01165; Wed, 9 Dec 1998 20:04:56 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 20:04:56 -0500 (EST) From: Chuck Robey To: Parag Patel cc: spork , FreeBSD-Hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: mousen In-Reply-To: <199812100038.QAA00745@pinhead.parag.codegen.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.org On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, Parag Patel wrote: > > Today I just purchase a brand new Logitech Marble Mouse for $40. They > make three series of Marble-based trackballs, and despite the name, > this is the cheapest. Plugged it in to the PS/2 port, and it works > beautifully. > > The Marble design is neat in that it tracks the motion of the ball > entirely optically. There are no bearings to gum up. The ball itself > is red with a special dot-pattern to allow the sensor to see the ball's > motion. > > The Marble+ design positions the marble to be used by the thumb, which > I don't care for. The Marble FX design positions the ball to be used > between the thumb and finger, and has 4 buttons on it. The one I got > is the cheapest, has 2 buttons, and a mid-sized marble right in the > center for use primarily by fingers. It's closest to the Stingray and > Kensington translucent-blue designs and the only one that lefties can > use. > > All are PS/2 mice and come with clever little PS/2<->RS-232 dongles. > Nice. Thanks for all the replies, guys, I've learned a lot. I think I'll risk one of those integrated keyboard/touchpad things, like maybe the Logitech ones. I don't like anything that wants to move on my desk, it threatens too much instability to the mountains of paper I've carefully trashed myself with. I could end up buried! I've never used a PS/2 mouse port ... always did it serially. Is that a problem of any kind for me? I don't know anything about the PS/2 mouse port, does it get a dedicated uart? What's the irq/port? Rate? Or should I invest in the PS/2<->RS-232 converter you mentioned above? > I've tried trackpads but prefer the kinetic feedback from a physically > moving device. Your mileage may vary. Everyone's got their favorite; I won't insist you use mine if you don't make me use yours, ok? Religious topic --> avoidance mode on! Just give me that facts. ----------------------------+----------------------------------------------- Chuck Robey | Interests include any kind of voice or data chuckr@glue.umd.edu | communications topic, C programming, and Unix. 213 Lakeside Drive Apt T-1 | Greenbelt, MD 20770 | I run Journey2 and picnic (FreeBSD-current) (301) 220-2114 | and jaunt (NetBSD). ----------------------------+----------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hardware" in the body of the message