Re: Joystick Port and PC Mouse

[nathan@subzero.winternet.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <31E75D19.172A@torfree.net>, Jeff Markus  <ai594@torfree.net> wrote:
>Is there a way to use a standard "Microsoft"-type PC mouse as a joystick 
>(ie. in the joystick port) of the //e?

   Not without a fair amount of intermediate hardware that nobody's
ever bothered to design and release. Basically, despite having the
same number of pins, the designs of the two systems are almost
completely different. Apple II joysticks are essentially a pair of
variable resistors, a very simple and reliable design. PC Mice are
serial devices, requiring a serial controller chip, and a fair amount
of circuitry and/or software to translate that into something useful.
   
   Sequential Systems (http://www.sequential.com) makes and sells a
board to use PC mice as _mice_ on Apple //es. I think that's as close
as you're likely to get.

Nathan Mates
--
<*> Nathan Mates http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~nathan/      <*>
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