Re: which JOYSTICKS are compatible w/ Apple IIs?

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <J638ogM.rocketusa@delphi.com>,
Rocket Press...a Litmag  <rocketusa@delphi.com> wrote:
> hi.
> I was at a salvation army joint and noticed a beat-up Commosore
> 64...it had a din-9 joystick port (2, actually) and was wondering if
> those joystix are ok for a IIe,c whatever...I'm in need of a j-stik!!

No, Commodore and Atari joysticks are not compatible with the Apple
II.  The Apple II needs a joystick with variable resistors
(potentiometers) for the X and Y axes, nominally 150 kiloohms (though
a higher value will work with limited range).

Commodore joysticks use a set of switches to detect the direction in
which the joystick is pointing.

Macintosh joysticks connect to the Apple Desktop Bus, and are not
compatible with Apple II software (they could be used on a IIgs with
driver software, but I'm not aware of any drivers or any programs that
would work with one, unless the program supported a mouse).

IBM PC joysticks are similar in design to Apple II ones, but have a
different resistance (I don't know what it is) and a different
connector.

I have seen some Taiwanese joysticks that have a switch that selects
between IBM and Apple II modes (it changes the polarity of the buttons,
I think).
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand