Most used hardware for mouse?

[Targhan]

What is the most used/preferred hardware to support mouse on CPC with the base OS? So no FutureOS or SymbOS or whatever.

Also, if drivers already exist, that would be neat.

Abireo seems to have everything, even a driver (I didn't test it yet). Any other "widely used" hardware that can do the same?

Thanks!

[Targhan]

Note: if Symbiface can be used "outside" of SymbOS, and supports mouse easily then I consider it a valid answer!

[GUNHED]

Note: if Symbiface can be used "outside" of SymbOS, and supports mouse easily then I consider it a valid answer!

Outside of SymbOS is a valid answer? Then FutureOS! 

I'm not sure to understand your question. IMHO the "most used" mouses are probably the joystick compatible mouses. However they are not proportional.
For SF2 and SF3 you have proportional mouses and drives are few bytes only.
The driver for Albireo must be much bigger, because you have to drive the USB port by software by yourself. And only SymbOS does support it at this time. There is (AFAIK) no ASM code example available.

[Targhan]

Thanks for your answer.

The Albireo code is in Basic, but I shouldn't have any trouble converting it so asm.
As for the Symbiface, I stumbled upon this page, it seems very simple indeed.

So the next question is: with Albireo and Symbiface, am I targeting at 90+% of the mouse users?

PS : when you say "joystick compatible mouse", you don't have anything to do except manage the joystick in a conventional way, right?

[GUNHED]

Funny thing! My BASIC code also does work very well to use the Albireo mouse, but in case I transfer it 1 to 1 into assembler it doesn't work any longer. Somehow there must be a bit to wait for, but I didn't find it. Then I lost interest and the Albireo thread was rather bitchy than helpful.
However Prodatron got it working for SymbOS, so it does work. But you need about &100 Byte for the driver at least. An SF2 driver example is here in the Wiki (Edit: I see you found it  ). Also for SF3 you just read the values from a port.

Joystick compatible mouses: Yes, it behaves like a joystick. And you can use joystick drivers. So some games work just fine.
The difference is: A joystick will switch a signal (up, down, left, right) either on or off. But a joystick compatible mouse will give short pulses.
So, such a mouse is always slower that a joystick.


EDIT: Maybe it's time for a mouse poll. What people are really using. My bet is on joystick compatible mouses, but I may be totally wrong.

[Targhan]

Yes, I saw the Albireo thread going to dust. I'll make my tests and put some code if I am successful (or a failure...). As for the size of the driver, it's not a problem if it's worth it.
And with SF2, you still have to make a loop per frame and aggregate data, so it's a not a few bytes either.

I couldn't find the spec of Symbiface 3 about the mouse, can you provide a link?

PS: I'm all for a mouse poll, but I'm afraid I don't know all the existing hardware! Hence my thread .

[GUNHED]

Going to PM you about SF3

[Targhan]

Tested the Albireo Basic program, it works great! First time I use a mouse of CPC, yay.

Do programs making use a mouse have a speed setting of some sort? (not so easy to do, multiplication isn't CPC's forte...or a integer ratio is enough?)

[VintageAdvantage]

What is the most used/preferred hardware to support mouse on CPC with the base OS? So no FutureOS or SymbOS or whatever.

Simple answer - none. Mouse on a CPC (without graphical interface) is as useful as a DKtronics light pen - ZERO utility.
I bought one a while ago and used it once for testing, and for nothing since then.


I rather put a Soundcard on my ZX81 before waisting time with mice on the CPC.

[Bryce]

Simple answer - none. Mouse on a CPC (without graphical interface) is as useful as a DKtronics light pen - ZERO utility.
I bought one a while ago and used it once for testing, and for nothing since then.


I rather put a Soundcard on my ZX81 before waisting time with mice on the CPC.

Then maybe you should try out some of the CPC's Graphical interfaces?

Bryce.

[VincentGR]

Simple answer - none. Mouse on a CPC (without graphical interface) is as useful as a DKtronics light pen - ZERO utility.
I bought one a while ago and used it once for testing, and for nothing since then.


I rather put a Soundcard on my ZX81 before waisting time with mice on the CPC.

Indeed, it acts like a joystick.
I wish we had a proper mouse even on the Plus machines with that analog input thingy.

[TotO]

I'm all for a mouse poll, but I'm afraid I don't know all the existing hardware! Hence my thread

For information about existing hardware, the MultiPlay handle two extra controllers or Amiga mice with ballistic support. The expansion is already supported by some games (Axelay's MegaBlaster), tools (Rhino's Perfect Pix) and operating systems (Prodatron's SymbOS) in example.

[GUNHED]

Guys, don't feed the trolls. 

[VintageAdvantage]

For information about existing hardware, the MultiPlay handle two extra controllers or Amiga mice with ballistic support. The expansion is already supported by some games (Axelay's MegaBlaster), tools (Rhino's Perfect Pix) and operating systems (Prodatron's SymbOS) in example.

Non of these matter IMHO. Of course there will be programs that support proprietary hardware extensions XYZ. Unless it is straightforward to make some sense of a hardware extension within the ORIGINAL OS, none of these matter IMHO. Does any of the mouse interface provide, for example, a straightforward COPY&PASTE facility RSX extension for BASIC, for example? That would be useful rather than saying that Game 1 supports a mouse, and, oh, also Game 2.


If I want to use a joystick, I do exactly this - use a joystick.

[TotO]

Non of these matter IMHO. Of course there will be programs that support proprietary hardware extensions XYZ. Unless it is straightforward to make some sense of a hardware extension within the ORIGINAL OS, none of these matter IMHO. Does any of the mouse interface provide, for example, a straightforward COPY&PASTE facility RSX extension for BASIC, for example? That would be useful rather than saying that Game 1 supports a mouse, and, oh, also Game 2.

If I want to use a joystick, I do exactly this - use a joystick.

Thank you.

[Bryce]

The most supported mouse protocol is the AMX. As far as copy-paste is concerned, read up on the CPC, copy-paste is already integrated in BASIC.

Bryce.

[GUNHED]

And if I need Copy and Paste I use a text editor.

[TotO]

The most supported mouse protocol is the AMX.

Sure. I own an AMX and a dk'tronics mouse interface, but it is not really usable.

[VintageAdvantage]

Sure. I own an AMX and a dk'tronics mouse interface, but it is not really usable.

See, that is EXACTLY the problem. 

[VintageAdvantage]

And if I need Copy and Paste I use a text editor.

Yes, this "text editor" is called Locomotive BASIC.

[VintageAdvantage]

The most supported mouse protocol is the AMX. As far as copy-paste is concerned, read up on the CPC, copy-paste is already integrated in BASIC.

Not in the way that would make a mouse interface usable unfortunately.
Are you talking about moving the copy cursor with the mouse instead of the cursor + Shift + copy keys?? 

[GUNHED]

Please back to topic!
Now it would be great to know how much units have been sold of:- SF2- SF3- Albireo- MultiPlay - CPC-Mouse Pack- and the others I forgotOr maybe more precise: How much of them are in use?Maybe it would make sense to add a poll?

[GUNHED]

Please back to topic!
Now it would be great to know how much units have been sold of:
- SF2
- SF3
- Albireo
- MultiPlay
- CPC-Mouse Pack
- and the others I forgot
Or maybe more precise: How much of them are in use?Maybe it would make sense to add a poll?

[VintageAdvantage]

+ DKtronics
+ AMX


Historically and in terms of supporting software, these are the most important ones.
The other ones you listed seem to be hobby / CPC hacker projects.
Let's make sure to get the priorities right in terms of important hardware first. Thanks.

[Targhan]

Isn't DKTronics only a memory expansion? [Edit, oh, I didn't know about DK Tronics Mouse interface]

Historically, yes, AMX mouse is well known, but if, say, Orion Prime 2 is released, what would people would use, or be ready to buy, if they wanted to play with a mouse (provided the game would support it of course)?

I'm pretty sure that would be Albireo.

Code Select Expand

The other ones you listed seem to be hobby / CPC hacker projects.
And aren't they good enough for us?