SymbOS + Albireo + USB mouse

[eto]

I do have an Albireo and I tried several mice but I can't get any of them to work.

Is there anything special to consider when I want to use a mouse in SymbOS with the Albireo?



(btw: how can I test if the Albireo works at all?)

[Prodatron]

In general you have to take a mouse which is as primitive as possible.
Two buttons and a wheel, nothing else.
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01AVPEQCG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The issues with USB HID devices is, that the HID protocol is terrible complex, as any part of the device is freely defineable, not only the number of additional buttons, but also the resolution of each component -> IN BITS. So the X and the Y resolution could be 12 or 16 or whatever bits, as well as any wheels (your mouse could have multiple) etc.
Implementing such a protocol really sucks on an 8bit system, at least if you have to take care about the amount of memory.
There is a special "BIOS mode" into which a mouse can be switched, but IIRC you won't have a wheel in this case, which is supported in SymbOS, so IIRC I used another mode. I have to check the driver again.

Anyway I wonder what type of mouse did you try so far? Martin from Golem.de had similiar problems, he had to try 3-4 mouses until he found one, which was working... That's the issue I described... With PS/2 it was much more easy (and with serial as well, as I figured out with the Amstrad NC200).

You can test the @PulkoMandy Albireo with UniDOS by @OffseT as well, working as a mass storage. I would like to add Albireo mass storage support as a driver in SymbOS as well.

[eto]

okay, got it. Thanks.

Do you have an example/recommendation which available simple/cheap mouse works?

Btw: does the mouse need to be attached when I start SymbOs or will it recognize if I connect/change it when SymbOs has already been started?

[Prodatron]

*EDIT* sorry forget the link above, that is a PS/2 one... I have to check, but I have a lot of simple mouses here, all are working. Did you try a simple one, but it was not working?

The mouse has to be attached during booting, otherwise the driver will return a "hardware N/A" signal and won't be used to save memory.

[eto]

I used 3 simple mice, just 2 buttons and a scroll wheel. And a 5 button mouse. But nothing fancy either. 

I probably didn't boot with all of them attached.


So I will try with all mice and a full boot, then probably buy some simple ones on Amazon (no PS/2 of course) and return them, if they don't work ;-)


(Btw: Weird, I did not recognize the link yesterday. Did you edit the link in after you posted the first version? Or was I already so tired that I didn't see it? )

[GUNHED]

I do have an Albireo and I tried several mice but I can't get any of them to work.

Is there anything special to consider when I want to use a mouse in SymbOS with the Albireo?



(btw: how can I test if the Albireo works at all?)

For general testing I suggest the BASIC program (see Albireo software pack somewhere) because it can be adapted and you can check step by step.

For Symbos iirc only one of the two ports can be used for a mouse.

[eto]

For Symbos iirc only one of the two ports can be used for a mouse.

My Albireo has only one USB port.  (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/albireo-usbsd-interface-for-cpc-new-version-without-serial/)

For general testing I suggest the BASIC program (see Albireo software pack somewhere) because it can be adapted and you can check step by step.

Aaaah, I just found the website with those programs. Nice... that will help

[Prodatron]

For Symbos iirc only one of the two ports can be used for a mouse.

That is true for the MultiPlay

[GUNHED]

Ah, sorry, I mixed that up. Recently (since few years that means) we got plenty of new expansions. Sorry, my bad.

My experience with the Albireo mouse is good, but sometimes it needs to be "reinitialized", because of the token-switch. But I'm not so familiar with USB protocol anyway.

Wish you all a merry X-mas, will not be here often during the next two weeks. 

[Skunkfish]

I used to swear by the Microsoft Optical Mouse 200, but it looks like they're no longer available. They were amazing for <£10, and even came with a PS/2 adapter.

[eto]

In case someone else is looking for a simple mouse:  I just ordered 2 simple mice from Amazon and both work.

• Cherry MC 1000 (6€)
• Logitech B100 (5€)

[Prodatron]

Thanks a lot @eto  for the information!
I am glad, that it's working now with these ones.