Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watarts!bernie From: bernie@watarts.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Re: Light Pens vs. Mouse Message-ID: <1921@watarts.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Jul-83 11:37:13 EDT Article-I.D.: watarts.1921 Posted: Fri Jul 8 11:37:13 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jul-83 04:59:09 EDT References: cca.5052 Lines: 15 Another factor in the light pen/touch screen/mouse/trackball/... controversy is the question of compatability. Special touch-sensitive screens, light pens, and so on all need to be "wired" in with whatever display you're using. This means they cannot be easily used in conjunction with low-end micros, which don't come with built-in displays. Trackballs and mice are not in any way affiliated with the display; they're simply another piece of hardware that the OS "knows" about. This makes them inherently more 'portable' from machine to machine, resulting in a larger market, resulting in more R&D dollars, resulting in better mice (and trackballs, and...). Something similar is happening with joysticks for the games machines; there are some really nice sticks out there, and they're getting better all the time. --Bernie Roehl P.S. Now that we're getting better mice, someone's bound to suggest better mousetraps...