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...