Commodore mouse
Of Commodore two models were mice for the C64 and C128 offered. Since computer mice were not yet common when the C64 was launched in 1982, methods had to be developed afterwards to make them usable by making the mice electrically behave like one of the intended input devices.
- The model 1350 : This is a so-called joystick mouse, ie the mouse movements are converted into the signals of a digital joystick . This means that only simple horizontal, vertical and 45 ° diagonal movements are possible and the program cannot recognize how fast the mouse is being moved. However, the mouse can be used with all programs designed for joystick control.
- The 1351 model : Like its predecessor, this mouse has joystick mode, which is activated by holding down the right mouse button when the computer is switched on. Its standard operating mode is proportional mode, in which all the advantages of a mouse are available (including two mouse buttons that can be queried individually and detection of direction and speed of movement). The data is transmitted via the two A / D converters of the sound chip SID , which were originally intended for querying paddles . However, this mode can only be used with a relatively small number of specially designed programs. From 1986 Commodore added a floppy disk with programs for everything to do with the mouse with the 1351 . In particular, the mouse was used by users of the GEOS graphical operating system.
Despite the connector that looks the same, a Commodore mouse cannot be operated on the serial port of a PC ; the higher voltages (± 12 V compared to 0 V / 5 V) on the PC port would probably destroy it. This mouse type is not compatible with the Commodore Amiga computers either (the 1350 can, however, be connected to the joystick connection of an Amiga and then fulfills the functions of a joystick).
The illustrated case design has been used by Commodore for a long time since the introduction of the Amiga, the first mouse cases for Amigas are externally identical. You can distinguish between mice for C64 / C128 and Amiga on the one hand on the bottom sticker. There you can find the model name 1351 in the C64 / C128 version. Furthermore, the shape of the plug is different, whereas the connection itself is identical. Nevertheless the Amiga mouse is not compatible with the model for C64 / C128.
See also: Commodore product overview
Web links
- Commodore mouse 1351 , computer collection vienna
- Commodore mouse 1350 , c64-wiki.de
- Commodore mouse 1351 , c64-wiki.de
- Amiga mouse , computer collection vienna
- Commodore C64 Manual: Commodore 1351 Mouse User's Manual (1986) (Commodore) , English
- 1351 Mouse User's manual , English
literature
- Article in the 64'er magazine 11/1986, Joystick, Maus, Trackball & Co. , page 48
- Article in the 64'er magazine 11/1986, The mice spread , page 44-47
- Article in the 64'er magazine 6/1987, Commodore 1351 - a brisk mouse , pages 165–166
