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Spinner idea.
hyiu:
Hi all:
I emailed support for the powermate knob... and they got back to me quickly... the guy Randall is very helpful in my questions... I'm posting the email below.... (I'm thinking if it is USB and can act as a mouse... Mame should just pick it up, right ??).... I'll try to locate a store and go check it out either this wkend or next wk...
I'll post more info if I got to feel/test it....
anyone has more info... plz post... I'm interested to know.... Thanks....
;D ;D ;D
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> I checked your web site and see the USB Multimedia Controller &
> Input Device (that really nice looking knob...)
>
> I'm interested in buying it but would like to know a couple more details
> about it.
> I would appreciate if you guys can answer some of my questions below.
>
> 1) Is it available in stores yet ?? I live in NYC, if you can provide a list
> of retailers that carries it, it would be great...
>
> 2) since its usb... can it be used as a 1 axis mouse ??
>
> 3) can I keep on turning it in 1 direction ?? (is it limited to like a 360
> degree turn ??
> or is it free spinning ??)
>
> 4) I read the article and it mentions that there is an integrated button..
> is it that if
> I press on the knob, its actually a button ??
>
> 5) the blue light ring show on the web site.... its actually with the knob
> ??
> or just a special effect on the web site...
>
> 6) does it comes with a mount of any kind if I want to use it on a panel /
> wood board ??
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> - Henry.
>
>
Hello Henry,
Only a few stores carry our Powermate since it is still a new item. You can
order it from us directly or you can try Tekserve in NY at 212-929-3645.
They may carry it by now.
The PM can function as a duel axis mouse (but only one at a time) depending
on your selection in the control panel.
The degree of rotation is 360 but you are limited by the application that
you are controlling. In IE, you can only scroll down so far on a web page,
but you can still keep spinning the knob.
The PM is a button also and you can program a key command for the "click" of
the button. In IE I use the click for "print". You can also use the "click"
as a power on on the G4 if you attach the PM directly to the computer.
The cool blue light is designed to glow brighter as the the knob is turned.
It will flash at full throttle and will pulse at sleep. These parameters are
adjustable. The color is not. In a dark room after to many hours of work or
play the PM looks like it is floating on blue light. It looks really cool
next to an intellimouse!
There are no mounts for it, but a 10 penny nail right through the middle
should work if you are careful.
Hope this helps explain it.....uhhh...I'm kidding about the nail...
Randall
Severen:
An update: Apparently on another board elsewhere they have already discussed the knob. I was a litttle crushed when they said that it's not free floating enough to be useful... meaning it's not free spinning - it has a little resisitance... but I played with it a little and it didn't seem to have that much resistance for my taste - no more than I remember on Tempest or Arkanoid. I mean we're talking about a spinner not a trackball.
To answer some of your questions... Mounting: I'm sure some epoxy, super glue, sticky foam cut, etc. would work fine. The push button: Yes, it has a button... But I don't remember accidentally triggering it. I have no use for the button, and I'm sure you could disable it with no problem with their driver settings. My biggest complaint is the usb cord, I'd like to reroute it through the base - so it would appear to be hidden on my (soon to be built) control panel.
I'll try to borrow it from my friend, I don't think he digs it too much... I mean, it's applications are limited really. But I will say that it does look friggin' cool, and if it works for me... I'll probably pick one up.
But as I said, I need to do some mame tests... I'll get back to you asap.
-Sev
Severen:
oops one more thing:
It's so pretty I would be surprised if the Apple stores don't start selling them, or atleast have one or two on display. So check/call your local apple store. (Luckily we just got one in our area)
And yes, the knob is 360/continuous spin and is pc compatible.
-Sev
enemyace:
I'm sure someone here could figure out how to hack this baby. Maybe some sort of weight could be added through the bottom to give the spin more momentum and maybe something could be done inside to decrease the resistance of the spin (maybe weight would be enough to do that). Although, drilling through the bottom to add weight would defeat the surface mounting ability of this thing, which is one of the nicest features.
You could mount it to a metal control panel with a strong magnet epoxied to the bottom!
neuromancer:
--- Quote ---I'm sure someone here could figure out how to hack this baby.
--- End quote ---
Quick! someone get a strawpoll together and tell the company how much money they could make if they made a version without the internal resistance, with a mounting bolt. They could sell it direct only. Word of mouth would make it sell like crazy.
Bob