iPac: Do you use the MAME or Alternate settings?

[JAZ]

Has anyone here actually shifted the jumper on their iPac so they can program their own functions/key combinations - or do most people find the MAME defaults sufficient?

The reason I'm asking is I'm about to order an iPac. I noticed that Ultimarc now sell a cheaper iPac "economy" model which is exactly the same as the iPac2 except any functions you program yourself are lost at power down.

[Minwah]

I use alternate.  I probably could use the standard config but I accidentally wired up some buttons wrong, so I remapped the IPAC.  Also I use 1 or 2 non-standard keys.

I say if you're only using MAME, you'll prob be fine with the IPAC VE.  The programming feature is handy for some other emulators and PC games.

[Onji]

I use alternative also. I have a Pause, Change emulator button i need mapped

[Bumblebounces]

I use the ALT function on my IPAC2.  The the last two inputs for each player are programmed for admin functions.  ESC, TAB, ENTER, PAUSE.  You could use the value edition but I think the fact that it loses everything everytime would be a pain.  Sure, you could put a batch to program in the startup directory but still, I would prefer that the thing be programed and be done with it.  OR, you could just never power down...  I actually have my MAME cab running all the time as I use it as a "file server" of sorts.  I suppose that makes the fact that the new model does not save a moot point, doesn't it?  Oh well, I guess it comes down to personal preference.

Bumble

[Mr. Dude]

I use the MAME defaults and haven't had any problems yet.

[wboy]

I use ALT, as some other emulators I uses don't deal to well when the likes of Ctrl or Alt are pressed as it brings up the file menu.

Instead of Ctrl, Alt, Space and LShift, I uses 7,8,9,0.  Note this means slightly changing the default service button mappings in mame as they effectively conflict this way.

I also change the exit shift button default of Shift P1 Start > Exit P2 Start .

I leave the shift button the same (P1 Start), I just map Esc to P1 Up instead.

So my basic shift functions are

P1 Up = Esc
P1 Right = Tab (matches arrow direction on normal keyboard)
P1 Left = Enter ( " )
P1 Down = Pause


Only problem I find with P1 Shift, P2 Exit is when playing a 2 player game, if the two of you die and go for start simultaneously, you can sometimes exist the game accidently!  

[SirPoonga]

http://free.hostdepartment.com/S/SirPoonga/keys.htm

[microwrx]

On my old 2 player cab I used the MAME deafualt setting on an I-PAC 2.  On my 4 player cab I use MAME default on the J-PAC for player 1 & 2 and ALT on the Mini-PAC for players 3 & 4 and coin buttons for all 4 players.

[big_garryb]

i hooked up with the mame settings to test initially......everything worked great. then i started playing for a couple of weeks. eventually i changed to alt settings to get in my other none standard keys i wanted to use.

i wouldnt buy he cheaper ipac if it looses settings after powerdown - spend the extra cash - you will NOT EVER regret paying slightly more...

always gives you the option o adding extra buttons if you ever need to!!!
garryb

[danny_galaga]

i use the default in my cocktail cab. i was going to use the alt for a more elegant way to enter but no one has found it too difficult yet   and now ive just designed an instruction card for the default ill probably never change it!
 i agree with others whove said dont get the cheaper one. who knows what youll need down the road...

[Tiger-Heli]

Has anyone here actually shifted the jumper on their iPac so they can program their own functions/key combinations - or do most people find the MAME defaults sufficient?

The reason I'm asking is I'm about to order an iPac. I noticed that Ultimarc now sell a cheaper iPac "economy" model which is exactly the same as the iPac2 except any functions you program yourself are lost at power down.

It's not exactly the same - It's USB only - bad if you have a DOS cab and it's 32 inputs instead of 28, which is good.  Also, I'm not sure how LED's are supported, although Ultimarc says that they are.

There is a difference between "lost" at power down and "not saved" at power down.

With the original I-PAC/2 (going back to the first WinIpac software), you could load a config file (.ipd file, .ipc file (been a long while)) through a command line when you launched a program that required a different codeset.  I assume that function is available in the new IPD software, so you just have to run a simple batch file at startup.

I would pick your encoder based on inputs or USB-PS/2 requirements and not worry about whether codesets are changed.

The ONLY real exception to this is alternate OS support.  I was originally going to say non-Windows, DOS, MAC, or Linux support, but actually it's any non-windows OS.

There is I-PAC software for Mac's and Linux, but I don't think the IPD software has been ported for this.  With a standard I-PAC, you could always program it on a Windows box and use it on a Mac or Beos or OS/2 or FreeBSD or whatever.  With the I-PAC VE, this is no longer possible.

But that's a fairly minor concern for most users.