Trackballs - HELP!

[ryamkajr]

OK, kind of a newbie question.  I have built two consoles before, but they both were lacking in spinners/trackballs (used mostly for fighting games).

I am now taking the plunge and adding trackball/spinner.

I have ordered the Oscar spinner, the Optipac/Ultipac combo, and am interested in ordering one of the Happ 3 inch trackballs (I want the clear trackball).

My question is, given that I am ordering the Optipac, which trackball would make more sense to purchase?

The Happ 3 inch USB/PS/2 trackball
The Happ 3 inch Highball

I will be using the console mostly for playing MAME games in MAME32, under WinXP, but would want the option to be able to use it under other OSs including DOS and Linux.  (I understand that the PS2 component of the Happ 3 inch USB/PS/2 ball would work in this case.)  

I guess the question is, given that I have already invested in the Optipac, would it make more sense from a functionality point-of-view to just get the "raw" trackball, or go ahead and get the PS/2/USB one?  Cost is not really an issue, but if I do not need the more expensive trackball, then I would rather not purchase it.

Thanks for any help!

- Ray

[Minwah]

If you are using an Opti-pac, then I believe you do not need Happ's interface (which is pretty expensive I think).  You just need to supply 5v to the trackball, and connect the inputs+outputs to the opti-pac.

The Opti-pac's serial interface will work with DOS...I have no idea about Linux  

[REBIRTH]

I asked Ultimarc the same thing and they said you do not need the extra USB interface.  I have all the electronics and it sure seems correct, but I haven't actually hooked them up yet since my cab is only about 50% done.

[OSCAR]

They are correct.  Since you have already ordered an Opti-PAC, going with the Happ USB-PS/2 interface trackball would be redundant.  The standard 3" Happ trackball will interface with the Opti-PAC.

Either cut off the 6-pin Molex connector on the trackball, or pick up a 6-pin male Molex connector (Radio Shack has them) and make your own connector cable to connect it to the Opti-PAC.  I prefer the latter.

I have a diagram of the Happ trackball connector here.

##EDIT#
I forgot to mention that the Opti-PAC works both in DOS and Linux.  Dual mice in Linux is *somewhat* supported, but you have to manually configure the XF86Config file to do it (at least in Redhat/SuSE).  Using the Opti-PAC for both the spinner and trackball will be much easier in Linux as it is seen as a single mouse.

[zr5-2002]

As of Redhat 8.0, dual mice will just "work" plug and play.  I just tried it by plugging a second USB mouse into my computer and the thing worked instantly....not even the 30 second windows wait, it was literally instant on.

##EDIT#
I forgot to mention that the Opti-PAC works both in DOS and Linux.  Dual mice in Linux is *somewhat* supported, but you have to manually configure the XF86Config file to do it (at least in Redhat/SuSE).  Using the Opti-PAC for both the spinner and trackball will be much easier in Linux as it is seen as a single mouse.

[u_rebelscum]

As of Redhat 8.0, dual mice will just "work" plug and play.  I just tried it by plugging a second USB mouse into my computer and the thing worked instantly....not even the 30 second windows wait, it was literally instant on.

One mouse pointer or two?  Can applications tell the difference between input from one mouse and input from the other?  

If the answer to the second one is no, then it's not true dual mouse support.  IMO, that would be one and a half mice support (just like windows).  Sure you get two hardware mice connected, but software only sees one mouse.  Thus the "one and a half" name, much like windows one and 3/4 mice support (sometimes software can see two mice in some windows).

If the answer is yes, time for me to look at linux again.

[ryamkajr]

Thanks all for the replies.  I guess I will skip getting the all-in-one solution and go for a stand-alone trackball.

Oscar, thanks for the link (as well as the quick turnaround on my recent order, especially at Christmas time.  I may have time even to finish everything before the new year).

Just one final question for you guys, I guess a matter of opinion... of the two 3 inch Happ trackballs, which do you guys prefer, the "high" ball or the "low" ball?   Since I do not have one to compare, I would appreciate any reviews/observations/opinions.

Thanks again,

- Ray

[u_rebelscum]

Just one final question for you guys, I guess a matter of opinion... of the two 3 inch Happ trackballs, which do you guys prefer, the "high" ball or the "low" ball?   Since I do not have one to compare, I would appreciate any reviews/observations/opinions.

There are three happs models, the high-ball, the high-lip, and the "original" low ball.  I have the High-lip, which is basically the low ball model.  I like it.  I heard with the high ball model, the ball rattles a little more, if you hit the trackball near the base in the correct direction, but other-wise is great.  I like hitting the trackball near the base, so I got the lower positioned TB, so my horizonally moving hand would hit a more slanted ball (than the high ball).  If you prefer to hit the TB higher up or in a downward (toward the control panel), the high ball might be better.

Note that the high ball uses a different, larger mounting plate than the low ball and high lip.  And if you decide to get the high ball, make sure you are not getting the high lip.