Macintosh encoder recommendations

[bishmasterb]

I need a decent Macintosh USB encoder. 16 inputs would be sufficient. Needs to work with OS9, and would prefer something that I can load different keymaps onto, but that's not mandatory. Oh yeah, and cheap is good, but my assumption is that my options are limited.

Any recommendations?

[bishmasterb]

Come on...anyone...anyone?

[2600]

IPAC should work fine since it is a keyboard and seems to meet your requirements.  I've only used OSX and haven't actually tried it on OS9.

[MYX]

Keyboard hack. 

[NoOne=NBA=]

The iPac works great.

[bishmasterb]

Keyboard hack. 

Yeah that's what I've always done in the past, but I guess I'm not up for that exercise in masochism again.   

I'll give the iPac^2 a chance then. I was hoping there might be something a little less expensive as I need 3 of them.

[elvis]

I'll give the iPac^2 a chance then. I was hoping there might be something a little less expensive as I need 3 of them.

USB gamepads.  US$10-15 a pop for cheapy digital ones.  A little more effort, but very easy on the wallet.

[NoOne=NBA=]

USB gamepads.  US$10-15 a pop for cheapy digital ones.  A little more effort, but very easy on the wallet.

The thing that turned me off of this idea is that you will be stuck with whatever keys you wire to, and need to hope that the apps you want to run will support those keys.

The ipac is a little more expensive, but much more versatile.
If the app you are running doesn't allow you to swap keys in the software, you can do it in the hardware to match the app.

[bishmasterb]

I hadn't even considered the USB gamepad route, those things are cheap. But I do need to support multiple emulators, and I don't want to take the chance of one of them not working with the gamepad's configuration.

It looks like I'm gonna be ordering some I-PACs soon.

Thanks for the advice.

[elvis]

At $10 it's probably worth your time to buy a USB gamepad and test it out.  If worst comes to worst and it doesn't support everything, you can either use it on your standard desktop machine for casual gaming, or eBay the sucker off.

I've not yet found a worthwhile emulator that doesn't take USB gamepad input.

[2600]

I've not yet found a worthwhile emulator that doesn't take USB gamepad input.

Are you using a Mac? 

I haven't had a problem once you buy "Emulator Enhancer" although my experience was limited on OSX before I got it, and haven't used OS9 and don't know anything about it's USB support.

[NightGod]

I got a "Game-Elements Recoil" pad from Wal-Mart for about $15. It comes with it's own software that lets you assign button presses to any key you want. Also has a nice feature in that the USB cable is a ribbon cable and retracts into the pad case so it's not a mess to keep around on my desk-if nothing else, it might reduce some wire clutter inside your cabs.

[bishmasterb]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Hmmmm, maybe I should reconsider the gamepads. $15 a piecs isn't too bad.

I didn't realize that you could remap buttons to keys with those.

[ckenney11]

The atomarcade.net controller is suppose to work on any OS.  I haven't tested it personally on OS9 but you could always email them from their site and ask if it does.  Plus it is fairly inexpensive @ $23.95 + $6 shipping.  On a side note it also comes with trackball/analog inputs if you need them.  Just another option.   

[gnateye]

sorry to chime in so late on this topic, i've made 5 mame machines runnin macs with os 9 and earlier. of course both usb gamepads and the usb ipac work great for this. after much testing and troubleshooting it is just easier to go the ipac route. sometimes when you have more than one usb gamepad plugged in they will switch places in the usb chain when you restart. its very random and very frustrating, player 1 and 2 swap, its enough to drive you crazy, however if you can get by with only one gamepad your golden, more than one go with the ipac.



edited for terrible spelling sorry....

[Stingray]

I have a cab with OS 9.2 and a USB iPac. No issues at all for me.

-S