KeyWiz/Opti-Wiz or Minipac or Opti Pac?

[Erik]

I just spent the past hour reading the two websites and I still have no idea which to choose! 

All I want to run is an old Happ 3" trackball and a 2-player SF2 style control panel.   I guess this means a Keywiz/Opti Wiz combo or a Minipac or maybe an Ipac/Optipac combo. 

Please let me know if one of these systems is preferable to the other for my setup and what in particular should I order, including harnesses if available (got totally confused by the OptiWiz and harness since it doesn't appear to hook up to my trackball's two 4-pin connectors)

Thanks!

[Bobulus]

I have an Ipac2 and have no experience with the keywiz, so I can't say which is better, but I've heard here that both work very well. I'd say you have two things to consider:

- Price. Is there a combination that's substantially cheaper than the other, including shipping?
- Expandability. Is the control set staying like this, or does one combination include more inputs that you could use later?

I do remember that the optiwiz has a hooked pin set for mouse buttons. I'm haven't looked at the Optipac to see if it does, so check that out if it matters to you.

[taylormadelv]

It's almost like I'm selling these things since I recommend them so often here but I'll do it again... Mikesarcade has a USB/PS2 trackball/mouse adaptor for like $19. You won't have to cut a single wire with this. For your pushbuttons, it just a matter of personal choice, ipac or keywiz. The optipac is really meant for mutiple trackballs/spinners, it has only 2 button inputs.

[Erik]

Thanks for the responses.  I've never seen that interface.  It says it comes with a "standard 6-pin trackball connector." My Happ trackball has two 4-pin connectors so I guess that's not compatible