sequential systems bitMOUSE

9 posts / 0 new
Last post
stynx's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 hours 31 min ago
Joined: Apr 19 2012 - 09:41
Posts: 223
sequential systems bitMOUSE
AttachmentSize
Image icon Card_front.jpg297.89 KB
Image icon Package_front.jpg317.96 KB
Image icon Box_front.jpg443.86 KB

I have bought this card on eBay.

Does anyone have any experience with it?
It should be fully compatible to the Apple Mouse.

-Jonas

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 5 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: sequential systems bitMOUSE

I have never seen one before.

Steven Smile

stynx's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 hours 31 min ago
Joined: Apr 19 2012 - 09:41
Posts: 223
Re: sequential systems bitMOUSE

I have never seen one before.

Steven :)

Same here Smile
As soon as I have it in hands, I will try several mice and test compatibility.

-Jonas

Offline
Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: Feb 21 2021 - 17:18
Posts: 44
Bitmouse ...

I've got one here, as well.  I have some notes that I took from a manual I must have seen at some time.  I am also embarking on making it work with a serial (DB9) PC mouse.  It's my understanding that was the big selling point:  You could use PC serial mice instead of Apple mice.

Switch 1- This switch controls mouse tracking sensitivity

OFF: Slow

ON:  Fast

Switch 4- CPU speed

OFF: 1 to 4 MHz

ON:  5+ MHz

Switches 2&3 currently have no function.

 

The ad for it says:

$79.95

The bitMOUSE(tm) is a serial mouse interface for your Apple II computer.

bitMOUSE is fully software compatible with the Apple Computer mouse interface, and works in an Apple IIe or Apple IIGS.

bitMOUSE lets you make use of inexpensive serial mice that are normally used on IBM PC's.

bitMOUSE even provides adjustable tracking speed, so you can adjust the mouse's reponse for detail work, or for accelerated computers.

bitMOUSE is a breeze to install - simply plug it into Slot 4 attach your mouse to the provided cable, and you're done! You'll now be able to use mouse-based software like Print Shop, Dazzle Draw, and Publish It!.

 

 

 

Offline
Last seen: 1 month 4 weeks ago
Joined: Jul 5 2018 - 09:44
Posts: 2587
It would be interesting to

It would be interesting to look at that including dumping and disassembling the contents of the EPROM.  It would be interesting to design a card that would let a modern USB based mouse be used on an Apple II.

Offline
Last seen: 7 hours 19 min ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 589
USB adapter

There's an adapter that lets you plug a USB mouse into an Apple II mouse card. It's meant for the first Macs but I'm using one with an Apple USB mouse on a IIe.

https://www.tinkerboy.xyz/product/tinkerboy-usb-mouse-to-mac-converter-adapter-for-macintosh-with-db9-mouse-port/

Offline
Last seen: 1 month 4 weeks ago
Joined: Jul 5 2018 - 09:44
Posts: 2587
Yeah, there is another one

Yeah, there is another one like that I've seen to allow USB mice to be used on an ADB system like a IIgs.  It would be cool to have a newly made card that supported USB directly.  I don't think it would be that hard to design, possibly using one of the Arduino style devices on the board that supports USB host mode and then emulating the function of the Apple II mouse card.

 

Offline
Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: Feb 21 2021 - 17:18
Posts: 44
Bit mouse
Well, put it in my IIe and connected an old Microsoft serial mouse (DB-9).  Got a copy of "MousePaint" from Asimov.net and works great. Just like the brochure says. 
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 4 weeks ago
Joined: Jul 5 2018 - 09:44
Posts: 2587
Awesome that it works.  I

Awesome that it works.  I would be very cool to see the ROM code for that card.  Other than the 6116 SRAM, it looks like a pretty ordinary serial card based on the Z8530 type chip as used in the Macs and the IIgs.  That ROM code might be a really great start for someone designing something like a USB mouse card for an Apple II.  That design could probably either be done with an FPGA like the ones Steve at BMOW uses or it could be done using a small microcontroller like an Arduino that has a USB controller and either serial input or enough PIO pins to be driven parallel from the Apple II bus, maybe sort of emulating the Z8530.

 

Log in or register to post comments