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From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.micro.6809
Subject: Re: Coco X-Pad query (graphics tablet)
Message-ID: <658@bbncca.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 7-Apr-84 14:45:22 EST
Article-I.D.: bbncca.658
Posted: Sat Apr  7 14:45:22 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Apr-84 01:39:03 EST
References: <2007@ihnss.UUCP>
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma.
Lines: 19

A CoCo X-pad for only $99 is a true steal.  I have had one for a few months
now (bought it when it was sale-priced at $199) and it is quite simple to
use.  It provides three fully decoded memory-mapped I/O registers which
indicate X position, Y positiom and pen position; reading the X register
latches the other two.  Its resolution is only roughly that of the CoCo
PMODE 4 screen--256 x 192, surrounded by 4 border regions for menus.
Still, this is not at all bad for $99!  Peeks and pokes work just fine,
both in R/S BASIC and OS-9 BASIC09.  The X-pad controller works with any
expansion device, including the R/S Multi-Pak interface.

I do, however, find the stylus a bit tiring to use, especially when the
multi-pak expansion interface is present--this requires placement of the
tablet sufficiently far away that you have to stretch your arm.  I would
love to see a true "mouse" attachment for this, in place of the stylus.
This shouldn't be too hard to do.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
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