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G0TEZ > TECH 27.05.09 03:06l 35 Lines 1159 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : F40043G0TEZ
Read: GUEST
Subj: PC Lightpens ?
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<ON0AR<GB7FCR
Sent: 090526/2140Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:27728 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:F40043G0
From: G0TEZ@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : TECH@WW
I have wondered for a long time what happened to the lightpen as used in
the 1980s on a lot of computers, often instead of a mouse.
I decided to look them up on the 'net. There is a Wikipedia article
describing them and how they were used in the 80s.
All I could find about modern light pens was an advert for a modification
kit at $199.00 !
A bit too dear for me.
I wonderd if anyone still used one ? The main problem with the pens in the
1980s was that with clock rates of around 2MHz (4 if you were lucky), any
attempt to draw a straight, diagonal line resulted in a staircase, If they
had been faster and higher res it would have been possible to draw good
quality pictures and select icons far better than any mouse can do it with
it's little arrow on screen.
Does anyone know if drawing programs and other options with a light pen
are still around ?
Hopefully cheaper than the kit in the ad I found. If there is, I might
consider buying one. I am no great artist but it could be fun.
Any replies appreciated.
73 - Ian, G0TEZ
Msg timed: 22:40 on 2009-May-26
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