I'll be using PSX on my iMac and my primary pointing device is the Apple trackpad.
Is it possible to be able to control PSX successfully using the trackpad or would I be better off finding a cheap mouse to plug in?
Thanks.
Hi Keith,
The (external) Apple TrackPad fully works fine for handling PSx... as I've been using it for quite some time on a MacBookPro plugged into an external display.
Please note that PSx doesn't recognize multitouch gestures, so don't expect pinch-zoom or such things. All PSx actions (on the pushbuttons, knobs, levers) are done with left-mouseclick, so no problem the TrackPad will provide those fine.
But, if you intend to use the TrackPad to handfly, it's not as easy is with a mouse... and of course it's better with a joystick or a yoke.
Thanks Pierre, I've found the old mouse I used to use so I'll plug that in if I have to. I don't have any joysticks or yokes though as I've not flown anything for a few years so I'll see how I get on with the mouse before picking one up.
Hi Keith. I have an iMac with trackpad as well. In my experience with PSX, the trackpad interface is perfectly usable, with the caveat that for hand-flying the plane, you might want a joystick.
Some elaboration on the above: first, the trackpad is excellent for everything except hand-flying. The whole user interface is amenable to trackpad operation and you won't ever wish you had any other type of device. Hand-flying is a bit different than simple input operations though, so you might want something that brings a different type of control to the experience. Your milage may vary, as they say, and perhaps the trackpad will be enough for you. But for hand-flying, I'd recommend the cheapest USB joystick that you can find. You certainly don't need anything with an overkill of features and buttons.