Path: kernighan.cs.umass.edu!barrett From: wizard@galstar.com (David Templeton) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews Subject: REVIEW: Golden Image Amiga/Atari Trackball Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Date: 10 Jun 1997 02:42:27 GMT Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett Lines: 161 Sender: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu (comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator) Distribution: world Message-ID: <5nieuj$u9v@kernighan.cs.umass.edu> Reply-To: wizard@galstar.com (David Templeton) NNTP-Posting-Host: liberation.cs.umass.edu Keywords: hardware, trackball, commercial X-Review-Number: Volume 1997 Number 4 Originator: barrett@liberation.cs.umass.edu PRODUCT NAME Golden Image AMIGA/Atari Trackball BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Golden Image trackball is a 3 button opto-mechanical input device for the Amiga/Atari computers. It uses metal bearing rollers. The ball is about the size of a golf ball. Its mesures approx 4 inches tall by 3 inches wide and about 2 inches thick. AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION Name: Golden Image Address: ... Telephone: +44 (0) 181 900 9291 FAX: ... E-mail: ... World Wide Web: http://www.reserve.co.uk/gold LIST PRICE $45 US DEMO VERSION NONE SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS HARDWARE Amiga Computer SOFTWARE NONE COPY PROTECTION NONE MACHINE USED FOR TESTING A2000 REV 4.5 FULL ECS Chipset 1MB CHIP RAM CSA Derringer 68030 50MhZ w/8MB 32 bit RAM GVP Series-II SCSI controler v4.13 ROMS w/2MB Fast RAM C=2320 Display Enhancer Alpha Data Multiface-III multi I/O card. Maxtor 345S, 345mb SCSI HD. Quantum 105S, 105mb SCSI HD. Seagate St-296N, 80MB SCSI HD. C= A3000 Internal High Density (1.76) floppy. Golden Image Master 3A-1D external (880K) floppy. Iomega SCSI ZIP drive. C=A3070 Tape Drive. INSTALLATION Check the position of the switch on the bottom of the unit, making sure its in the Amiga position. Plug the 9 pin female connector into the Amiga mouse port. REVIEW The overall quality of construction is pretty good. Much better than the AmTrac by MicroSped. The ball rolls smoothly and the buttons have a crisp click. DOCUMENTATION Documentation consists of one small sheet of paper explaing the position of the switch on the bottom of the Trackball. There were no phone numbers or contact information for technical support. No warrenty card.... NOTHING! LIKES I like the rolling action of the ball and the buttons have a nice feel. DISLIKES AND SUGGESTIONS My biggest complaint is the poor/lack of documentation and no contact numbers or technical support info. This is very strange as I have a Golden Image floppy drive and the documentation was outstanding. I don't know if this is a reflection of Golden Image's current attitude about the Amiga market or what. Maybe I just got an odd-ball box with no docs. If this is the normal way the trackball is shipped, then it is unacceptable. I would contact them if they had included an Email address. Also I find that the TrackBall is smaller than I really like. I like the Que ball size balls. The ball on the Golden Image Trackball is about the size of a golf ball. COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS The Golden Image is similar in quality and price to the old Kraft trackballs. Compared to the AmTrac which retails for about $25 more than the Golden Image, I'd say the Golden Image wins hands down despite the lack of documentation. BUGS NONE VENDOR SUPPORT NONE WARRANTY Unknown CONCLUSIONS I give it an overall rating of fair. I would give it a score of 3.5 Stars out of 5, about what you would expect for a $45 trackball? COPYRIGHT NOTICE Copyright 1997 David Templeton wizard@galstar.com --- Accepted and posted by Daniel Barrett, comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator Send reviews to: amiga-reviews-submissions@math.uh.edu Request information: amiga-reviews-requests@math.uh.edu Moderator mail: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu Anonymous ftp site: math.uh.edu, in /pub/Amiga/comp.sys.amiga.reviews Web site: ftp://math.uh.edu/pub/Amiga/comp.sys.amiga.reviews/index.html