Apple IIgs

2025-08-12

I've been using a USB4VC with my Apple IIgs for a year now, and it's been great. It's a Raspberrry Pi-based device that can translate between USB and Bluetooth and whatever Old Computer Interface your classic computer requires. In my case, my Apple IIgs expects the keyboard and mouse to be connected via serial cables to the ADB port on the back. With the USB4VC, I have an old Apple ADB keyboard attached (Model No. M0487, if you're curious), with nice Alps switches and the giant Reset button above the top row of keys. But, I also have a modern wireless Logitech trackball, connected to the USB4VC via the little USB nubbin, because it's 2025 and it's hard to like old roller ball mice nowadays.

Except, my USB4VC is giving me trouble. With the mouse only, not the keyboard. It works, but it moves the cursor sooooo sloooowly, in fits and jerks. And it slows down the entire computer while it's doing so. I can't imagine how that's happening, but I don't know a lot about the IIgs yet. Whatever the reason, it's untenable. I know it's something to do with the USB4VC, because if I plug an ADB mouse into my ADB keyboard, and connect that directly into the back of the computer, everything works fine and there's no slowdown.

So I've taken the USB4VC out of the chain am using a ball mouse on a mousepad for now, while I try and determine what's going on. Maybe it's just that one of my ADB cables is wonky? I'll try and swap in another one. The process is slow, because this isn't USB - you can't just unplug and plug cables from an Apple IIgs while it's running, you can actually electrically damage the computer or the device or both. Swapping cables requires a complete shutdown and restart, and this isn't a fast process. I need a different task to work on in the office while I have this as a project on the side.