when i had troubles with my touchscreen i used a 20 CHF (about $15) wireless gamepad from a electronics supermarket called media markt . it attaches to the usb port and has a range of about 10m around my car. it's got 12buttons which can be easily programmed with all different kinds of joystick-2-mouse software. great thing.
very ergonomic, uses 2 regular AAA battaries thtat last forever (i used it almost daily and never had to change them for the last 6 months.. i now got my touchscreen to work again and don't need it at the moment, but the battaries are still ok...
Brand: X-Tensions
Model:
XG-210
only downside: the joystick is only digital, but it's still got 8 directions.
what i am looking at right now (but have not gotten or tested it):
palm V keyboard to ps2 adaptor to use palm V keyboards on your pc (especially nice in combination with the
tiny targus keyboard. (never got a reply from the producer of the adapter to my question if it also works with other keyboards than the one shown on the picture, but i'd guess so)
last hint:
the sony remote control for car radios RM-X4S and RM-X2S actually works similar to a joystick. every button pressed represents a certain x-coordinate of your joystick: right now a friend of mine is trying to write a program to convert these positions into keystrokes to windws applications, so i can use it on my computer. very good for blind-control your unit (change volume while still having your eyes on the road)
find the
wiring for the adaptor here
here's a
XMMS plugin for this device (never tested it, just found it on google)
will post my friends software as soon as it works on the board here.. (if he allowes me to :-) )
cheers
pascal