Anyone use a trackball mouse?
andersonsonson
Posts: 6,454 Forum Member
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Thinking of buying a logitech trackball mouse
I mainly use my PC for internet and Word/Excel
Will it be a good decision?
I mainly use my PC for internet and Word/Excel
Will it be a good decision?
0
Comments
You've also got the option of an external touchpad, which may/mayn't be better for you.
Its true to say they take a little getting used to but the good thing about a trackball is that if you dont have a lot of space they a great because they dont need space to move. I wouldnt go back to a mouse now and nor would anyone else here.
When did you last use a modern ir/laser mouse? I can traverse the screen with mine by moving it no more than 1 or 2 inches in either direction!
I can't for the life of me see why anybody would want to go back to a trackball mouse which get crudded up on the rollerss over time, and become erratic in response as a result. The modern Mouses (Mice?) are so low maintenace - a quick wipe of base now and then with a damp cloth.
About the only time a trackball is better than an ir/laser mouse is when the desktop surface is transparent. Easily solved using a high tech solution such as a "piece of paper".
I agree that to go back to a mouse with a ball underneath is not sensible as they got very dirty, but for me the laser mouse wins.
It depends what you are using them for or rather why you would pick one over a mouse. For people with RSI trackballs can be god send as you don't need to move your wrist. However they are not as easy to use it but only because I suspect people are so used to having a mouse.
Once you get use to trackballs they are every bit as good as a mouse. People complain about having to clean them but it does not take long and you should only need to do it once every 3 months or so.
I would suggest the Logitech M570 retails around 50 pounds.
I guess Im just completely used to a trackball. It has been 12 years or so. On this pc I have a Kensington Expert with the extra 2 buttons which open Explorer or Firefox as well, without having to move more than a finger. Traversing the entire screen (and this one is 27 inches) just takes moving a finger across the ball from one side to the other, although the Expert has a much bigger ball, which is about 2 inches across.
I dont really find much of a problem with the rollers that a bit of wet tissue wont sort.
I do use laptop touchpads, but they are a pain. Sure I've used a laser mouse - the missus werent too pleased when I knocked a full cup of tea onto the carpet with my elbow...:D
I prefer the thumb driven ones like the Logitech M570, although the older Trackman Wheel is rather better IMO.
I wouldn't go for the "Trackman Marble" which is the finger driven one, because there's no obvious way to scroll up or down
Wouldn't go back to a mouse now. It's also great fun watching other people try to move my trackball around the desk and wonder why it isn't moving the mouse pointer. Or struggle to move the ball around for some reason
I think it was the type you had. The Logitech ones can have the ball popped out with a pen from underneath and it's a 20 second job to clean the rollers and the sensor
It's worth pointing out that it's nothing like the old ball mice in terms of accuracy, they're very very accurate and don't need cleaning too regularly (you'll notice that the ball gets really hard to move when it gets clogged up)
Jut a thought are we talking about conventional mouses, with a trackball underneath, or are we talking about more sophisticated trackball devices eg. a big trackball at the top which you rotate to move cursor?
My comments were aimed at a coventional trcakball mouse, and would not apply to other types.
Ahh understand now. No, a trackball is on the top of the mouse.
Kensington Expert
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kensington-Expert-Mouse-Optical-Trackball/dp/B00009KH63/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1432552047&sr=8-3&keywords=trackball+kensington
This is the model (now discontinued). Contrary to other comments, it only takes a few seconds to clean and it has a scroll wheel.
So, if you want to try a trackball for RSI/posture reasons, it is well worth it. For any other reasons, it's more of a gamble.
I have tried using one but I didn't like using it at all. There are plenty still on sale though.
I used one for a week and developed tenosynovitis that lasted 3 weeks.
I had to go back to an ordinary mouse after my wrist recovered.
I find that a pretty remarkable statement. Were you using it on a shelf or something?
As I said I've been using various trackballs for at least 12 years. The one I use now I've had since June of 2006. Although they often take a little getting used to, I'd say 2 days, hardly a week. Sometimes you have to find the most comfortable position on the desk, and sometimes you need to position your fingers and thumb differently, or even get used to using them on different buttons.
With the one I have now I use my first two fingers to control the ball in the centre, my thumb to left click and little finger to right click, which means the whole thing can be controlled by a small rotation of the wrist with my arm resting along the surface of the table and my wrist resting on the wrist rest.
Im not having to support the weight of my arm at all, and I dont have to move my shoulder or elbow either, so its really comfortable, and I dont get tired so I can be very precise. I cant see me ever getting any sort of injury from it.
Personally I prefer a trackpad and have an oversize desktop version.
If you're referring to me, I wasn't talking about that one - but the "Trackman Marble" - e.g. http://www.logitech.com/assets/21737/21737.png
It's that one and the M570 that Logitech still sells and are widely available. The rest are rare as hens' teeth and normally go for quite a bit on eBay