Comments on: Ode To Those Who Use Trackball Mice

By: Steve Prusak

Steve Prusak — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:37:38 +0000

Being a musician who plays keyboards, I love a good track ball mouse. I use Logitech with my Mac book pro and find its precision superior to a moving mouse. I can rest my arm and not have to move my wrist. Every control I need is at my fingertips. Once you customize the settings of the speed and functions it becomes part of your hand. Those who don’t like a track ball, more power to you but your living in the dark ages when it comes to comfort and control.

By: Joe Ritz

Joe Ritz — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:15:48 +0000

There is another reason so far not mentioned. It’s medical. My wife suffered badly from Carpal Tunnel syndrome. The only way she could continue to use her computer was through the use of her trackball. I confess that I don’t like it either, but if given no other option…

By: christine woods

christine woods — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:52:55 +0000

I have been using the same Logitech Marble Mouse for 8 years, now, all day long with no pain whatsoever or the constant off-the-pad aggravation of a regular mouse. My arm rests comfortably, unmoving, (I use a Notecase armrest extension that clamps onto the keyboard tray), while I easily, accurately and speedily control the ping-pong-ball-sized red ball in the middle with my 3 middle fingers. My thumb left-clicks, my pinky right-clicks, and I customized smaller side-buttons for scrolling.

It took a few days and some patience to get used to it, which is probably why trackballs haven’t taken over the market given people’s lack of patience and infantile need these days for instant gratification (and Logitech’s inadequate marketing), but I hope I’m never forced to use a regular mouse again.

My biggest problem is that Logitech has discontinued the middle-ball model for a thumb-manipulated side ball which is much less efficient and uncomfortable, so I have to hope mine lasts for the rest of my life.

By: Larry Thompson

Larry Thompson — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:03:19 +0000

hey just found this little program (Joystick 2 Mouse 3) it allows you to use your joystick as a mouse. Forget the mice, to heck with the balls real men use there joysticks !!!!

By: Steven Hammons

Steven Hammons — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:02:02 +0000

I happened to mention Centipede in my post that was not addressed correctly albeit. But there is a definite contender to your soggy Rice Krispies and that is Kix in its dry form let alone them getting soggy…blargh! Why on earth would anyone think it was a good idea to turn Trix into an albino? Enough of the digression; Rich (aka not Dave), why would you want to use Dave’s computer anyhow regardless of the pointing device attached? If it is indeed that much of a bane to you to see a trackball attached to something, perhaps we should all attach one to all things good.

By: Sage Crispin

Sage Crispin — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:37:28 +0000

Yes, yes, but…

I bet you’re using that white flavored water they call 2% milk. The scourge of the Dairy Industry. Real men drink Real (whole) milk.

Sage

By: Rich Menga

Rich Menga — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:30:58 +0000

I’ve owned a standard JAMMA arcade cabinet, thank you very much and know the vector screen Tempest machine very well.

If you’re going to mention any coin-op arcade machine that uses the ball, Centipede is the example you should have used.

And you’re wrong. Soggy Rice Krispies is the worst, followed by soggy Corn Pops. Both are flavorless mush at that point. At least Life cereal is flavored mush.

By: Sage Crispin

Sage Crispin — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:24:33 +0000

You kids…
Are you old enough to remember the Tempest arcade game? It had a knob/dial twisty thing instead of a trackball. You have no idea how bad things can REALLY be.

Actually, you might be surprised how good that third one in your list works. None of course, are as wonderful as the one I use.

“Communism”?…then who’s responsible for Obama/Biden? And soggy LIFE cereal is a lot worse than Rice Krispies.

Sage

By: Rich Menga

Rich Menga — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:58:53 +0000

I'm going by NewEgg's definition, they call them TrackBall mice. And they're even in the title of the product(s). TrackBall mice actually come in several variations. There's the ball-on-left, the center-ball and the "forward"-ball. Regardless of configuration, all TrackBall mice are awful, period. It is the scourge of the internet and responsible for Communism, the gout and soggy Rice Krispies.

By: Sage Crispin

Sage Crispin — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:45:59 +0000

My dearest Rich:
A thumb ball (that thing in your picture) is NOT a track ball. I hate those too. They should all-lets be PC about it-be recycled.
I use an OLD (5+ years?) Logitech track ball. It is big-about the size of a golf ball or bigger. And most importantly, it sticks out the right side of the holder, making it accessible to your fingers. The left side is exposed for your thumb, but I never use it. My thumb is used exclusively to hit the left click. The left button is on the left, the right, on the right under the ball, right where your 2nd or 3rd finger hit it naturally. It works great anytime you don’t want to be moving your arm/hand, and you never run off the side of the mouse pad. It is especially good in the Motor home, where the laptop sits on the dash, and the ball next to it, taking up no extra space, but for the ball itself.
I do not use the track ball for picture/graphics editing.
Yes, those thumb ball things are awful.
Sage