trackball

Bernie Lomax · Post by **Bernie Lomax** » Fri May 20, 2005 1:39 am

anyone here use a trackball? I just got the logitech trackman wheel and i dont know if i want to keep it. Does anyone find using a trackball with bigger ball (pause) is easier or more comfortable?

suburbanbather · Post by **suburbanbather** » Fri May 20, 2005 1:59 am

I use a trackball on my desktop. I F@#king hate it! Its the Microsoft trackball(I forsee the Microsoft flames already) It jumps just as bad as a standard mouse and if you are eating potato chips or any other greasy finger food then forget about using it. You'll just end up spinning your tires. You also have to clean it regularly because of the deadskin and dirt build up in the sensor thing-a-ma-jiggers. When I'm ready to stop being a cheap bastard I'll buy an optical mouse and throw the trackball in the trash.

polyslax · Post by **polyslax** » Fri May 20, 2005 2:14 am

Kensington Expert, the only way to roll.

And yes, bigger balls are better!

drush · Post by **drush** » Fri May 20, 2005 2:26 am

i have a kensington pro. love it

bought a logitech optical trackball a few weeks ago for something else, returned it a day later. piece of crap.

but yeh - mice bug me, comparatively speaking.

anonymouse · Post by **anonymouse** » Fri May 20, 2005 2:29 am

i use microsoft optical explorer - and I love it. Don't know how I ever used a mouse for serious work. I can never go back

doesn't need much cleaning; and if it does it just takes a second to pop the ball out, run a tissue around it and drop it back in. perfectly steady pointer with this thing, very accurate and effortless with your finger tips.

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse ... px?pid=011

waaay better than an optical mouse.

suburbanbather wrote:have to clean it regularly because of the deadskin and dirt build up

the bathing you refer to in your ID is exclusively sunbathing I take it

polyslax · Post by **polyslax** » Fri May 20, 2005 2:32 am

Should mention I'm a tablet man as well (6x8 Wacom) for Photoshop, Illustrator etc and sometimes use that in Live. Works like a charm.

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Fri May 20, 2005 4:37 pm

I've got a Microsoft thumb-action trackball. I love it, especially for endless scrolling. I've been wondering lately if the trackball thing is bad for the wrists though. With a mouse, most of the motion is with the arm, but with a trackball most of the motion is with the thumb (or fingers). My wrist has been hurting quite a lot for the last 8 months or so. Its not good to know you're on the path to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Anyone else have any experience with computer-related wrist injury or solutions?

elemental · Post by **elemental** » Fri May 20, 2005 4:39 pm

I use a logitech thumb trackball, its ok - it was cheap. Work are too tight to buy proper ergonomic devices for us, so I got one myself - a normal mouse gives me real probs, but then this trackball is starting to aswell. That Kensington looks nice tho.

smart1123 · Post by **smart1123** » Fri May 20, 2005 5:42 pm

I had the Logitech Thumb ball for years, still got the thumb injury too, don't use them... carpal tunnel all the way, I own 4 kensingtons and the studio I work in owns about 50, they're the shit, i like the expert or turbo mouse pro cause they have a scroll function, the pro has six extra buttons, dunno if they do pc version tho'.

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Fri May 20, 2005 6:11 pm

thank you smart1123! I was afraid it might the thumb-ball causing the pain.
I think I might go out and buy a Kensingotn Expert Mouse today. Is that the one you most recommend?
Seriously, its worth $100 to avoid crippling wrist injury. My mom is locked into a nasty cycle of surgery for carpal-tunnel, which causes more scar-tissue which has to be removed, which causes more...

smart1123 · Post by **smart1123** » Fri May 20, 2005 7:50 pm

Yeah, used the Kensington for 5 years now no probs, good luck

Bernie Lomax · Post by **Bernie Lomax** » Sat May 21, 2005 5:44 am

I'll have you all know, i returned my thumball 1995 piece of crap and got a kensington Expert Mouse, and I have to say, its one thing with the title Expert that deserves it. Its great, A lot less strain on my hand than a mouse or that thumb roller garbage. Working great! Thanks for the help.

This is a decision a lot of you should think about also, being that you are all on the computer ALL THE TIME. Healthy computing.

orage · Post by **orage** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:06 am

I've been using Kensington Turbo and Expert Mouse Trackballs for over ten years now to do all of my editing. No wrist problems at all.

I can't handle those thumb track balls, not enough response for me....

Bernie Lomax · Post by **Bernie Lomax** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:06 am

polyslax wrote:Kensington Expert, the only way to roll.

I AM LOVING THIS THING

Strauzzie · Post by **Strauzzie** » Mon May 23, 2005 8:49 pm

Can someone give me some positives of using trackballs as opposed to an optical mouse for audio production?