Trackball Mice

Rexmons · 05-23-2007, 11:26 AM

I've used a trackball mouse for close to ten years and unfortunatly there seems to be a major decline in the manufacturing of them. If you go to a Best Buy / Staples / Office Max / Circuit City you'll be lucky if they offer 2 out of the 25 they have. I travel alot with my laptop and sometimes you don't have enough room to use a conventional mouse. Has anyone else noticed this or does everyone just use conventional laser/optical mice?

Shawnee123 · 05-23-2007, 11:38 AM

I love my trackball and would prefer to use nothing else. I hope they're not becoming obsolete.

freshnesschronic · 05-23-2007, 05:07 PM

You guys aren't in the know are ya, laser mice are like totally the standard :P

No but seriously, they are superior in every way, invest in them no doubt. So much better than trackball or optical.

Sundae · 05-23-2007, 05:40 PM

Can't answer the original question, but I inherited my ex manager's trackball after it was supplied to him following a workplace assessment. He just didn't like it - and I did. Miss it now

Clodfobble · 05-23-2007, 06:05 PM

I can handle a trackball if I absolutely have to, but my husband used to use a thumb trackball exclusively. I seriously had to use both hands to use it.

bluecuracao · 05-23-2007, 07:00 PM

After we've lost two mice in transit, I just use the touchpad on our laptop. It's a pain in the butt at first, but once you get used to it, it's fine.

Uisge Beatha · 06-14-2007, 07:02 PM

Trackballs forever! They may not be too common, but they're still around. If you shop online you can still find a small variety from a good few manufacturers.

Flint · 06-15-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexmons

... Best Buy / Staples / Office Max / Circuit City ...

That's the problem. You need a Fry's Electronics or somesuch.

Shawnee123 · 06-15-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshnesschronic

You guys aren't in the know are ya, laser mice are like totally the standard :P

No but seriously, they are superior in every way, invest in them no doubt. So much better than trackball or optical.

Isn't a laser mouse just a regular mouse without a cord? You still have to move your hand all over the place. What a pain in the ass. A trackball, all you move is a couple fingers. Takes up less space, too.

Flint · 06-15-2007, 09:12 AM

A "laser" or optical mouse uses a laser underneath, in stead of the little ball, to track motion. A mouse without a cord would be a wireless mouse. In both cases, yes, you still have to make wacky non-ergonomic motions all over the desk.

I myself have a wireless, optical, trackball.

Clodfobble · 06-15-2007, 09:59 AM

WTF is an "optical" trackball? A trackball by definition doesn't move around the desk. I submit there ain't no such thing, sir.

Flint · 06-15-2007, 10:04 AM

The rotation of the trackball is not communicated via physical contact with the base. Less friction, more accurate.

Shawnee123 · 06-15-2007, 10:14 AM

New Cellar tagline: Less friction, more accurate.

Flint · 06-15-2007, 10:16 AM

Little, yellow, different, better.

Shawnee123 · 06-15-2007, 10:22 AM

OMG...when that commercial came out my sis-in-law said "Are they talking about the Japanese?"

05-23-2007, 11:26 AM	#1
Rexmons - Kavkaz United - Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 613	Trackball Mice I've used a trackball mouse for close to ten years and unfortunatly there seems to be a major decline in the manufacturing of them. If you go to a Best Buy / Staples / Office Max / Circuit City you'll be lucky if they offer 2 out of the 25 they have. I travel alot with my laptop and sometimes you don't have enough room to use a conventional mouse. Has anyone else noticed this or does everyone just use conventional laser/optical mice? __________________ "Life's a bitch but God forbid the bitch divorce me..."

05-23-2007, 11:38 AM	#2
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I love my trackball and would prefer to use nothing else. I hope they're not becoming obsolete. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

05-23-2007, 05:40 PM	#4
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Can't answer the original question, but I inherited my ex manager's trackball after it was supplied to him following a workplace assessment. He just didn't like it - and I did. Miss it now __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

06-15-2007, 09:12 AM	#10
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	A "laser" or optical mouse uses a laser underneath, in stead of the little ball, to track motion. A mouse without a cord would be a wireless mouse. In both cases, yes, you still have to make wacky non-ergonomic motions all over the desk. I myself have a wireless, optical, trackball. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-15-2007, 10:04 AM	#12
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	The rotation of the trackball is not communicated via physical contact with the base. Less friction, more accurate. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

05-23-2007, 05:07 PM	#3
freshnesschronic Professor Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,555	You guys aren't in the know are ya, laser mice are like totally the standard :P No but seriously, they are superior in every way, invest in them no doubt. So much better than trackball or optical.

05-23-2007, 06:05 PM	#5
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I can handle a trackball if I absolutely have to, but my husband used to use a thumb trackball exclusively. I seriously had to use both hands to use it.

05-23-2007, 07:00 PM	#6
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	After we've lost two mice in transit, I just use the touchpad on our laptop. It's a pain in the butt at first, but once you get used to it, it's fine.

06-14-2007, 07:02 PM	#7
Uisge Beatha Lecturer Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 945	Trackballs forever! They may not be too common, but they're still around. If you shop online you can still find a small variety from a good few manufacturers.

06-15-2007, 09:59 AM	#11
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	WTF is an "optical" trackball? A trackball by definition doesn't move around the desk. I submit there ain't no such thing, sir.

06-15-2007, 10:14 AM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	New Cellar tagline: Less friction, more accurate. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-15-2007, 10:16 AM	#14
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Little, yellow, different, better. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-15-2007, 10:22 AM	#15
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	OMG...when that commercial came out my sis-in-law said "Are they talking about the Japanese?" __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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