Trackballs.

Hassknecht

Hassknecht

For hate's sake.
Staff member
Admin
Board Cop oTO
Orderite
I tend to have problems with my wrist, and although it's better since I put a folded washcloth on my desk to support my wrist, I got interested in trackballs, hence the topic.
Does anyone have experience with trackballs, thumb- and/or finger-operated ones?
I think I'd keep my mouse for the occasional game, but if gaming (that includes FPS and RTS) is possible, the better.
So there's not many that would suit my needs out there, I'd really like to have a scroll wheel and at least three buttons.
I'd also like finger-operation instead of thumb-operation.
That basically narrows it down to the old Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (which is ridiculously expensive and has a rather shitty connection as far as I know) and the Kensington Expert Mouse.
So, any opinions?
 
microsoft trackball explorer 1.0

been using it since 98 or 99.

i only use a normal mouse for FPSes
 
Hassknecht said:
Does anyone have experience with trackballs, thumb- and/or finger-operated ones?
Click to expand...
About 16 years ago I switched to a Kensington trackball. For the first week it felt strange, but after that I settled in and now I would never, ever go back to a normal mouse. I honestly can't believe more people don't use them. In all that time I've only replaced my trackball once, and that was because my first one didn't have a USB plug. If you don't throw them against a brick wall they last forever. I have the model called the Expert Mouse; though they've changed the name over the years they've always had the $100 price on it.

Would it be better for your wrist? I can't say for sure, but you don't really have to move your wrist with a trackball. I've played plenty of FP games with my trackball over the years and I think it's vastly better than a normal mouse. I'm right-handed, so I usually use WASD with my left hand for movement and the trackball with my right for "free look" control. It's great.

The only thing to watch out for is someone stealing the ball. People like to do that sometimes.
 
I should get the older optomechanical Kensington Expert then, I heard you can use american standard pool balls in it :D
The Expert Mouse seems to be the strongest contender so far; It's finger-operated, has four buttons and a scroll wheel and also a very neat detachable wrist-rest.
The only problem I have with it is that my keyboard and mouse are on a slide-out thingy under my desk, and the trackball is most likely too tall for it.
Anyway, I think I'll order the Kensington Expert and see what it's like. If I don't like it, I'll get the Logitech M570 to see what a thumb-operated trackball feels like.
And if all else fails I'll just get a proper wrist-rest for my mouse. It's not that I move my wrist much (very high sensivity), it's the angle that causes problems.
 
I used to play America's Army with a few old timers that used trackballs. Mostly because of wrist problems, but some just preference. Most of the best shooters on our squad used trackballs. And we competed in the top 10 on TWL. (for a little while, at least)
 
i dont FPS on my mouse because of hte button layout

the right and left click are meant to be operated by the thumb which can make it hard for zoom in functions or anything that uses the left click in conjunction with anything.

so the normal mouse.

that being said, TF and TF2 are the only games i sometimes used the trackball for, mostly because it is impossible for someone to circle-strafe you while you are using one. you never pick it up so there isnt that hesitation in response when the ball isnt in contact with the table or lazer.
 
For a few weeks i have been very intrested in keyboards fited with trackballs, so i wouldn't need a separate mouse and i hear it's good for the wrist, so i'm intrested if anyone here has ever tried one?

SC35PRO-angle-3x3.jpg

I'm also wondering if it's better t just buy a keyboard with a trackpad. There doesn't seem to be all that much information about these things floating around and they seem pretty neat for minimalistic goals.
 
I've used a Logitech "Trackman Marble"
Trackman_zpse6b485d6.png


They can be very precise in Photoshop, and work well for the web, but trackballs are not something I'd pick for time sensitive, or first person gaming.
It'd work fine in Fallout.
 
AskWazzup said:
I'm also wondering if it's better t just buy a keyboard with a trackpad. There doesn't seem to be all that much information about these things floating around and they seem pretty neat for minimalistic goals.
Click to expand...
As a long-time trackball user, I don't think I'd like that setup. A comfortable position for my trackball is several inches away from the keyboard and slightly angled, and I move it slightly whenever I change my sitting position. Having it jammed right up on the numeric keypad and immovable...no. I couldn't get by with just a trackpad on my desktop either.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the tip, i will probably hold out on the whole all in one thing then.

Gizmo, how does that logitech marble feel, how is the build quality? There aren't a lot of them for sale where i live, but the one you have, happens to be available (also a few kensingtons in that price range). I'm wondering if i should bother with trackballs in that price range (are they any good?), or should i just stick around with a regular mouse, since i'm not intend on giving up 150$ for a SlimBlade.

Also, i have seen a few videos where the players use the trackball in fps games pretty nicely (though i don't play that much these days).
[h=1][/h]
 
That one uses cameras (I'm reasonably sure), the ball is covered with the irregular dot pattern. It's good. The ball snaps in and out easily ~but not too easily.

The whole device is not that heavy. It doesn't feel cheaply made; but it is mostly plastic.

*The problem with trackballs, is that they are useless if you lose the ball, and you won't just find a replacement ball easily. For gaming... Trackballs don't compare to conventional mice. You might be able to set the acceleration suitably for a shooter game, might even get used to it enough to play comfortable, but I think it would always hold you back in games like that.
 
Last edited:
Gizmojunk said:
That one uses cameras (I'm reasonably sure), the ball is covered with the irregular dot pattern. It's good. The ball snaps in and out easily ~but not too easily.

The whole device is not that heavy. It doesn't feel cheaply made; but it is mostly plastic.

*The problem with trackballs, is that they are useless if you lose the ball, and you won't just find a replacement ball easily. For gaming... Trackballs don't compare to conventional mice. You might be able to set the acceleration suitably for a shooter game, might even get used to it enough to play comfortable, but I think it would always hold you back in games like that.
Click to expand...

He, he, how does one lose the ball??

There is another issue i'm intrested in. I play the piano and my finger joints, not often, but somtimes hurt a little from (bad movements of course) and when i play for a longer time. Becuase of this i hate the scrolling wheel on a mouse, because it puts the finger in a difficult position. Now i wonder if this might be a problem with a trackball, or are the movements different . Do you use more than one finger to move the ball?
 
Gizmojunk said:
For gaming... Trackballs don't compare to conventional mice.
Click to expand...
I would say a good trackball is superior to a conventional mouse in every way, including for gaming. Once you start using one full-time you'll never want to go back. It's worth spending more money to get a good one with a big ball, though. Like I said earlier, I've been using a Kensington for around 18 years now, and I've only replaced it once because my old one didn't have USB. They never wear out as long as you don't smash them against a wall or something.

You do have to make sure nobody steals the ball though. They're a tempting target for people with sticky fingers.
 
Gizmojunk said:
I've used a Logitech "Trackman Marble"
Trackman_zpse6b485d6.png


They can be very precise in Photoshop, and work well for the web, but trackballs are not something I'd pick for time sensitive, or first person gaming.
It'd work fine in Fallout.
Click to expand...
I am not sure ... but I think I have seen that already somewhere ... been a long time though

Slave1a.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top