Trackballs Versus Mice, The Pointer of Choice.

For those who were brought up using a mouse the paradine shift to using a trackball can be difficult. I know, it took me a little while to get used to it.

But now I can't live without it, either for my laptop or my desktop. I even use my own trackball at work. I swap it between my Laptop and the work desktop.

I find it much easier to draw with whether its in a cad or schematic/pcb and doesn't take up much desk space.

I now feel rather crippled (frustrated) if I have to use an ordinary mouse.

I agree with you, I purchased a track Ball, somewhere in the late 80's or 90's, what I have found, in most of the positions, I could not hold my thumb steady.

thing did not change much. ....... it was not cheap, usually, when I spend more, I will put up with it......but after less then a week, I replaced it with the old mouse, because it got to the point, that like you, my thumb and wrist began to hurt.........

Of which, because my wrist was aching, I eventually replaced my standard keyboard with an ergonomic keyboard, and I love it.

I just retired my first Kensington trackball which lasted through 3 computers...Now that's quality....I'm like you in that I don't understand why anybody uses a regular mouse....The trackball does take getting used to, but the effortless operation, speed and accuracy to me, are well worth the effort....The few people I have tried to introduce to the trackball have rejected it outright, so I have taken a 'to each his own' approach...When using friends' computers I inevitably get frustrated with the clumsy archaic mouse they are using, and wonder how they can put up with it....It's then that I realize they are not on the computer that much, and wonder that if I had to use a regular mouse would not the same be true for me......

The optical trackball I use....with gel pad for wrist....This trackball uses the forefinger for control, and resting the wrist on the gel pad makes for a very comfortable and natural position...In addition I have a Wacom drawing pad about 8x10 which can be controlled with pen stylus or fingers, great for anything really...These can be used at the same time or intermittently...

A mouse is far better with CAD programs.

Have to disagree with that, I use CAD all day & prefer a trackball, comes down to personal choice in the end.

I remember the first pointing devices (mice and trackballs) were trackballs, often with a billiard ball. Then the mouse emerged, and we took to calling trackballs dead mice, as you could use one of the older mice as a trackball if you placed it upside down.

Then the mouse balls got smaller and the laser mice emerged. (is there a laser trackball?).

I soon got rid of my trackball, and used ball mice, later laser mice, and never looked back. I find about one person in 50 uses a trackball, so there are compelling reasons to use mice because the price difference is minimal.

If you got Dell and HP to issue trackballs with each new computer instead of mice, that might give them some traction??

I have tried trackballs several times, but never for very long as my wrist very rapidly gets tired of holding my hand off the trackball when I am not actually moving. That is probably a habit that could be overcome, but I prefer neither!

I definitely prefer a trackpad to either a mouse or trackball. It took me nearly a year to discover the secret of using a trackpad: slide the finger to get near the target, then roll the finger to get exactly where you want. You have much finer control while rolling than while sliding.

Ever hear the expression 'I'm all thumbs.' That's short for 'I'm clumsy'. I have much more precise control over my fingers than I do over my thumbs, and based on the old cliché, I doubt if I'm alone there. I've always been amazed to watch these teenagers typing with their thumbs while texting. That would require cooonnnsssiderable effort for me to do. To me, using the thumb as a pointing device is ridiculous! I'd rather use my nose..., or better my eyes. Until the computer can track my eye movement, I'll stick to my fingers.

Another advantage, we have 3 CAD stations here, I use a trackball & the others use a mouse. Nobody ever jumps on my PC to use it 'just to look something up' because they can't control the trackball properly.

I used to use a trackball, but nowadays I'm comfortable with the mouse. If you have to move your whole arm, you need a mouse that can adjust the sensitivity. Right now, I have two monitors and I can move the cursor across both without lifting my wrist, and scoll with the little wheel, all quite effortlessly.

I bought every logitech "Trackman Marble Wheel" (thumb wheel), just like the one you have pictured, that I could find before they stopped making them. I have one for all my macs and the one windoze box.

I used the thumb wheels everyday with autocad, revit, spreadsheets, word programs, ect........

I have not used a regular mouse since 1988. I can't believe they still don't make them either.

I suppose when they finally succumb to atrophy I will have to clean a spot off on my desk space for the arm waving a regular mouse seems to need.

By the way, my right handed thumb sword fighting has improved immensely, since using the thumb wheel.

Use both, prefer mouse, I end up two handed on the trackball; it's on the cnc where there's no desk, it is good for whisking the cursor side to side, not so good for fine movements, for me.

Desk real estate? the mouse is side to side in 70mm, not too bad.

cnc

I very much like the fingertip-operated Kensington trackball with the huge ball. I used to have one with an old 8-ball as the trackball. I loved the way it worked.

WHat we really need is for someone to sell the tracking circuit on a small board and a library of 3D-printer files for you to choose and print the kind of mouse/trackball/glove/etc that you want to use.

I have both. But can not get comfortable with the Fellows Micro Trac 99928. I think that it is just a time investment thing.

Tried track balls in the past. I can't use them easily because of a childhood injury to the main thumb joint on my right hand. It has a "catch point" when I move it side to side and makes the screen pointer tend to overshoot my target. Frustrating!!

Different strokes for different folks.

Hooker

New pointing devices loom

I just saw that - they look interesting

I prefer my Apple Trackpad.

There's also the Loop Pointer, good for the living room and other places you don't want to use a surface: http://www.hillcrestlabs.com/products/loop.php/

Have you taken a look at these 3D mice?

http://www.3dconnexion.com/buy/shop.html?3dxcp=GA_GA_search_google_US_Brand

They are very good.

well, this is what you'll want.....

Why stop there, get it with a turbo boost............

Then we can talk about global warming.............

I've been using the Space Navigator for about 5 years now for CAD and other 3D applications. I got so addicted to using them at work that I bought one for home use. They have more than paid for themselves over the years as they allow you to keep your visual focus on your design while manipulating geometry with the standard mouse. No distraction trying to find a 3D rotation/zoom/pan widget.

Hooker

I was thrown from a horse when I was a child. The impact broke my neck and collarbone, and damaged the nerves leading to my arms, hands and fingers. Consequently, I have no sensation whatsoever in my thumbs and fingers. I can (and have, by accident) touch a hot stove-top and not feel a thing (it was the smell of my fingers burning that alerted me). I cannot use a trackball because I can't feel it. A mouse I can feel with my hand, but I have to actually look to see if my fingers are placed on the buttons properly.

I have used a trackball for 30+ years, and share your perplexity as to why it is not more widely used.

BTW, the trackball is NOT relatively new. I recall seeing and using a trackball on a US Air Force radar console in 1958.