Ok So I'm Seriously Going to Go Trackball

LoneWolfX1X · Post by **LoneWolfX1X** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 3:52 pm

Well I've tried a couple thumb balls and just couldnt deal with it...always went back to my ibm optical mouse

I just got back from BB and on impulse picked up a Trackball Explorer, finger ball, 4 buttons plus wheel, nice shape.

Desktop usage is still a little awkward but defying all logic I just got off the Ars CS server and managed to do quite well...was painfully bad at first but once I adjusted to the sensitivity it was great

playing around in GIMP but its going to take some time for 2d stuff

I'm planning to not even touch my mouse for at least 3 days and see how things go.

Only complaint so far?

the forward and back buttons are way too sensitive....nothing more annoying than popping right up in a cts face popping 3 mac 10 rounds then accidentally reloading....doh! Gotta train my pinky to stay in the air

blade · Post by **blade** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 4:34 pm

I always hated moving a mouse around so I only use a trackball. Currently using the logitech trackman wheel. It's the best I've had so far. Fits in your hand well and you move the ball with your thumb.

They take getting use to but once you do get use to it and like it, it's very difficult to go back to a mouse. Hope you like it.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 4:49 pm

Well, I used to love trackballs until I got my laptop. lol.. Now I can't stand them. I'd much rather have a touchpad. The only time I use a regular mouse is when I'm gaming. I have a touchpad that's build into my current keyboard and I love it! But to each his own! I do like the way blades trackball "looks" and I've thought about messing with the thumbtraks.. But I'm in no hurry hurry to spend more money when I'm happy with what I got..

eGo

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 5:56 pm

that logitech one is the same one I have and it is great. I dont really care for touch pads. Trackball's have much more accuracy, for me atleast. and yes, I do have 2 lappies with touch pads and I am very used to them.

On my system I have that logitech trackball (wireless) and then an mx700 for gaming...which I only really use when im getting really into it cause I am pretty good with the trackball's in games now.

Greg

MK888 · Post by **MK888** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 6:10 pm

Bought the logitech trackball, as soon as it came out... Probably 5-6 years ago? Still have it, and it works just fine. Will never go back to a mouse....

LoneWolfX1X · Post by **LoneWolfX1X** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 6:21 pm

well 2d stuff is getting pretty comfortable and intuituve

pretty damn good at CS but bf1942 is just plain unplayable so far

i still keep rolling the ball expecting to scroll though

CaterpillarAssassin · Post by **CaterpillarAssassin** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 6:42 pm

I have the microsoft optical trackball. Went with a trackball 4 years ago and havent looked back. My favorite it the thumb ball style. This way I still use my index and middle finger for clicking and scrolling. But I also have become fond of my laptop touchpad. Dont ttry gaming with it though lol. I think I can play GTA3 well, and Wolfenstein ok. But thats about it.

DocSilly · Post by **DocSilly** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 7:18 pm

The best Trackball ever was Logitechs TrackMan Marble FX.
Here're some pics etc > http://csown.dhs.org/trackmanmarblefx.html
The only thing missing would be a wheel, but the rest is perfect ... sadly it ain't in production anymore. I even played Quake2 and other shooters with it.

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 12:52 pm

maybe i'll look into a trackball...my right hand is trashed from using the mouse so much (especially once i switched into pc's as a living...8-10 hours/day constantly). it got so bad that i switched to using my left hand for all things excepts gaming!

it took a few days to get used to using my left hand with a mouse, but not i can switch back and forth without thinking...i just can't game left handed. the drawback is when i DO game i can only last a few matches before my right hand can't take it anymore. whah!!

LoneWolfX1X · Post by **LoneWolfX1X** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:18 pm

Originally posted by b-man1
maybe i'll look into a trackball...my right hand is trashed from using the mouse so much (especially once i switched into pc's as a living...8-10 hours/day constantly). it got so bad that i switched to using my left hand for all things excepts gaming!

it took a few days to get used to using my left hand with a mouse, but not i can switch back and forth without thinking...i just can't game left handed. the drawback is when i DO game i can only last a few matches before my right hand can't take it anymore. whah!!

its definitely easier on the hads/wrists

id reccomend buying both a thumball and a fingerball and just returning the one you dont like

I've tried 3 different thumballs and just cant get used to it...my thumb is far too ungraceful an appendage

I've gotten to really love the feel of this thing but so far the precision just isnt there for 3d gaming

EDIT:

heres a pic note the right forward/back buttons and wheel placement

The wheel is a little too sensitive and tends to get pressed accidentally a lot in twitch games and the buttons to the right tend to get mashed during quick 180 turns but I'm working on it

DocSilly · Post by **DocSilly** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 4:03 pm

LoneWolfX1X

I'm using that same trackball on my laptop cause I needed one with USB (and my beloved TrackMan Marble FX is PS/2), it's quite nice.

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Ok So I'm Seriously Going to Go Trackball

Ok So I'm Seriously Going to Go Trackball

TouchPads... ?