Best computer trackballs according to redditors
We found 390 Reddit comments discussing the best computer trackballs. We ranked the 53 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 390 Reddit comments discussing the best computer trackballs. We ranked the 53 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
![Elecom optical trackball [USB] (5 button Black) M-XT1URBK](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MViDYzj6L.jpg)
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll-K72337US/dp/B002OOWB3O
I really like it (I have the v.goofily named Elecom HUGE) but I should probably mention the most intense mouse/kb game I play on the regular is Cities: Skylines. Most of what I actually do on here is general office stuff and a lot of photo editing. I can vouch for its accuracy at low speeds (there's so much heft to the ball you can move it with pinpoint accuracy) but it might not be the greatest at twitchier stuff because you don't get that giant range of motion you can get out of a mouse and a big mousepad.
Not all of us shit on odd control schemes. Personally, I think 90% of the reason to game on PC is because I can pick whatever control style I damn well please. Hell, most of the time I can use multiple control schemes at the same time (which I often do in Dying light).
I have both a Xbone and Steam controller connected to my rig because I find them better for certain games (actually, I lie, I really haven't found a use for the Steam controller yet). I also have a R.A.T.9 mouse and Kensington expert mouse trackball connected because each is better for different games.
Most people give me shit because, I mainly use the Kensington trackball. Once I remap the controls to fit how I use it though, I routinely have the highest kills and/or headshots most PvP and PvE FPS and TPS. Actually in Killing Floor 2 (my current obsession) I almost always have the most headshots, damage and boss kills.
I've got a Project Zen V1 from rgbkb.net with a case I designed myself. Trackball is a Kensington expert. I am all in on ergodox-style boards, it's just enough keys to let me do what I want to do
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0050SPZMK/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479228669&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65
The answer.
This is what I run at work https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Trackball-Mouse-K64325/dp/B01936N73I?th=1
Interesting concept.
First thing that comes to mind is that at that angle, not much is holding in the actual ball.
Assuming you're gonna thumbball it with something already existing, my first guess would be to work around the mx570
If you want a straight drop in like in your render, turns out you can order this trackball part from China. You'd have to wire and program for it yourself though.
Believe me, I tried everything I could to reduce the symptoms before getting a fucking cortisone shot pounded into my wrist. That was the end result though: It turns out the short, repetitive movements necessitated by a trackpad are exactly the same type that breed tendonitis. So feel free to rock the trackpad, but be wary of any mysterious twinges of pain in your hand or wrist.
Since that experience I've switched to a trackball mouse which is just ridiculously better.
Might I suggest getting her a trackball instead? They are very handy, work as good as a mouse, but allow for a different experience, especially for those of us who have trouble with using a mouse. Variations here and here give you an idea of the choices available in form, like specialized keyboards.
Also, they may be coming out with a flip version of a smartphone (Samsung, I believe?) in the near future. Is your mom a Star Trek:TOS fan, by chance?
Also, you might try buying her a cheap tablet, and loading a few games into it, to get her used to using the form factor. (Hey, that's why Microsoft invented Minesweeper and Solitaire, so it's not as dumb an idea as it sounds... and not mine - obviously. "Good minds invent, GREAT minds steal. " heh )
Been using this for many years: https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Wireless-Trackball-K72359WW/dp/B01936N73I
As someone who has used trackballs for the better part of seven years, I would highly recommend them for gaming, however, the one OP has I would highly advise against. There's two practical types of trackballs I know of - thumb operated and finger operated. The thumb operated ones like this and this are second to none for FPS games if you can handle the relatively small learning curve and few buttons. The finger operated ones like OP's are truly bizarre to use and take quite some time to become proficent enough to perform the most trivial tasks
> Trackballs are bigger and bulkier than smaller, more portable laser mice.
The ones on the market right now are for sure. It is possible to make smaller trackballs though. Some Blackberries have a trackball on the front.
This comes down to how they are designed. Right now, there are no portable trackballs being made by big companies. There were plenty of portable trackball devices being built back in the late 90's.
Portability is possible but not really purchasable off the shelf right now.
> Trackballs are more expensive than a basic laser mouse.
They can be similar priced the price is higher because of less competition in the trackball market than the mouse market. There are under 10 consumer trackball models available for purchase right now.
Price is not a functional disadvantage.
> Trackballs get clogged with jizz much easier
Haha, no. Modern trackballs are about the same as a laser mouse.
ugh, why the thumb trackball? From my experience, they're less precise and a bit more fatiguing on my hand than something like a regular trackball mouse.
Add some programmable buttons like the Kensington Pro and make it a finger-operated trackball; I'd gobble that up.
quite literally:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z
TL;DC: It's $599, $120 USED
You could look into getting a trackball style mouse if that works better for you
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00009KH63/
The Kensington Orbit with scroll ring is pretty inexpensive, sounds like a good fit for you. The scroll ring is really awesome to flick with your ring finger, and the ball was the right size for me (it's not huge or tiny). I just wish they made a wireless version the same size and gave it a third button ( if you need middle click, you have to click left and right simultaneously).
It's only $30 on Amazon and there's a 15% off coupon available (at least when I looked).
Kensington Orbit Trackball Mouse with Scroll Ring (K72337US) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_WguQAbWXNCMA7
TL;DR found on the bottom of the WALL OF TEXT
So it all started with me finding an old T-BB13 in a relative's cellar one day. I was super excited, since not only would I get to try out a trackball, but it was also old and grimy - means I could attempt my first restoration. Sadly, I forgot to take pre pics, sorry.
I got used to the trackball in about 3 hours. It felt MUCH more comfortable than my old G700, going back to which felt weird - it was so tiny and cramped. Uncomfortable. My only gripe is that I occasionally get tremors which can affect my precision on the trackball (the old marble seems to be much looser than the ones in both the new trackballs) more than a standard mouse, and the lack of extra buttons.
And so, the old Trackman Marble Wheel fuelled my hunger. Obviously Ripster has already provided the first fuel - indicated by the (impulsively bought) FC660C. So I got both the thumb and finger operated trackballs (also love how the M570 is wireless) to try different things.
Here's the exact links I bought them from - if you want to try the trackball world first-hand(I guess the £ indicates that this is for UK)
£20.80 Trackman Marble
£21.00 M570
Pros (M570)
Cons (M570)
User Preference (M570)
---
Pros (Trackman)
Cons (Trackman)
User Preference (Trackman)
Conclusion:
I fucken love trackballs.
I have used both for 2 hours each to play some Skyrim and I have to say - it's glorious. The only time I had such a feeling of upgrade was when I switched from a 8600GT to a 6950Crossfire and later on when I switched from a rubber dome to mechanical.
If you ever wanted to try a trackball for a long time - you should try it now. If you have used a trackball for years and can share any wise knowledge - please do.
I'd love some advice on how to make scrolling viable on the Trackman (Logitech's solution works like ass in browsers, and doesn't even have any effect in N++ or applications like games)
Also if anyone can recommend a guide on making a sidecar for these guys (I guess it's a bit harder than when making one for a CST) I'd love to see those. I already have a cheap rubber dome that I can salvage for the controller.
Thanks for reading!
TL;DR: impulse bough two new trackballs for cheaper than the current mouse that I got secondhand. Trackballs are glorious. UK! UK! UK! Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! BUT SERIOUSLY LOGITECH WHY THE FUCK IS THERE NO TWOCLICK FOR MOUSEWHEEL/SCROLL FEATURE ON WINDOWS?! Playing games is actually comfortable with trackballs. You should also become a baller. TL;DR. Recursion.
Another vote for trackball: https://www.amazon.com/M-XT4DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Left-Handed-buttons/dp/B016QCPRBM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mxt4dr&qid=1557753029&s=electronics&sr=1-1-spell
Looks more like a Microsoft Trackball Explorer.
Would something like a trackball be helpful?
Don’t laugh those fuckers are like 80 bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-SlimBlade-Trackball-Mouse-K72327U/dp/B001MTE32Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=trackball+mouse&qid=1565059705&s=gateway&sprefix=trackball&sr=8-17
It is on Amazon
Yep, true that! . . . This design might even make me switch over to a fingerball from my Elecom M-XT3DRBK thumbball. Which is fuck'n stellar!
It's a Logitech Trackman. They don't make those anymore - they ditched the wired ones for wireless and the build quality went to shit. I've used a Trackman since the late 90s. I cannot stand a regular mouse.
Logitech used to be fantastic. But I've owned around eight of the wireless pieces of shit, and they have all failed in some way - most of them, the scroll wheel stops working. The second most common problem is one or both buttons not clicking properly.
I did some research out of frustration recently and found that the Japanese are apparently in the trackball game. I just bought an Elecom trackball - a thumb ball like the Trackman - only they offered it in lefty format, so I jumped on that. Back in my mouse days, I always preferred a left mouse so I could write with my right hand.
So at the moment I have a lefty trackball to the left of my keyboard, and my last remaining decently working Logitech Trackman to the right - because playing games often uses WASD+mouse, so.... I need both.
But when my Logitech breaks, I'll be replacing it with an Elecom, if it holds up - but reviews are all great, so I anticipate it will.
They now have a bluetooth version,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01936N73I
The Elecom HUGE is what I use. If you have especially small hands, the Elecom Deft that /u/Aperture_Kubi linked to could be good as well, but it's quite small relative to other fingerballs.
Well, I honestly couldn't tell you. I kinda suspect it's because the Logitech Trackman Marble FX that we had used your fingers in... somewhat unusual ways.
It's this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-TrackMan-Marble-FX-Trackball/dp/B00000JBUI
If you're used to a regular mouse, you use your hand to move it, your index finger for the left button, middle finger for the right button.
On the Trackman, you'd use the side of your thumb to hit the left mouse button, you'd use the pad of your thumb, plus index and middle finger to move the ball and you'd use your ring finger for the right mouse button. If you grew up using one like I did, you'd love it.
My older coworkers weren't great at using the PC anyway, so adding the unusual trackball to it was just too much for them. They couldn't work out how to move the pointer accurately.
The Microsoft Trackball Explorer: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z
I have been using this mouse for over 10 YEARS, and it's still the best on the market. Used ones go on eBay for crazy money (£200+ sometimes). By far the best thing MS ever did. Still silky smooth and flawless after 10+ years.
Equipment:
Surface Pro 4 with dock
Dell 24" 1080p monitors
Mount-It! Standing Desk
Mount-It! Laptop desk stand mount
Mount-It! Dual LCD Monitor desk mount
Kensington Expert Trackball Mouse
Plantronics headset
Map of Faerun
> It had been sitting on my wishlist for a long time, and from what I'd seen of it, it reminded me a lot of oldskool tycoon/management games.
Thanks for the patronage.
> Simple things can already improve this a lot (scrollwheel for zoom, WASD to move around, middle mouse button/scroll wheel click for 3D / map free move, etc), lighter colors and some more modern fonts perhaps in the window styles, little things that make a huge difference!
Unfortunately, my input library doesn't work well with middle click and drag. My mouse also doesn't have a middle button, so I have no way to test this sort of feature without emulation. Free camera movement is unlikely due to the constraints of the 3d rooms you're in. You start clipping almost immediately once you're outside the core camera positions. Not to mention the artwork would look even worse, the closer you move to the objects.
WASD already works on the world map. Arrow keys work on world map and the RnD. WASD is unlikely to come to RnD due to all the text boxes in the GUI.
> Audio is bugged for me, at random points into the game (usually within the first 5-10 minutes) all audio stops working, both music and sound effects
Try launching the game outside of Steam via the command line. Steam might be overriding the shipped sound libs. If you need instructions, just let me know. Also note, the audio will stop playing if your mouse leaves the window. If you're using Alt-tab, you might not be hooking back in properly.
> Resolution settings are far from what is optimal for my monitor. I play it windowed at 1280x800 (1920x1200 monitor) which seems to be the best option for now. The Video Settings Editor refuses to start
Video Settings Editor is messed up on the Default Linux Build. It's fixed in Testing Build. If you're handy with a text editor, you can change the resolutions manually. http://wiki.gearcity.info/doku.php?id=troubleshooting:steam_installfolder (Click the picture for a gif). Then go to the GearCity/Settings/ folder. There you'll find LinuxVideoSettings.xml. Open it up in a text file. Find the VideoRes element, and change the numbers to your resolution, e.g. 1024 x 768 @ 32-bit colour to 1600 x 1200 @ 32-bit colour. The Video Settings Editor lets you do all this with a GUI. Anyway, you'll get that fix either with v1.25 in a couple months if you remain on Default build.
> Some things are confusing, but might just take more time to figure out. Turns out I can design a Shooting Brake in 1900, with the looks of a T-Ford for example
Due to limiting funding some vehicle classes share base body style artwork. If we ever get additional funding for an expansion, I plan on ditching the selection of vehicle classes and make the class of your vehicle based on the design characteristics of the body. But this is unlikely.
That being said, I checked both base models for shooting brake, and they seem fine. They're big vehicles, mainly used for hunting. Sort of like a tall station wagon, where you store your hunting gear in the back. As time progresses, they turn into essentially station wagons without the seats.
> Yet, despite all these issues I can not put it away.
I hope you get many hours and years of enjoyment out of it.
> I can't wait to see how it grows and improves.
Sadly, we're near the end of development. The gaming industry has drastically changed the last couple years and I am having to wrap up the project. Mostly I'm focused on cleaning up bugs and adding the missing text content. I wouldn't expect many major or moderate features to be added beyond what's currently in Testing build. Post release, I will attempt to raise funding via third parties and/or the community. That funding would go toward at the minimum new vehicle types, at best, a complete redesign of the designer system and a host of other big gameplay changes/features. But I wouldn't bet on a fully funded expansion. So don't get your hopes up.
> I wish I could promise dedicating time to helping out with testing/etc but I'm not sure if I have the capacity for that. Maybe later!
The best way to get the latest build of the game and to help out a little is to run the testing build: http://ventdev.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2594
If you run into any issues, you just email me the log file and the save game and write a sentence or two telling me what to look for. Sometimes, I just need the sentences. But even if you don't help out with testing. I am happy enough that you get enjoyment out of the game!
Keep it in the green and Good luck!
I've tried miming your range of motion as best as I could understand. With your left hand having more mobility, have you considered the Logitech G13? It's completely programmable and FFXIV compatible. The little thumb joystick set to "Joystick" in the peripheral's software will control character movement. Alternatively you could program Up, Left, Down, & Right to WASD, respectively. The product itself is heavy enough and has rubber mats underneath for grip. Depending on where you put it, pushing the thumbstick with whole wrist or arm movements ought not budge it awkwardly out of the way.
This post by /u/rabidpug describes his setup for the device which makes the game playable with one hand. While his setup is rather complicated it could give you ideas to really make it your own.
Edit: Additional thoughts
I know you said you didn't want to purchase additional hardware (and that's basically been my entire post, sorry). I've been thinking about your right arm's mobility and am curious if you've also considered a trackball like this one by Kensington. I've been trying to mime your right arm by elbow movements only, and it seems this particular trackball might work as the ball itself is prominent at the top of the device. The two mouse clicks on either side could work if you're comfortable or able to raise your elbow and (for lack of better terminology, sorry) karate chop them.
My apologies if I'm coming across rude or inconsiderate.
what mouse? Try this one here.
I use two of them, one each hand and i'm awesome.
> Touch Pad: Not as good as the MBP13. Its responsive but I miss the force touch. Need to find a way of making it less 'jittery'. I'll be using it almost exclusively (no room for a mouse while using on the train :P) so hoping I get used to it
It will never be as good as the one on the MBP. "Get used to" it being shitty. Get a trackball for the train.
You insinuating that trackballs are bad? I genuinely love (and have used for the past 3 years) my Logitech M570 and plan on getting the Elecom M-XTv2 so I can switch my M570 to my laptop.
It's a trackball mouse, you don't want it to slide around.
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-DT2DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-buttons/dp/B0171QQ7FM
Those aren't made anymore. This is the replacement. Came out a few months back. Works nice, almost as good as a logitech.
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-Wireless-trackball-function-M-DT2DRBK/dp/B0171QQ7FM
Just FYI, that price tag is msrp. Amazon is currently selling it for ¥6853 which is roughly $60
here's the link to Amazon Japan
I didn't look for the wireless version but it should be no more than $10 more.
Now the question is: to get a wired or wireless trackball.. mostly used for gaming, but the freedom of wireless is nice. Oh the decisions!
Edit: link not working due to Japanese characters. Just google it, and you'll see the price tag. Also, it comes out on 7/22/17
An obvious choice would be the MX Ergo which is just a premium version of the m570.
The only other company I can think of that offers a good thumb trackball would be ELECOM and it's EX-G Pro.
The later's nice because it has a lot of extra buttons relative to Logitech's. I like using mine, but overall I prefer fingerballs so I usually use my Deft Pro.
Only downside to ELECOM's mice is that the software to customize/assign binds isn't the most user-friendly.
I have dealt with RSI as well for a few years. It's been gone for neary a decade now. Here's what I did. Maybe some of these things will help you:
For code editing I use Vim with a whole bunch of plugins (here's my config).
For browsing and e-mail I use Firefox and Thunderbird with the Vimperator and Muttator plugins. These give me vim-like commands, modal browsing and scriptability. Meaning I can work without using the mouse at all.
Finally I use the Awesome Window Manager. I'm on Linux so if you're on Windows or OSX you need to find something similar, although I doubt i exists. Awesome is not so much a window manager as it is a toolkit to write your own WM. Here is my config. This gives me a fully automated tiling window manager with vim-like keybindings. No more need for a mouse to move and organize my workspaces.
Vim, Vimperator and Awesome pretty much cover 95% of my time spent on a PC. Everything is automated or just a shortcut away. No need to use the mouse or trackball at all.
I hope this gives you some ideas!
Edit:My first gilded comment. Thanks! :-D
As per earlier comment, I can't tolerate thumb-ball trackballs. If you need one, the Cordless Optical TrackMan is nice (although I much prefer my mouse) and more comfortable than the ambidextrous models.
This used to be my favorite trackball in the world. It was bigger than the crap they put out now and more comfortable.
Looks like an old Microsoft trackball i used years ago. Still have it somewhere i think.
Edit: link was obviously not this expensive back in the day. Was like $50 then.
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z/
You think you have it bad, I have two of these, one as backup just in case. I will never be able to afford a replacement in case i cant repair it.
This is the one I use. I'm not a full-time CAD user, but at my old job I used it a decent amount, and I do a good amount of structural modeling. I like it because it has the scroll wheel as well as the trackball, so you still get the full benefit of the scroll wheel (for zooming and reddit!) without the carpal tunnel.
Plus, no one will steal it because no one knows how to drive it.
By the way, I'm not sure about the price on the one I linked. I don't remember exactly, but it seems much higher than what I paid for it.
>https://www.kensington.com/us/us/4493/k64325/expert-mouse-wired-trackball
>Other than that, the trackball is glorious to play on.
Heresy!
Nothing is superior to the Logitech Trackball. We will now have a moment of silence for the venerable Trackman that has passed beyond the rim.
This is the model we have, but it doesn't have any sort of optical sensor on the bottom, so moving it around like a normal mouse wouldn't do anything. They work great for the people who like them. :P
Yep, I love trackballs. There are a lot of different options for doing everything.
The one I currently have in my office is the Kensington Expert
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Optical-Trackball-64325/dp/B00009KH63
Using their software, you can remap the buttons, and even the button combos (e.g. hitting the top two buttons copies, bottom two pastes) and you can make this application-specific.
It has a scrollwheel, and once I got used to its design, it made me a ton more productive.
As a more entry-level option, maybe go with:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-000806-Trackman-Marble-Mouse/dp/B001F42MKG/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324495928&sr=1-2
You can use software add-ons to make the trackball act as a 2d scroll wheel when you hold down a button or a key, and it also has four buttons.
Both of these mice are ambidextrous, which a lot of thumb-operated trackballs aren't. I like having the ability to switch up my mousing hand occasionally since it lets me load distribute, and keeps my hand/writs problems from flaring up.
Hello! Fellow trackball user here. At first I overcame this with a macro keyboard (Logitech G910 that lets you macro scrollwheel to keys) and then I later upgraded my trackball from the Logitech Ambidex (I use a left hand for my trackball!) to a Kensington. https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Trackball-Mouse-K64325/dp/B00009KH63/ This one has a scroll wheel, its design just takes a little time to get used to. If she uses right hand trackballs there are quite a bit more options.
Isn't there some kind of tax included in the price in Europe? Still kind of steep though, even with tax included. Currently 79.99in Canada in Canada. Which is $56.54 US for the older model.
Kensington Expert Mouse
Not yet. I'm thinking about getting something like the Kensington Slimblade
Oddly some of the most comfortable designs are also out of production now, like the two ianisthewalrus suggests - if you can find them at a sane price then awesome, but they can also be pretty extortionate these days.
That being the case I'd suggest trying out something like the Logitech m570 (which is a thumb ball - ie the ball's operated by your thumb), or the Kensington Orbit Trackball Scroll (which is a finger ball); both are under $30 and either would be a decent device to trial.
Looks like this one
Kensington Orbit Trackball Mouse with Scroll Ring (K72337US) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ghQszb8HXSNFN
Done a bit of research on Ergonomic mice and keyboards lately and I have to say that I'm very happy with what I went with.
If you're willing to go through a little bit of a learning curve, a ball mouse is a great way to go (though not for everyone and not for gaming). The one I have for now is the Kensington Orbit ($23). Though I'll probably upgrade to one of their wireless versions in the near future since I enjoy it so much.
And the keyboard (less of a learning curve) that I went with and am in love with (also not for gaming) is the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard ($59).
Heck, and while I'm at it I'll suggest a great (so far) cheap ass computer chair($80) I've been using as well.
Would a trackball mouse help? Not sure what his disability is, so that might not be a solution at all, but these mice may not require as big of movements for him to use.
Do not spend too much until you find a style you really like.
I think the biggest decision to make first is thumb ball or no thumb ball. Some love it, some hate it. I personally am not a thumb ball fan.
I found the cheapest way for me to find a style I liked was to find the various styles at thrift stores. I ended up get a older thumb ball logitech for $3, and another older logitech smaller ball style. I used both for a few days each.
After finding I did not like the thumb ball, but liked the other trackball quite a bit. I ended up order a new Kesington Orbit with scroll ring.
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-K72337US-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_2
Really like it a lot, all my wrist pain went away. Ended up getting a second one to keep at work too.
I eventually want to try the larger Kensington Pro trackballs, but the cost stops me. Always looking for a used one though.
As a side note, I did use one of those scroll bar mice before, on an old Outbound laptop. They are very interesting, but I did not get to use it enough to get a good feel for it.
I've given up on Logitech.
I now have three of these Elecom trackballs.
There's a wireless version as well, but... Meh.
Para qué no lo uso? Es lo más, tengo dos. Empecé a usar porque me jodía la muñeca y ahora lo uso para absolutamente todo. Incluso jugué DOTA, algún que otro FPS y todo...
El grandote con cable lo dejé en la máquina de escritorio y el de bola azul lo llevo en la mochila con la notebook.
También tengo ganas de comprarme éste
Pok3r pairs nicely with this trackball, I use it daily. I gave up the Logitech m570 after too much mechanical failures in the buttons.
You have a higher DPI and max mm/s track rate is what I mean by sensitivity. The sniper button makes the mouse cursor move quite a bit more slowly allowing small selections (text, very small buttons) much easier.
This is the trackball I use
DEFTなら……！
Check out the Elecom trackballs. Prices have REALLY come down since I bought mine, I think I paid $70 or $80 for the wired version.
Amazon link for wired - $35
Amazon link for wireless version - $50
Most of this user's problem is the utter lack of decent non-thumb trackballs available. Logitech stopped making arguably the best one on the American market (they sell for like $400 now). Your end user may be interested in this product.
Elecom M-DT2URBK
These are older/discontinued models. The Elecoms are new/still being made. I have both the Huge (which is aptly named) and the Deft (considerably smaller) and I really like both. I have the wired versions, so I can't speak to the quality of the wireless/bluetooth. I've not tried the Deft Pro; it seems to be something of a middle ground between the Deft and Huge.
E: added details and links
Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse (K72359WW) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01936N73I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Y0wkDb9VXG6T7
I had a hard time getting my apple trackpad to work well with Linux, this thing rocks on both OS X and Arch
Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse
Definitely check out r/trackballs.
I have a logitech trackman marble that I like and it's the index/pointer style as opposed to the thumb ball style. Only complaint was no scroll wheel.
The elecom huge is a really popular and praised trackball. Comes in wireless as well. It's one of the only thumb style with a larger marble.
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1URBK-Trackball-Ergonomic-Precision/dp/B07353DBP9/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=elecom+huge&qid=1571436512&sprefix=elecom+&sr=8-2
Edit: trying to left click quickly with my thumb was just not working for me, so I swapped back to a normal mouse.
ぼくはねぇ、トラックボール
I have owned about 20 trackballs, 50 mice, and a collection of other pointing devices in the past 18+ years, and two pointing devices stand out:
The LTMFX is over $100 on eBay (and worth it), but it's PS/2 only and there's no way to scroll with it. Also, you have to buy a $15 PS/2 -> USB adapter to use it on a computer w/o PS/2.
The SlimBlade has a lower profile than the Kensington Expert, and the ball is denser. Also, you can scroll with it. I swear by it now. It's extremely ergonomic: I use it for 10+ hours a day with no fatigue and no pain. The only negative is that it needs a good couple months to break it in properly. A bit of lip balm on the contacts helps until it's broken in. Another negative is that the top 2 buttons are practically useless on Windows (but nicely remappable on OS X with any number of utils).
You know how sometimes you try something, and it just feels "right"? You come into contact with it, and something twangs deep inside your gut, and you know you'll never find better than that. My first and only trackball mouse is the only computer component that fits in that category for me.
Logitech's brilliant-but-cancelled Trackman Marble FX(ridiculously overpriced link) is the standard that all other trackball mice should strive to achieve. Amazingly comfortable, no sense-memory learning curve, ridiculously precise -- best they ever made. Used mine for the better part of a decade (though it was terrible for many games). When it finally gave up the ghost, I discovered to my great lamentation that Logitech had discontinued it. I am pathologically unable to use any of their trackball thumb mice, so now I'm back to a traditional mouse. It saddens me to know that I'll likely never have another one, but at least I can tell my future grandkids that there was a mouse like that.
It's a Microsoft Trackball Explorer. You can have one for the low, low price of $650!
I really hope mine doesn't crap out =\
i've been playing games with a trackball mouse for the past 3 or 4 years now and I love it. I have amazing control with it and my twitch reflexes are a lot faster now imo, especially since I play a lot of tf2. This is the model I have: trackman
it takes a while to get used to, but now I can't go back to a regular mouse. I dont need all the fancy buttons and insane sensitivity settings, so this was perfect for me.
These are fucking awesome!
I use them for gaming, both FPS and things like WoW, minecraft, etc, and you get used to it very quickly. I went from numb arm after about 4 hours of play, especially on WoW, to being able to play all day without any issues. I don't like normal trackballs, the thumb ones are just the fuckin best.
This one is specifically the one I have at home, and it cost me like $15.
With this!
I've been using them since 2008. No callus for me.
They didn't make the wired version at the time. I can find it now on Amazon. Collectors are selling them for $399.99. That is not a typo.
Here's a generic one for $24.99. Also not a typo. ;)
Weird coworkers... sure, I'm almost 40, given time I could probably come up with a few other gems. I just thought of the lady with the Vietnamese snake wine because it was so odd and at the same place.
Yeah, a couple years later, I was doing a security job — jobs were kinda scarce right after 9/11, even though we weren't in a high risk area. Big companies were shipping jobs overseas, afraid of doing business in America, even in low risk areas. Anyway, I worked with this cheerful idiot of a man child (not that I wasn't one myself) and he once confided in me that he went to the interview stoned out of his gourd. To a security job. As if he didn't know security companies were staffed by retired cops. Or guys who couldn't make it as cops. So he gets there, high as a motherfucker, and they go to do a swab. He tells them his mouth is dry and asks if he could please get some water. They let him. He goes into the break room, and they have a water dispenser. He pours a cup of the hot, near boiling water, and he chugs it, burning the shit out of his throat. He gargles it. He takes the swab test and passes. If you think this is bullshit, I'm right there with you. He told me this story. I have no way of verifying it. He didn't last long, and when he left, he was fired, and the supervisors wouldn't say word one about it. I bet they caught him with weed. Security guards get dropped in on by their supervisors all the time. You're working a site, it's just you, plenty of opportunity to do drugs (or pot; I know, pot isn't a drug, the Good Lord wouldn't have made it if the Good Lord didn't expect us to smoke it, etc., etc.) but also, surprise visits are a thing.
Anyway, I'd relieve him after an 8 hour shift, and he would not leave. We'd get to talking, and I was on shift, I couldn't leave. And he'd stay for an hour. One hour turned into two, two into three. Longest he ever stayed was 5 hours, unpaid, into my shift. If anyone asked, I was training him. No one ever did, that was just the cover we agreed to. Supervisor dropped in, he forgot something and was just going (and would). Anyway, I started doing the same as we became friends, but I never stayed more than an hour, and most of the time he'd stay one or two hours, too. What was so special about this guy was, he would not shut up about a show called Babylon 5. Maybe you've heard of it. What he didn't tell me, that I think is so interesting, is that it was one of the first TV shows to air in 16:9. It would either have the letterboxing (bars on top and bottom) on the old 4:3 TVs, or they'd just cut the sides off (pan and scan). It was a challenge back then. TV stations didn't like it. Anyway, he actually told me, one day, the entire story of the show, leaving out very little details. And it sounded awesome. I meant to watch it, but didn't, for years. And then one day I got a great deal on the DVD box set at a yard sale. I thought, has to be fate. I think I paid like $20. Wife wasn't interested, so I watched it on my own. And I loved it. Wife agreed to watch it with me, so I watched it a second time with her.
Sorry, that was a long story, and that guy wasn't that weird, except for how he passed the drug test. Supposedly. But I mean, he didn't smoke around me, he wasn't trying to sell me pot, he wasn't trying to sound cool, so I kinda believe him, though what I choose to believe is, one, he probably cut the hot water with cold so it wasn't at 185 or whatever those hot taps put out, because I think that would have caused permanent damage. And two, either he didn't smoke that much that morning or, I don't know. Either the swab test was weak or faulty, or maybe it showed pot but no other substances and they passed him anyway. I don't think his story was 100% truthful, in any case.
I use a Logitech trackball for gaming. Years ago they discontinued the wired version but you can still see them for sale on Amazon for hundreds of dollars because the wireless version sucks in comparison.
Here's one for $300
http://smile.amazon.com/Logitech-Trackman-Wheel-Optical-Silver/dp/B00005NIMJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458875733&sr=8-1&keywords=logitech+wired+trackball
Unfortunately logitech doesn't make anything good anymore, so I recommend going back to when they did make something good. The corded version of the M570 isn't made anymore, but you can get it on amazon for about $65 used (ignore the $300 for a NIB one) and they often go on ebay or second hand store for less. I've been using the same one for at least 8 years and it's still going strong.
It's a Logitech Trackman I had the wireless version years ago before updating to the M570
In fact, they are being sold with negative sales at some retailers.
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Trackman-Wheel-Optical-Silver/dp/B00005NIMJ
My 2 original cordless still work, but I stupidly left them in storage :-(
You can actually replace the switches wholesale (I think, my mouse is the trackman wheel, but I would imagine they'd use similar switch hardware), which sounds way safer and less fiddly than trying to mess with the tiny spring by hand. You just need a soldering iron, desoldering braid and a bit of solder to reattach the switches, all of which are very useful for other things as well.
Looks like the switch manufacturer sells two-packs of the G500 switches, presumably for exactly this purpose.
You might want to look into a trackball mouse. I used a Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse for a while, then moved to a Kensington (wired) Expert Trackball Mouse.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Trackman-Marble-Four-Button-Programmable/dp/B001F42MKG
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Wireless-Trackball-K72359WW/dp/B00009KH63
There's even more ergonomic stuff you can do, but I was on a budget and only had minor wrist issues.
Trackball can't be beat for editing. For setting sliders/pots/clip positions they're invaluable, because your clicking finger isn't also resting on the device you're using to point with, so when you release the click, it doesn't move or bump the mouse. Plus infinite scrub, just keep on rolling the ball.
Kensington Trackball Pro
They're in Every. Single. Studio. I've ever worked in. Some boards even have a hole cut specially for them. I've seen some editors who literally have never used a computer without one, they can't use a "common" mouse.
I've got a stockpile at this point in case they ever stop making them.
You might want to look into a large trackball. onus in that they don't require much space and are also good at alleviating carpal tunnel pain.
The kensington trackball is a great one
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Trackball-Mouse-K64325/dp/B00009KH63
Looks like the Kensington Expert Mouse with a wrist rest of some kind attached to it. Retails for $99, but you can find it through Amazon for $63.96.
EDIT: Actually, the wrist rest seems to be included. It's in the pictures on Amazon.
Nice caps. I have seen plenty of beige-colored trackballs when I was browsing for one but they are all vintage things on ebay with no scroll option. I'm not sure if you could mod them..
The silver orbit is not discontinued on Amazon, but beware that it doesn't have a scroll ring, although I'm sure there's a ball-scroll mod in guides somewhere.
And you can always opt for the silver Expert.
The Kensington expert trackball mouse has a scroll ring. I don't think any of the larger trackballs have a wheel though.
I've been using the Kensington Expert Trackball for years with no problems.
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Mouse-Optical-Trackball/dp/B00009KH63
Not a programmer, but gamer and PC tech. I've used trackballs most of my computing life. I recommend the Kensington Expert Mouse (link below) for general use unless you're looking at the engineering specific ones.
Kensington Expert Trackball Mouse (K64325) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009KH63/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_COgECbHH1BNE6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009KH63
I think this is the goto ball mouse that all the cool kids use
Fat hands checking in. I use a trackball with a huge ball:
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Trackball-Mouse-K64325/dp/B00009KH63
I was having a lot of wrist pain using mice, but using the trackball my wrist stays relaxed so I can game longer without discomfort. Might be worth a try!
Seems I am late to the party, but maybe you're still looking for some insight. Up until I switched over to an Expert Mouse a couple years back I'd go through about three mice a year. Either the buttons would stop being responsive or the optical sensor became jittery over time. Which isn't very good when you're coding or designing something. Even though it's been just about two years now I've had no issue with the trackball.
Do you have any charity/thrift shops around? Especially if you're in a metro-area there's a good shot you'll be able to pick one up to play with for a few bucks. Just map out a few places to check out, and who knows you may even find some other peripheral that might be useful. It might take a couple rounds, but it's still cheaper and leaving the house once and awhile is good.
This trackball would probably work good too, but not as many buttons:
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-K64325-Expert-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B00009KH63/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425690244&sr=1-5&keywords=trackball
May I recommend an Orbit mouse? All mouse movement is controlled by your fingers and your wrist does not move. It completely eliminates all wrist related RSI injury.
I used these when playing competitively in FPS games with no problem.
It looks like the little collapsible shelf is standard on a lot of the carts. I'm considering sticking a trackball or touchpad on there with Velcro tape so everything is just stationary but I'm not sure if people would like that any better or how quickly they would get dirty...
We're going to put together a "hardware fare" with a few different configurations to let the nurses vote on what they like.
I've only used finger controlled ones myself, because i don't like the idea of just using my thumb, and I'm not a gamer. I started out with the kensington orbit optical, and I recently upgraded to the kensington slimblade. I've been extremely happy with both.
Kensington Slimblade Trackball.
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-SlimBlade-Trackball-Mouse-K72327US/dp/B001MTE32Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1485093966&sr=1-4&keywords=Kensington+Trackball
What about all of the games that use mouse only? There are great trackballs that work well for people with disabilities.
You can get a Logitech M570 pretty much anywhere they sell mice, including stores like Target or Staples. Amazon has refurbished ones for about $20. That's a "thumb-style" which means you'll be using your thumb to drive the ball. There are also finger-styles like the Logitech Trackman or the Kensington Orbit. I'm currently using and liking a Kensington Slimblade but at $85 it might be a bit steep for someone who might not even like this particular input method.
Stop by /r/Trackballs for more detailed suggestions and discussion. There are dozens of us!
Kensington still makes the Orbit trackball: https://www.amazon.ca/Kensington-K72337US-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll/dp/B002OOWB3O
I have used this mouse daily at work for the last 2 years and love it.
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Or, if you don't have a joystick, try a cheap trackball. My Kensington Orbit has been amazing on this game. Trackball for nudging the mouse control around, scroll ring for throttle, works great.
But what if I don't have a touchpad? What if I have a real mouse with only two buttons? What if I have a 3-button mouse with an unergonomic 3rd button (pretty much every one I've used)?
What I want is middle button emulation on all pointing devices all the time, except when I run a program that itself uses left+right click for some special function, in which case I want to be able to toggle middle button emulation off without restarting X.
I don't think I'm using libinput. I found nothing about it in
/var/log/Xorg.0.log, and my machine was originally installed with Fedora 21 and has been upgraded through 22 and 23.I would recommend a trackball as well. Here is the one I use at work daily: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002OOWB3O/ref=psdcmw_11036491_t1_B00009KH63.
This relieved a lot of the symptoms I was having in my right hand/wrist.
Thats the same price as amazon :)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Trackball-Cordless-Non-UK-Model/dp/B0043A1F4S
I'm just not sure there needs to be a "next level" here.
There are a few distinct variations on the mouse. For example, the 3D mouse, Apple's Magic Mouse, or perhaps a variation on the ergonomic mouse, and let's not forget the trackball mouse.
But, lots of people have tried to make a "next level" mouse without anything really catching on. Also consider how many programs have hotkeys that don't involve a mouse. Lots of power users on all types of systems (definitely including Windows) avoid touching the mouse if they don't have to, as it adds up as wasted time throughout the day.
Instead of trying to design something that everyone else would use, let's start trying to find the problem that you appear to be trying to solve. And to do that, let's start with your day-to-day. What actions do you perform in your normal day-to-day that you feel like would make more sense to move to the mouse? Do you already use an "MMO Mouse" with 20 buttons? If not, this might be the way forward for you.
I find that most people who still use a mouse are either in a workplace environment or they are playing computer games. Note that lots of people casually browsing the internet at home (not playing PC games, and not actively working) aren't even using a mouse at all.
They don't click like the steam controller but I like both. This is the mouse I have:
https://www.amazon.com/Elecom-optical-trackball-button-M-XT1URBK/dp/B00O1HYX9C
What I'm using now. I went from an M570 to this. I've had it about half a year now, no qualms. I loved the M570 but it simply didn't last for me. The only problem with the Elecom is that it doesn't track the stock trackball well. It's best to swap it with the blue Logitech ball. Overall, the Elecom feels better built and the switches are very responsive.
Elecom optical trackball [USB] (5 button Black) M-XT1URBK OR ELECOM Wireless Trackball Mouse w/5 button & tilt function Black M-XT1DRBK from Japan Seem to be near gaming quality.
Just found this Elcom Optical
Switchable DPI and a snipe button (third click, but still!)? This looks like a gaming trackball... I will have to get a hold of this and test it out... Thanks zyxxiforr for the tip!!
I'm in the same boat. I've always been exclusively a gaming mouse user, currently a Logitech G700s. I finally just decided to go for it and ordered the trackball that seemed the closest to a gaming mouse. I purchased the Elecom M-XT1URBK (But mine is wireless) and it should be here in a few days.
I can follow up with you after it gets here, I'm expecting a learning curve but trackballs have always intrigued me.
Elecom MXT. High and low sensitivity switch is great and the programmable buttons are nice. Alt Tab on one button, volume on the other two, it's a pretty solid option.
https://www.amazon.ca/ELECOM-M-XT3DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-function/dp/B016QCPNUW/ref=asc_df_B016QCPNUW/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292925723919&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10153383408756664260&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001598&hvtargid=pla-349694605842&psc=1
I'm a design engineer, so 80%+ of my day is CAD modeling. I use an (ELECOM)[https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B016QCPNUW/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile] wireless trackball for my main mouse hand, and I have a 3Dconnection SpacePilot Pro for my secondary hand. I absolutely love both of those. I love that particular trackball because it has three proper finger buttons, so I have a real middle mouse button instead of having to use (and wear out ) the scroll wheel button. I've been using track balls for close to 5 years of constant CAD work with no hand pains. Last year when my fourth Logitech trackball broke, I got a Logitech MX master, but it started giving me wrist pains after 2 weeks of use. That's when I found the ELECOM. If you are heavy into 3D in CAD, and tend to visualize in 3D, then the trackball is worth exploring. At $40 it should be easy to convince your boss to buy you one. My productivity increase is orders of magnitude more valuable than the cost of all the different nice I've used. I just need took find a way to justify a proper mech keyboard once my MS sculpt keyboard eventually dies.
I love trackballs. Though, I can't stand the "finger ball" ones. My preference is the thumb ball ones.
And yeah, Logitech is about the only brand that sells trackballs... but they use shitty parts that break after a couple of years. And for RMA's ... they don't bother asking for the hardware back, they just send you a new one, because they know how shitty their engineering is.....
This is the model I have: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QCPO0G/
But they have this as well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171QQ7IY/
Might check out the wired M-XT3URBK.
Hit the same wall with my M570 over the past two months; all three switches were becoming unusably noisy, even with a good deal of pampering.
I have very long hands and it still feels reasonably comfortable. The ball it ships with tracks extremely well is and very smooth; have heard the exact opposite, but maybe the issues with the previous models have been fixed. Overall seems like a better build than the M570. I've only had it for a couple days, so I can't give any long-term feedback.
Have you looked at the Elecom M-XT3? A lot of m570 users here have tried it and liked it. I personally wasn't satisfied with the build quality of the m570 when I tried it (the middle click in particular was awful). I haven't used Elecom's XT3, but the switches on their DT2 (their fingerball model) are pretty decent. I can't speak to the longevity of Elecom's trackballs though.
I'm right-handed, like most, but have been wanting to train my left hand because it seems like a waste to have an entire appendage that is clumsy and underused. So I started using a Left-Handed Elecom thumb trackball. It has helped tremendously with my dexterity and the cognitive differences from switching between right hand and left. I wanna say that if my Right hand was at 100% functionality, my left is now around 80%, and I can write legibly with it. The thing to keep in mind is that you can't really use your Left hand in the same manner as your Right, because it's coming from a different angle, and generally are pushing rather than pulling. Would definitely recommend this, and thumb trackballs in general.
​
https://www.amazon.com/M-XT4DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Left-Handed-buttons/dp/B016QCPRBM/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
​
Elecom makes left-handed version.
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Trackball-Left-Handed-buttons-M-XT4DRBK/dp/B016QCPRBM
Not sure which trackball you're referring to, but, this is the big one on the right of my keyboard, and this is the one under my monitor, though I switched out the stock ball with the blue ball from the m570.
This one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELECOM-Wireless-trackball-function-M-DT2DRBK/dp/B0171QQ7FM/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504967903&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=M-DT2+elecom
I have a fairly cheap Elecom mouse with a good amount of buttons I use to switch between edit tools and set markers on the fly.
ELECOM M-DT2DRBK Wireless index finger Trackball mouse , EX-G series L size 2.4GHz 8 buttons Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171QQ7FM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wQ6TAbTAC0CBV
Yeah... I really wish they'd make a non-symmetrical design to take over the gap left by MS's discontinuation of the Explorer and Logitech's discontinuation of the TrackMan.
I do have an Elecom on order, but I'm worried the ball is going to be too much in the center with my hand resting flat. I really prefer my hand to be at more of an angle. But at least the Elecom has a thumb scroll-wheel.
Edit: on the plus side... kudos to Kensington for still making trackballs at all.
If his left hand is at or near 100%, I'd definitely recommend a trackball. It doesn't have to be that toy-like one, you can get relatively large trackballs that look professional: https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Wireless-Trackball-K72359WW/dp/B01936N73I/ref=lp_172499_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1542739066&sr=1-3
I've found trackballs are relatively easy to use with your off-hand, so hopefully he won't have too much trouble adapting to it.
Personally, I found that I tend to consume media - read, watch, listen, click through links, etc - whenever I was away from a desk/table/counter/whatever with my last laptop.
I find that when I need to work or play I'm usually at some sort of sensible horizontal surface.
So, for me, the SP4 made perfect sense. I hate laptop keyboards with an intensity that makes other people uncomfortable and hate touchpads even more - so I use my SP4 with a Bluetooth mechanical keyboard and a Bluetooth trackball and I couldn't be happier. <3
Well, actually, my next KB will be a 60% BT, but whatever. The point is, I never seem to miss my keyboard when I'm away from it and my usage habits seem pretty typical to me from conversations with other people.
I feel like for normal windows stuff that I track better (or more accurately?) with a trackball than a normal mouse. If you get a good one (trackball), they're amazing; and I you get a bad one (e.g. a thumb trackball) you're in for some pain and anger.
The only reason I get gaming mice at all is because of video games and 360 flick headshots. Trackballs (not the thumb ones) and ergonomics go hand in hand.
Here are a couple trackballs I would check out:
1 and 2 but maybe check out /r/trackballs
Elecom Huge
Might I suggest trying out trackballs then, I use an Elecom one with 5 extra buttons Amazon link
What mouse is that?
Edit Found it
My Elecom Huge has been rather quiet. I haven't had it long, less than a week so far. Others can probably comment better, but it seems to fit what you are looking for.
nk it's the wired version of this: https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B0735584RM/
This is my favorite - Huge and around $60 for the wired version is a great price. The CST I have in the picture is a solid trackball, but I feel it's over priced and not as comfortable as the Huge. But you can't put a billiard ball in the huge, so if customization is what you want then the CST is a good option.
I thought the HUGE had synthetic ruby bearings.
At least that's what Amazon says.
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B0735584RM
This is definitely NOT small, but I use mine on a chair arm for War Thunder and I can't recommend it enough.
ELECOM M-HT1DRBK Wireless Trackball Mouse - Extra Large Ergonomic Design, 8-Button Function with Smooth Tracking, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0735584RM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Z7xIDbBPA28QJ
It's like having a side-stick controller in a mouse-aim game. I got this one mostly because of the number of buttons. I have directional control, fire guns, throttle +/-, target lock, zoom view, target padlock view, flaps up, flaps down, full elevator displacement, and enemy view padlock all bound on this one device.
Elecom also makes some smaller track balls. If they're as good as the Huge, it'd be well worth getting one of those to mount next to your stick.
Looks like an Elecom M-HT1DRBK.
Oh woops, I remembered it badly, it's 500/1000/1500
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELECOM-Wireless-trackball-function-M-HT1DRBK-Black/dp/B0735584RM
I recently got an Elecom EX-G pro and I'm quite enjoying it.
You are correct, just found the graphic I was referring to on this product page
Ewww I hate 'hand on top of trackballs' ever since needing them for SPARCstations. This is my fav, though has same button issues: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-TrackMan-Marble-FX-Trackball/dp/B00000JBUI
The Logitech Trackman Marble FX. Best input device ever made, as far as I'm concerned.
I loooooooved my old Logitech Trackball MarbleMan FX. It looked like something out of an HR Giger painting -- but that was a bonus because it scared people away from using my desk when I wasn't there.
When they were discontinued, I bought four of them. The problem is that a small plastic nub that held the ball in place tended to wear out and break after a year or so. So I haven't had one for a decade. And you'll see the "new" price of $399 on that amazon page...
I tried to switch to that, but just couldn't do it. I had the Microsoft trackball that you used with your fingers and then left and right mouse were with your thumb. Then you had two more mouse buttons you could hit with your ring or pinky finger.
I loved never "falling off" my mouse pad, but ever having to press both left and right mouse buttons together I had to get creative if I still needed to move. I was saddened the day it finally died.
edit for reference: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z
I just feel it was way more precise with two/three fingers moving together than trying to do it with my thumb.
Trackballs! The good ones are all discontinued.
Logitech
Microsoft
This one was/is my favorite
Edit: Agree - Finger control far superior.
That would probably work, I always found the thumb ones awkward though. Microsoft explorer this one was my favorite just had all the ergonomics. Had to clean it fairly often though haha
no thanks.
Now, if you were to make a model like THIS, I wouldn't be able to give you my money fast enough.
nearly $500 new on the private market, I fear the day either of mine die. (I have one at home, one at work. Both are 11+ years old)
Read the reviews, there is a serious cult following for these things.
Trackballs = Profit.
I sold two old Microsoft Trackballs for around $150 each on Amazon. They are now going for $169-$498 dollars!!
At my last job, people would just take someone else´s mouse if their own one was gone (vicious circle). I had one of these bad boys at home, so I brought it to work and soon I was working faster with the trackball than with a mouse. And it sat on my desk for a year and never got stolen, because I was the only one in the office who could use it properly. I also had a laugh whenever the boss tried to use it to show me something, he was pushing the base around on the desk and couldn´t figure out why it wouldn´t work.
I was a big fan of the MS Trackball explorer https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer/dp/B00005853Z
I recently bought both the Kensington Expert and the Elecom fingerball variant.
The elecom is indeed quite small. Nonetheless it is perfectly usable.
I still like to use the Kensington Expert for its larger trackball (I am so curious about the SlimBlade but I can't spend the money when I have two functional trackballs already). But the Elecom feels very smooth and more responsive for gaming.
Whoops, should have said Amazon.
Damn that is spendy for a 220DPI trackball.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00005853Z/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1349023503&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=microsoft+trackball+explorer&amp;condition=new
and the DPI numbers...
http://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/wi51v/trackball_dpi_calculated_from_user_testing_still/
I have a Logitech M570. The old thumb ball from Logitech was called a Trackman so that's what I still call it. The M570 is the 4th thumb ball mouse I have bought.
I know that you can take the ball out easily for cleaning, but you make a great point lol. For what it's worth, if you could find a replacement ball for this mouse, it may work. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Trackman-Wheel-Optical-Silver/dp/B00005NIMJ
I use two. Like /u/jonny- I use a Magic Trackpad but I also have connected a Trackball
Check if it still has a warranty. I have no idea what Apple's warranty is for the Magic Mouse, but you can probably search online or call a store to check.
I've used a trackball for about eight years now, both personally and at work. Occasionally I go shopping for a new and improved version but I always eventually settle on the same one:
Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical. It's very similar to the one you recommend, and although I own three (for various work stations) only one is newer than a year old. My oldest is four years old and still works perfectly.
For anyone new to trackballs: they need to be cleaned regularly. The best method is to use rubbing alcohol on the ball and contact points (inside the recess where the ball normally sits), but I've found that simply removing the ball and picking out the lint that builds up every few weeks is enough to keep 'em accurate and smooth.
The silver Logitech Trackman Wheel is a pretty bulletproof unit. They can be had right now starting around $40 on ebay. I got lucky with mine, I found it at a small computer shop in town that carries older used stuff for a whopping $15. I've been using it at work for a few years with no faults (and remember, I bought it used). I also own an M570 and the ergonomics are nearly identical.
This one: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Trackman-Wheel-Optical-Silver/dp/B00005NIMJ
I actually use a trackball mouse + gel mousepad, so my wrist doesn't move at all: it takes a while to get used to it, but after 3 months or so I could game in FPS's just like I could with a normal mouse.
This is the trackball mouse I used to use , however the right button stopped working after 5 years and they are out of production, and the only new trackball mice Logitech makes are wireless (which I am not a fan of) or this Marble mouse , which I found just terrible awkward for gaming. So now I have the Sanwa Trackball . I had to tweak the windows mouse settings to lower the cursor speed to about 60%, it's really, really fast by default.
edit: also, I really hope to one day became a great sc2 player only for the lols that when twitch fans will ask me 'what keyboard and mouse do you use' I can reply with 'Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 and Japanese Trackball'.
So believe it or not, I play on a Highlander team in team fortress 2 and I use the third model you pictured. It takes getting used too, but once you get used too it, other models just don't feel the same. When I use it for gaming, sensitivity is key. Each game has a different sensitivity so trying to find one that works is key for trackballs. I only have the one I do because I didn't have the money for a better one but I still wanted a trackball.
The reason I like the third so much is because you can use 2 fingers to control the ball instead of just your thumb. It gives me some pretty insane accuracy on games that have sniper roles. Personal preference is pretty big when picking a trackball because of all the weird designs of them. A downside to the third one is that it does not have a scroll wheel, which is pretty frustrating at times. You can use the PG UP/DWN buttons but its just easier to have it on the mouse. I do believe that the buttons above LM and RM can be configured to use as a "hold and drag" kind of scroll wheel but its still troublesome. I recommend getting one like this?
Something like this might also help, but it is a smaller size.
Maybe this?
Trackballs are kind of expensive since very few people use them. Also I'm not really sure where to look for more trackball mice because I bought mine from a store. Good luck and ask if you have any questions! :)
I hate to break it to you, but Logitech wasn't thinking of you. If they were, they wouldn't have discontinued the wired Trackman Wheel, replacing it with a (stupid dumb) wireless model (because you know how annoying it is when the cord for your stationary mouse gets tangled…).
But I'm not bitter or anything. I promise.
I've since switched to the wired Trackman Marble, which I've come to prefer because it can scroll in two dimensions.
Been looking at this one: http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Mouse-Optical-Trackball/dp/B00009KH63/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411560114&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=expert+trackball
the trackball looks to me like a Kensington Expert Mouse http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Trackball-Mouse-K64325/dp/B00009KH63
Actually if you are into trackballs, nothing beats this guy. I use it a few years already and won't trade it for any other mouse/trackball
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Trackball-Mouse-K64325/dp/B00009KH63
Greetings fellow bendy person! (I have EDS).
My hands are pretty messed and I can't do much with them so I try to have a billion input devices to switch it up. Vertical mice did not help me at all! Seemed like the wrong size for my hand or something though.
Most recently got the Logitech G600 (https://www.amazon.ca/Logitech-Gaming-Mouse-Black-910-002864/dp/B0086UK7IQ) but haven't got a chance to use it yet because winter makes me not able to use anything. Heh. But it's wider with support for the pinky finger which I think will help me a lot as I often get MCP dislocations on both ends on that pinky from mice. Also LOTS OF BUTTONS!!
I also have a Kensington trackball mouse (https://www.amazon.ca/Kensington-64325-K64325US-Expert-Mouse/dp/B00009KH63/). I read you said trackballs mess up your thumb but I don't use my thumb for it, just my whole hand or my index and middle finger together or whatever feels best at the moment. I use my thumb for the left bottom button only. It comes with a wrist rest but I try to just hover above it to not mess with my wrist. Moving it in the middle of my desk right in front of me helps wrist and arm posture otherwise I end up wanting to rip off my arm from the pain.
I used to have a RollerMouse (http://www.contourdesign.ca/product-category/mice/) which I loved for a lot of stuff but it ended up breaking... I think I ate over it too much and the crumbs messed it up and then I tried to take it apart to fix it and for the first time ever fully broke something. Oops. Heh. But seriously, having the option to easily mouse with the left hand or just differently on the right hand was really nice. I might have to get another one at some point. They have lots of models now so maybe I can find one that handles crumbs better. :P
I actually like controllers for some gaming. But if I have to do fine movements it doesn't have the same control as a mouse and ends up tweaking out my nerve pain or something. It just helps having my wrist turned rather than flat on a mouse (again the vert mouse didn't work for me though!). But it does hurt my thumb more.
Uhm... I'm probably forgetting something so will comment again if I can think of anything else. Mostly I've been waiting for laser eye tracking stuff to get better. Can't use the kind where you turn your head or anything because my neck is so messed.
Good luck and please let me know if you find anything good! Having to give up my hobbies and work and everything because of EDS has been rather annoying so anything to get me back on the computer as much as possible is a life saver.
(In too much pain to be super coherent. Hopefully this is readable!)
I like the kensington trackball expert mouse. Its like the size of a pool ball and really easy on the fingers and wrist. And it has a scroll ring that is easy to get used to.
>the best modern trackball.
The Kensington Expert Mouse?
Na amazon.co.uk jest promocja: Kensington Expert za pół ceny: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Trackballs/Kensington-Expert-Mouse-Optical-Trackball/B00009KH63/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485795249&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kensington+expert
Hahaha, I'm literally right now downloading plex to run on my Pi. It's an amazing bit of kit! I actually got mine in the first batch haha, even before my university! I took it in and my lecturers got mad jealous :P
I've recently become really interested in the idea of making Youtube videos, about general nerd related stuff. I want to eventually start making videos of gaming and other miscellaneous tech stuff, for example raspberry Pi! I'm incredibly fascinated by technology, so as you can imagine I spend a loooooot of time on the computer, so something that would help me out with the whole Youtube thing and life in general would be this mouse. I used one in university, and whilst I could never game on it, using it for standard tasks was far more comfortable. I figure when I start this Youtube thing I'll probably be at my computer even longer, so anything I can do to not get carpal tunnel I'm trying to do :P Thanks for the contest!! 3.14 :D
I should mention also that for a long time I had mouse in one hand, and use my second hand to press buttons (I had two big button that I could bump with my fist). Sometimes as my second-mouse for the buttons I used this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-ergonomic-ambidextrous/dp/B000HEW0KW. It basically has large button that I could use with the other hand, while using the first hand to steer the mouse. Might be worth considering.
So the vim plugin is actually a browser plugin. I know that firefox and chrome have vim plugins but they are slightly different (different buttons do different things). I know it is a cliche thing to say, but your work should value you and your health much more than installing a plugin or extra software.
So a lot of RSI are quite poorly characterised in terms of what is actually happening. We define them by their symptoms and we do not necessarily understand the cause (which might not be there, it could be combinatorics of different factors). One of the major symptoms is the chronic inflammation which is known to be a bad signal for most things. So the steroidal injections removes the inflammation. Ibuprofen might be for this reason better than paracetamol because it also reduces inflammation. Aspirin is much weaker (I switch between it and ibuprofen).
I have not tried surgery because I learnt how to manage it and I never felt like getting rid of my savings by disabling my hands for months, which I need to work. I don't really have a good reason. It is not as bad nowadays so I should not need a surgery. If at any point it goes downhill, I might consider it.
I believe more in sport. I think it has little to do with muscles often. Grip strength is surely important if it is an issue, so for that reason it it good to have it in mind. I would do cardio more. There is the most evidence that good cardio helps than anything really. I am thinking about looking up these things and share them on this subgroup. Sounds like a good thing.
The worst thing is anxiety and stress nowadays. I am not sure if I'd develop it (at all? to the same extent?) if my hands did not have these issues. Depression and other mental problems due to chronic illnesses and disabilities is a regular phenomena.
Kensington Slimblade Trackball USB 2.0 for PC and Mac, K72327US by Kensington
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MTE32Y/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_5q9htb181B7EQ
Hands down the best $90 I've ever spent.
I have the slimblade and my brother has the expert and I much prefer the slimblade. It has a very low angle and doesn't require you to bend your wrist up (but that also depends on your set up, posture...).
I like the larger buttons on the slimblade and that the scrolling is built into the ball. But some people prefer the distinct buttons and the scroll ring on the expert.
I'm glad I chose the slim blade, but the premium for it may not be worth it for you.
Looks good, I use this one from time to time.
I appreciate the offer, but I doubt I will have the time anywhere in the near future to dedicate to building one.
I love your trackball suggestion though, this one looks pretty good and seems to come with a software that looks like it could be used to disable all the clicking areas: https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-SlimBlade-Trackball-Mouse-K72327U/dp/B001MTE32Y
Only issue is what I would do for the mouse buttons. Any suggestions in that regard? Ideally I would be able to have the same left, right, back, and forward buttons I have on my current mouse, but most solutions I see online are only single or paired pedals (and priced kinda ridiculously tbh).
As I was typing this I realized another issue, what to do about a scroll wheel? I make heavy use of the scroll wheel, but I cannot see myself replication the action with my foot or toes... Maybe some kind of toggle to switch the trackball to a scroll wheel? Maybe a second track ball for the other foot? Would still be less than ideal since I make frequent use of the click action of a scroll wheel, but maybe I can rig that action to my keyboard using Auto hotkeys.
Try it. As a lefty mouser, I’ve found Kensington’s big trackballs (especially the Trackball Pro) to be indispensable.
[this one](http://Kensington SlimBlade Trackball Mouse (K72327U) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MTE32Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZZz3DbZHP9SBY) is my current, I love the shit out if it but I need a new mouse for my new cad machine and I think this is the winner, thanks op
i had that mouse for a while, it really fatigued my thumb haha. I was thinking of getting something like: https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll-K72337US/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496855473&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=trackball
These options are definitely not weird enough for me. ;)
At home, I use a Kensington Orbit. At work, I use a Magic Trackpad. When I have a ThinkPad as my primary computer, I also prefer to use the clit-mouse on it over anything else. But right now, my laptop is a Macbook, so I don't have that option.
In my ghetto cockpit (nowadays used solely with the oculus) I have found that a Trackball on the left hand (throttle) is the best solution.
I bought a very cheap ambidextrous trackball with scroll wheel, the added bonus is that the scroll wheel is horizontal son turning knobs is kind of more natural:
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll-K72337US/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=pd_lpo_147_lp_img_4?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=7FV7JPS7DN5SA09EH7PD
It takes a couple of hours to get used to it if you are right handed like me, but after that is pretty natural and fast (at least with the oculus where part of the pointing is done with your head (don’t know if trackIr work the same).
Anyway, an idea to consider.
I may open a thread somewhere with pictures of my multipurpose cockpit (race/flight) so people can grab ideas from it as most solutions are hacked together and are already 'combat proven' ;D.
It probably will. However, I don't recommend thumb trackballs. Too much repetition on a single digit, especially if you have smaller hands.
Regarding wrist pain: hold out your hand as if giving someone a handshake. Now untwist it so that you are putting the least pressure on your wrist as possible. Your palm isn't directly facing down as it does using a generic flat and symmetrical mouse. This angle is the neutral and least harmful angle of your wrist while using a computer.
Try a mouse with some angle on it (a vertical mouse is the extreme attempt at a solution at this), or a finger trackball mounted at an angle to match your wrist.
Likewise, a keyboard that is not flat and does not scrunch your wrists in or out while typing is also very important to reduce wrist strain.
Things I like using for desk ergonomics:
http://www.amazon.com/Goldtouch-GTU-0088-Adjustable-Comfort-Keyboard/dp/B005ZLTNN4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1450366157&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=goldtouch+keyboard
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-Mouse-Scroll/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1450366070&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=kensington+trackball
I have a kensington trackball mouse. It is like becoming a god among men when you use a trackball. Its not one of those sissy thumb trackballs either.
It looks like this.
I use this guy and now can't live without it. I had to get one for home use on top of having one at work. The grey ring is the scroll ring. I let a coworker use it for an hour or two and got him pretty well hooked on it too.
I have one of these and a Razer Naga 2014. I use the former for general computer use and the latter for video games, but they both sit on my keyboard tray.
No gaming mouse but something like this ? :D
https://www.amazon.de/Logitech-M570-Trackball-Mouse-schwarz/dp/B0043A1F4S
Am eu trackball de la logi, m-am obisnuit foarte repede (1 ora). L-am folosit pentru jocuri (inclusiv FPS), modelare 3D etc. Foarte versatil, il recomand.
Referitor la febra, n-am avut probleme cu febra sau ceva. Asta e modelul meu.
Logitech! Logitech! Logitech! Got two of the red balls, and thinking of adding a blue one (M570).
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-002090-LOGITECH-WIRELESS-TRACKBALL/dp/B0043A1F4S
It really depends mostly on which muscles are causing the tremors. For example I am prone to some where it's my forearm muscles causing my hands to move, but I use a trackball with a thumb ball so when it happens I can just grip the chassis and use it as normal since my thumb isn't affected. Check out the Logitech M579
Might be you developed an onset of carpal tunnel syndrome from overuse.
I do technical drawing as a dayjob so im on the pc a lot. I also noticed feeling a pain in my mouse hand when i was gaming too much after work. So i switched to using a trackball for work and for surfing and use my regular mouse only for FPS. Havent had any problems since.
That being said, if your carpal tunnel syndrome is acute you need to see a doctor and he will have you wear a splint for some time. You should take this seriosly! If you dont change your habbits to relieve stress from you wrist and forearm it will get worse to the point where you need surgery.
Logitech M570 Trackball:
Amazon Link
I had actually 2. First I tried this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043A1F4S/ref=s9_top_hd_bw_g147_i7?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&amp;pf_rd_r=0EEWJ1D8EZ7Q60SC9R5H&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=9eec2820-3415-4c0f-adb5-c15eb12cd203&amp;pf_rd_i=172499. But I didn't really like it, the ball placement was kind of weird.
After that I got http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005T406/ref=s9_top_hd_bw_g147_i6?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&amp;pf_rd_r=0EEWJ1D8EZ7Q60SC9R5H&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=9eec2820-3415-4c0f-adb5-c15eb12cd203&amp;pf_rd_i=172499 and I still have this one. The 'mouse' buttons are kind of weird at first, but it was more comfortable than the first one.
You could try a wireless trackball like the Kenzington Orbit or Logitech M570
They tend to be kind of tough to find. I use an Elecom thumb trackball that I imported from Japan. It has a couple extra buttons that can be reprogrammed, and a physical switch you can use to adjust the dpi in addition to software.
The much more common Logitech one has programmable buttons, but no DPI adjustment. It
is probably the easiest one to find though, and most people that use an Elecom actually replace its stock black ball with the blue Logitech one anyway, since it has better tracking with it.
If you're interested in a trackball that is operated with your other fingers rather than your thumb, something like these from the trackball subreddit, then you'd have to ask someone over at /r/trackballs because I know very little about them.
The reviews on this are pretty good, and I may pick one up with my next paycheck.
That said, I still prefer my Razr Death Adder vs my M570 for FPS gaming. It gives you just that much of an edge, which you need if you're a huge try-hard like myself.
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-XT3DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-function/dp/B016QCPNUW/ref=pd_sim_147_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=1AKDVS7853VN40VCF3MC
here is a similar trackball. it comes quite highly touted by the users of this site. the big knock on it is that the ball itself is not of great quality. the main fix is to just replace the ball with the m570s, so if you get one, dont dump your old one.
Is there a model of mouse that has dual sensors like a track ball and a traditional bottom sensor like a normal mouse? I imagine it would look like this ELECOM M-XT3DRBK mouse but from the videos on it I saw it is just the trackball that registers movement. I am interested in getting a "different" sort of mouse, but not unnecessarily complicated with a ton of buttons for gaming but I'm not sure where to start.
It would definitely be challenging to go from using a "normal" mouse to a trackball. I just love my mouse though (Logitech M570). It fits my hand perfectly and is just very comfortable to use. Some people prefer the Elecom trackball. I have used both, but I do not care for the Elecom at all. I am not keen on the placement of the trackball, and the overall design for me is just meh.
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-001799-M570-Wireless-Trackball/dp/B0043T7FXE/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1458870572&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=logitech+m570
^ This is an absolute steal at $27 USD. Not sure how much it would be in Canada (you're Canadian right hockey?)
http://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-Wireless-button-function-M-XT3DRBK/dp/B016QCPNUW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1458870500&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=elecom
So Far I have been suggested the Following:
Speakers: Logitech Speaker System Z906
Webcam: Logitech C930e Webcam
Trackball: ELECOM M-XT3DRBK Wireless Trackball Mouse
Logitech M570 Trackball
Looks cheap if you're looking for something more practical then the reversing challenges on HackThisSite...
https://www.amazon.com/M-XT3DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-6-Button-Tracking/dp/B016QCPNUW?th=1
The wired one is a buck more for some reason....
Nope I used to use a M570 then switched over to this after having 2 M570s have issues with their microswitches.
Swap out the black marble it comes with with the 570 one and it's glorious for a gaming thumb trackball.
ELECOM Mouse trackball wired grip 6 button black M-XT3URBK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QCPO0G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7V64xbSF3ZGJ6
I did end up finding this. 6 button, with a DPI switch dunno if it's really what you're looking for but i'm gonna try it out once I can afford to.
Elecom probably.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elecom-Mouse-trackball-button-M-XT3URBK-Black/dp/B016QCPO0G/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QCPO0G/ref=twister_B06XFTP381?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Elecom makes a similar trackball. There is also a thumb driven model.
I've used a trackball for everything, including FPS gaming, for about 8 years now. (most recently, this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QCPO0G/ref=twister_B06XFTP381?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1)
For entering automation, I sometimes use a USB MIDI device, but I don't have any problems using the trackball usually
Ah! What's up man! I was looking at the this one
My reasoning was that this mouse, unlike the Logitech m570 doesn't have a staggered right and left click so it'd feel more natural to me. They come in both left and right hand and wired vs wireless. I was probably gonna do wired right hand.
I have heard great things about the m570, my point is based only in opinion.
For what it's worth: cheaper alternative to the Logitech thumb ball, the company makes several variants:
Elecom M-XT3URBK
Mine is going on 6 years now and I'm just starting to notice double clicking and dropping when dragging. I just ordered some new switches tonight.
I did consider these two models though:
Elecom or Sanwa
Ok I apparently have no idea how to use the remind me bot, but i managed to remember https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016QCPRBM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Have you tried the Elecom Trackballs?
I have the small one and it's been decent, probably going to get the larger one once it's more available in Canada
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171QQ7IY/ref=psdc_11036491_t2_B00O1HYX9C
I find that my trackball works adequately, it feels better than a traditional mouse while retaining portability
I use the Elecom Deft.
I had a wireless version of that elecom trackball that I got from amazon japan about a month after it was released back in 2014-15? It broke down about a year later, it also seemed to have trouble with the receiver.
I switched to the finger version of the trackball, and went with a wired this time. It's my favourite trackball right now, but it does take some getting used to if you have large hands because it's rather small compared to other trackballs. One thing to note is that I think they've updated the elecom trackball the one linked shows the model M-XT1URBK, but a search on amazon japan shows M-XT3URBK. One more thing is I believe the m570 balls will fit in either of the elecoms, I believe there were a few complaints about the stock balls not rolling nicely.
I too have given up on logitech a long time ago and went with kensington, and got a slimblade and an orbit. They both work well, but the slimblade is pricey, and the orbit lacking in buttons.
Now I've switched to buying japanese trackballs, like sanwa and elecom from amazon japan, I currently use these trackballs.
Elecom M-DT2URBK: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0171QQ7IY
Sanwa MA-TB39BK: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0042UINC6
I swore by Logitech for years. I am still using a Logitech keyboard, but I recently switched trackballs to this bad boy, made by Japanese startup Elecom.
It is basically the only 10 button gaming trackball in production, and while not quite as sturdy as the Logitech trackballs, it is much more ergonomic and feature rich.
Although I have to say, if logitech made a 10 button wired gaming trackball, I would prolly pick one up just to try it.
Elecom https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171QQ7IY/ref=emc_b_5_i
&#x200B;
Made for a child's hands.
This maybe:
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-DT2URBK-Trackball-finger-function/dp/B0171QQ7IY/
Shhh, you're going to call the controversy carols into this room with those K3KCs haha.
Wait, they don't make a beige 45g RF? I could've swore they did, but now that I'm thinking, I don't remember a user with one. A dome swap would be pretty cool to do though, but not sure what you would do with your extra RF87U (maybe one for work and one for home?).
I wish there were more finger trackballs with quality equitable to the CST. I've recently ordered Elecom's new finger trackball from Japan and should have it sometime this week according to tracking. I'll be writing about my inital impressions of it when I receive it and probably a review a month later. I'm hoping it'll be smooth and awesome.
I actually used that one for a while and had to stop using it because it was putting a lot of stress on my thumb and causing me new pain. I like ones like the Kensignton Expert but it does take some time to get used to. It did take a while to heal up with that through. And although I can't speak to your particular case of RSI my biggest helpers in relieving my pain was through chiropractic care and trigger-point massage.
Has anyone here used this one? I've considered picking it up.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01936N73I/ref=twister_B019DMH6DO?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
edit: the scroll wheel interests me...
So if I might piggy back on your question and maybe turn it into a suggestion, on the use of a trackball, could you buy I think what they call a 3D Mouse, the ones with the big trackballs on the outside, and somehow rig that to work with the machine for the games that require the trackballs? I'm not entirely sure if the details in how that would work, as I'm new to the arcade cabinet scene, but I figured it couldn't hurt to recommend it and see what you would think for that. I used one through a PC of course but with MAME.
Edit: To specify be able to use the mouse efficiently and comfortably.
Edit Again: Something like this https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Wireless-Trackball-K72359WW/dp/B01936N73I/ref=zg_bs_172499_3?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=96BHRSX594XDWHF5NM8H
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1URBK-Trackball-Ergonomic-Precision/dp/B07353DBP9/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=elecom+huge&amp;qid=1573147790&amp;sr=8-3
The closest to an actual replacement are the ELECOM trackballs. The ball is slightly bigger which still allows the two finger operation. It has a scroll wheel as well as finger buttons (more ergonomically placed than the MS Trackball Explorer IMO.) Adjustable DPI, rubberized palm rest. As well as two function keys, Fn1, Fn2.
Wireless version: https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B0735584RM
Wired version: https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B07353DBP9
Whether it has the durability of the MS Trackball Explorer - unknown. My two MS Trackball Explorers are still working from early 2001 (bearing replacement.) This is the best option available beyond 3d printing your own replacement parts...
Check out the Elecom trackball mice on Amazon. Button placement is a little different than the MS Explorer was, but ball position is the same. On the wired version, the size is very close to the Explorer, and the wireless is larger, with a cushioned palm rest. I have the wireless, and it's so close to the Explorer in functionality. I love it. Prices aren't bad either, at $50 -$60 for one.
ELECOM M-HT1URBK Wired Trackball Mouse Larger, Ergonomic Design, 8-Button Function with Smooth Tracking, Precision Optical Gaming Sensor for Home, Work, Office https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07353DBP9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_C4u2Db1NB8YS8
It's very personal, which doesn't give you an easy answer unfortunately.
I supply my own mice at work too, I use one of these - elecom huge finger trackball which I had to import from Japan, but that's because I find trackballs far more comfortable than normal mice and no-one seems to sell ergonomic trackballs in the UK.
I have problems with strain in my hands, I have tried dozens of mice and spent a few hundred quid over the years on different mice. I have friends in similar positions who've done the same and ended up with completely different mice though so it's very personal (though worth noting all of us who have problems with strain/RSI/pain in our hands have settled on either vertical mice or trackballs. We're also super fun at parties).
Something else I do is map the key in the top left of the keyboard (above tab) to be a left click (using autohotkey), then for tasks that involve lots of clicking I can use my left hand to click instead which reduces the strain on my right. I would type the characters instead of describing the key but I can't because some idiot turned it into a left click instead. I'm not sure I've ever needed those characters before this moment.
If you're getting ache in your hands it's worth addressing, mice can make a big difference while ignoring the problem can lead to that hand ache getting worse and starting to affect your quality of life.
Elecom trackball. I got the huge wired version and it's the best mouse/trackball I've ever used.
>Elecom Huge
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-HT1DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B0735584RM
No, that’s the Elecom EX-G Pro! I’m selling the HUGE (model number HT1DRBK) and it’s a finger operated ball, not a thumb ball.
https://www.amazon.de/ELECOM-M-HT1DRBK-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B0735584RM/
Thank you for your very thorough response, BlahmanTT! This really helped a lot and I think I will purchase the Elecom Huge on Amazon later today to give it a try. I should note I also use Linux, so the re-mapping you mention definitely caught my attention - don't suppose you have details to help me avoid headaches with this later? With that said though, I am still trying to visualize how exactly you re-mapped the EM's buttons. It sounds like you did experience some "stretching" issues to be able to use the LMB and RMB, hence re-bindings. I play games where I use the LMB and RMB a lot quickly back-to-back, so any more clarity you can offer around this topic, would really help me. Like, are you operating LMB --and-- RMB with your thumb? I should note, with the trackman marble mouse I use, I'm using thumb for LMB, ring-finger for RMB, and my index+middle fingers to move the trackball, so I'm already a two-finger ball operator (although, I frequently lift either my index finger or middle finger completely off the ball for certain movements. And, for non-gaming [or gaming with no RMB needs], I use my index-through-ring fingers to operate the ball.).
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I included links to both products in question, to aide discussion for visualizing. I see the buttons on the Elecom Huge are actually labelled on Amazon, so perhaps you specify which you've bound to what function, to make the mouse ergonomic for you? And if, had you left the default button bindings alone, if you felt it still would have been ergonomic/enjoyable to use?
Closest I have found is the Logitech G502, but that's wired, doesn't have as many buttons, and costs twice as much. Trackballs are a little easier. A direct (and awesome) trackball equivalent for this mouse would easily be the Elecom Huge.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0735584RM/ref=pe_492632_159100282_TE_item
It'll convert to USD on the final confirmation page.
I really like my Kensington Expert - it feels very well made, aside from the scroll wheel/ring (it is as crummy as they say. It's usable, but feels very inconsistent).
I believe the consensus generally favors the CST Laser that was recently on MD, though I have heard some say that they liked the Kensington better. I just saw a new one today for the first time, and am interested in how it does over time (sounds like the software is a weakness, and I use Linux, so we'll have to see):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0735584RM/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1D0AHRBU67CPA&amp;colid=1HLUKKQ9HQI6Q
This one
Ive owned a lot of trackballs and this one is by far my favorite modern offering.
this with the two right most button remapped then scroll with the side of your index finger?
I'm married to a Canadian, not sure why that your your nationality matters.
I highly recommend the Elecom Deft Pro. It is the modern version of the style of trackball linked in your ebay listing. They have the Huge as well, but I feel like that's a bit too large for me.
I can work with thumb balls, but that slim blad thing looks uncomfortable to me.
https://www.amazon.ca/ELECOM-Trackball-M-DPT1MRXBK-High-Performance-Responsiveness/dp/B07C9T4TTW
TL;DR - Get the Deft Pro if it gets cheaper in the UK for larger hands. You can try and buy it from the Amazon US store. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C9T4TTW . I have bought things from Amazon UK, so I expect things work in the other direction as well. You will see a money unit conversion on the order.
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I have large hands too. Length wise, my right hand is 8 inches with a 4.5 inch palm. I just got both the Deft Pro and Huge for comparison purposes. Here, (https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/bc5g0a/elecom_deft_pro_vs_huge/) I'm comparing the two. While the Huge is definitely bigger in size technically, there's more "mouse" for your palm on the Deft Pro. I do like the size of the trackball so far today on the Huge, but I am starting to see that the wrist rest ultimately makes the mouse dangerous to use for large hands... maybe even medium hands. I can tell a "twinge" of sorts start on the right side of my wrist. I would stop using it if you're feeling anything like I am... and I just got it today too.
Just make a text post on r/trackballs.
Also, this trackball seems to have what you're looking for.
I’ll save you time and link to the Deft Pro listing on Amazon US. :-)
is that this model?
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-XPT1MRXBK-Trackball-Bluetooth-High-Performance-Scrolling/dp/B07DMF2DNW/ref=asc_df_B07DMF2DNW/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310655309238&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1711611573276550364&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045991&hvtargid=pla-468798833510&psc=1
Wow thanks for the detailed reply. Is this the Elecom Deft Pro you're talking about?
https://www.amazon.com/ELECOM-M-XPT1MRXBK-Trackball-Bluetooth-High-Performance/dp/B07DMF2DNW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Do you think it would be worth replacing my M570 with this if so?
Or the Logitech Trackman Wheel.
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Trackman-Wheel-Optical-Silver/dp/B00005NIMJ
No lie. Been using this Trackman wheel style since the mid-1990's. Bought a bunch so I'd never have to go back to the normal mouse style.
Plus, being able to 360 with the flick of your thumb is just kinda badass.
I actually have a friend that swears by these for gaming.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005NIMJ/
He feels that gives him much more control and also less fatigue and risk of RSI
Here is a reddit thread with some experience regarding trackball mouse for gaming.
https://www.reddit.com/r/truegaming/comments/12xhx6/gaming_trackball/
I am just pointing out that it's not necessarily true that you have better precision with your whole hand than your thumb. Although years of using a mouse with PC FPS may give you an advantage over console controllers, that's more of a player muscle training and less of a peripheral advantage.
Exactly, but I don't really have the time, materials or desire to make something that complex. I've been looking at this.
Also that wooden solution would be so much nicer if the buttons weren't so tacky and bad. I wish they'd put in the extra effort to recess the buttons and then make them flush and wooden topped.