A look inside my favourite trackball
Added 2024-09-20 17:23:17 +0000 UTCThis is my main input device. I prefer it over a mouse as it stays put in one position and is perfect for using with CAD like PCB design packages.
This unit is relatively old. I'd guess modern versions have a one-chip mouse solution.
Comments
There's usually a dedicated scroll wheel, scroll-ring around the ball or a button that changes the function of the ball into scrolling, like pressing both buttons at once.
Big Clive
2024-09-23 14:53:29 +0000 UTCQuestion: On a standard mouse, there is normally a scroll wheel. How is that functionality implemented on a Track-ball? Or what workaround is there. I'd like to try out a track-ball. As you mentioned, good for CAD work and less clutter - but how do I live without a scroll wheel :-)
Zeedijk Mike
2024-09-23 13:02:44 +0000 UTCI had this one, the pear shaped one and the more mouse looking one with the ball on the side. These were the beginning of my RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome. Eventually I bought an Atari CX80 trak-ball, like the one I had adapted to work on my Amiga in the late 80s and adapted that to work on a PC. It had optical wheel encoders instead of an optical eye that looked at the ball. I couldn't find a patterned ball the correct size to make it work otherwise I would have transplanted a Microsoft trackball inside it. The CX80 was more like the Centipede controller at the arcade. Nice and big.
evilution
2024-09-23 02:46:19 +0000 UTCI have the same device, for the same reason and only use these ones for allready a very long time. Just recently i kind of destroyed mine by overseeing a screw and opening it with force. The right button isn´t working propperly and i could not fix. So i changed to the one you showed us. But I prefere those that also have a wheel for srolling. Couldn´t find out yet how to use these tiny buttpons for that on the shown device. And i prefere to have a cabel on it. Don´t like to change batterys with this device. Thank you Clive!
Kurt
2024-09-22 12:14:28 +0000 UTCVery interesting stuff thanks Clive. The sensor I guess is an optical flow sensor. Similar to those mounted on the bottom of drones for accurate position holding when close to the ground, especially when landing. I have several of the Logitech Ergo M575. I took one to the office to use as a traditional mouse gives me tendonitis. Some bastard stole it, and the company bought me a replacement generic trackball. It didn't run smoothly and the buttons were noisy with poor feel.I ended up shelling out of my own pocket again for a genuine Logitech one. My oldest one is maybe 5 years old now and had seen some serious use and although the logo wore off years ago, it remains as smooth and as tactile as the day I bought it. A modern mass produced product that is worth every penny. What I find incredible is the efficiency. The single AA alkaline battery lasts several years of daily use. Compare this with an original Microsoft Wireless Mouse I had back in the late 90s which had a charging stand integrated into the receiver to juice it up overnight...!
Rup (FastAsFunk)
2024-09-21 06:10:04 +0000 UTCI had one of those until I completely wore it out. It was the best trackball I'd found (but not perfect) and it's of course no longer made. I now have a Kensington and it's much worse, but there seems to be zero leftie-compatible trackballs left apart from it. It's all right hand thumb balls. 😬
duck
2024-09-20 21:47:30 +0000 UTCI remember my Dad taking me to where he worked in the 1970s. Some of the kit there had trackballs. Something to do with radar. A ball mouse is just an upside down trackball.
Mike Page
2024-09-20 21:14:18 +0000 UTCI got a trackball years ago from my Dad, who sold office supplies. Went back to mouse briefly but now have a Logitech MX ergo. I prefer them as I need to have less space cleared from my mounds of clutter. 😁
Jared Obermeyer
2024-09-20 18:48:08 +0000 UTCI got the modern logitech m575 about 4 years ago after trying a cheaper corded track ball. The difference is night and day. I can honestly say it is so much better than a mouse...... Although a rubbish track ball (my first one) is a lot worse than a cheap mouse!
Ben Kern
2024-09-20 17:52:26 +0000 UTCI bought one of these in 2000. I lost it and bought another one that never seemed to work as well. I still miss it, I loved that thing. Used it for a whole lot of page layout in Adobe back in the day.
Will Josephson
2024-09-20 17:45:48 +0000 UTC
