Mouse or Trackball?

Loconut1389 writes "I've been an avid mouse user for years, but lately all of the wrist movements have added up and combined with a desire for some added precision when not using my tablet in photoshop, I decided to purchase a large trackball. Logitech makes a few with a small, thumb controlled ball, but it looked like you'd get a tired thumb and have no added precision. After searching around, it seems that the only large one really available is a Kensington for about $90. Only CompUSA seemed to even carry the kensington in-store (and had none in stock). After ordering one online and using it for a few days now, I don't know how I ever lived with a mouse. The trackball has better precision, less wrist movement, and even gaming is pretty cool/easy with it (can spin it to whip around real quick, etc). All that said, it seems like trackballs have all but vanished except in medical fields (sonograms, etc) and perhaps graphic arts. I'm left insanely curious why trackballs haven't resurfaced now that optical technologies have fixed the main problems of old trackballs (and mice). Do you use a trackball? If so, are you in graphic design?"

Re:Trackball or Spaceball?

[Osurak]

Spaceballs the pointing device! Spaceballs the T-shirt! Spaceballs the Coloring Book! Spaceballs the Lunch box! Spaceballs the Breakfast Cereal! Spaceballs the Flame Thrower (the kids love this one)

Re:Trackpoint?

[Mechanik]

I like my little mousy nipple! :D The Trackpoint is awesome.

I prefer to call it the Computer Clit(TM).

Re:Trackball or Spaceball?

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh Shit. There goes the planet.

Re:Trackpoint?

[Anonymous Coward]

Obligatory xkcd link [xkcd.com].

Re:Trackpoint?

[CRC'99]

I like my little mousy nipple! :D The Trackpoint is awesome.

I prefer to call it the Computer Clit(TM).

I've always called it a clit stick.... It fits, as everyone always has trouble using them, some people never know where it is, and even if you do get the damn thing working right - it's never any fun for the operator....

Re:Trackball

[R2.0]

"thoughtful husbands buy their wives trackballs as well as flowers"

My wife own all of my balls already, you insensitive clod!

Giant Crayola Trackball

[GWBasic]

Once, when I first had wrist pain, I bought a giant Crayola trackball. It was 5-6" in diameter. Overall, it was very comfortable to use, but because it was designed for children, the buttons were on the top of the trackball instead of the bottom. Also, it required a serial port.

I ended up hooking it up to my Fraternity's jukebox computer. The drunks loved it.

Re:Avoid wrist movements

[Anonymous Coward]

I just read the story about "Smarter Teens Have Less Sex" and almost didn't realize I was in a different comment section.

God that sounds dirty.

Re:Trackpoint?

[GodfatherofSoul]

What's a clit?

Re:Trackpoint?

[Anonymous Coward]

I often hear it referred to as the "clicktoris" around here.

Re:optical mice have their own issues.

[lahi]

OK, your method ensures a clean desk, which is neat, but perhaps you should try lifting the mouse and reposition it at the opposite edge of the mousepad when you reach the edge and the pointer isn't "there yet". It won't hurt anything, if that's what worries you. I am curious: what would you do if you added another monitor? Upgrade to an A2 sheet?

-Lasse

Outta my yard

[Bandman]

I know you're not going to believe this, but way back in the 80s and 90s, there used to be these little rubber mats that you could, get this, pay for, to put your mouse on. Is that crazy or what? "Mouse Pads" they called them, and you used to be able to get them with pretty much anything you wanted on them, it was a hoot I tell ya. The crazy stuff we did when we were kids.

Re:Trackball

[Anonymous Coward]

you go for the karma, whore style.

That's right. When he's not busy doing that silly research into unimportant stuff like retinal degradation and the physiology of medicine he occupies his copious free time by whoring for karma on slashdot.

Re:optical mice have their own issues.

[Anonymous Coward]

every once in awhile I will get a piece of fur stuck in the laser/camera hole

Wow! Are you some kind of animal/robot hybrid? Do you have special powers? And if so, do you use your powers for good or for awesome?

Re:Trackpoint?

[zm]

You must be very intelligent....