Track Ball Mouse

[Johannes]

I was just wondering why no body (gamers and people with super PC's)seem to use the track ball mouse from www.kensington.com My son does a lot of gaming and prefers that one over any other mice. I started using the track ball mouse because of my disability. With this one I do not have to move the mouse all over the pad.
Just curious

 

[WildEagle]

Most people prefer a mouse/keyboard for gaming, because for most users a trackball is a royal pain to use, espicially when playing games like Command & Conquer 3. Also some people like me have carpal tunnel syndrom, and need to use a mouse such as the Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer version 2.0, to their wrist starts to hurt like crazy.

I've tried the Logitech Trackman Wheelmouse, which is a Trackball mouse in the past, I had so much pain in the wrist and thumb, I took it back to the store I bought it from, and got a refund. Since then I've stuck to a optical mouse, like my Wireless Intellimouse Explorer.

 

[Johannes]

Most people prefer a mouse/keyboard for gaming, because for most users a trackball is a royal pain to use, espicially when playing games like Command & Conquer 3. Also some people like me have carpal tunnel syndrom, and need to use a mouse such as the Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer version 2.0, to their wrist starts to hurt like crazy.

I've tried the Logitech Trackman Wheelmouse, which is a Trackball mouse in the past, I had so much pain in the wrist and thumb, I took it back to the store I bought it from, and got a refund. Since then I've stuck to a optical mouse, like my Wireless Intellimouse Explorer.

Yes I tried one similair to that one years ago, but I specifically mentioned the kensington expert trackball mouse because it uses a large ball

 

[WildEagle]

Most people prefer a mouse/keyboard for gaming, because for most users a trackball is a royal pain to use, espicially when playing games like Command & Conquer 3. Also some people like me have carpal tunnel syndrom, and need to use a mouse such as the Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer version 2.0, to their wrist starts to hurt like crazy.

I've tried the Logitech Trackman Wheelmouse, which is a Trackball mouse in the past, I had so much pain in the wrist and thumb, I took it back to the store I bought it from, and got a refund. Since then I've stuck to a optical mouse, like my Wireless Intellimouse Explorer.

Yes I tried one similair to that one years ago, but I specifically mentioned the kensington expert trackball mouse because it uses a large ball

It wouldn't pay for me to get a corded trackball like that anyway, as for me it's too much of a pain to use, and I do have a pet bird that likes to chew on literally everything.

If a trackball like the Kensington Trackball could be used easily with games, including Hellgate London, Mass Effect and many other's with ease and without taking up a lot of deskspace people would be buying trackballs like crazy. Some trackballs take up a lot of deskspace.

CH Products makes a trackball so large, I wouldn't even consider it for PC Gaming.

 

[Johannes]

This one uses less space than a mouse pad, neither do you have to move the mouse to operate. Expert Mouse®

 

[WildEagle]

Hmm, I'll take a closer look next time I need a mouse or trackball, not sure if there are any Vista 64 drivers, other than a generic driver built in to Windows Vista 64.

 

[Johannes]

It is plug and play for Vista 32 bit, so I assume it is the same for 64 bit. The four buttons can be programmed left or right for either single click, double click and choreographing (what ever that means). in any case, I really like it and was just wondering why not more people use it. maybe the cost +/- 139 dollars. The follow up service was great too from kensington. I had the older type of Track Ball mouse before and needed some repair. They send out right away a new one.

 

[WildEagle]

What I don't like about a lot of trackballs, is the high cost, and yes some of them like the one you mentioned, do cost $139.00. I think this is part of the reason people don't buy them.

 

[Day24]

I've been using the logitech trackman cordless ever since it first came out. Before that I used the wired one. The biggest reasons I can think of for people not using trackballs more often is 1) they are far less precise than the newer generations of optical mice (and more prone to trmors in fingers, etc, which is NOT good in games) and 2) people tend to use what they know.

The strange thing is, even though I love my trackball, I simply can't use those trackpads on laptops. All they do is annoy me. And they get in the way when typing.

 

[Johannes]

I've been using the logitech trackman cordless ever since it first came out. Before that I used the wired one. The biggest reasons I can think of for people not using trackballs more often is 1) they are far less precise than the newer generations of optical mice (and more prone to trmors in fingers, etc, which is NOT good in games) and 2) people tend to use what they know.

The strange thing is, even though I love my trackball, I simply can't use those trackpads on laptops. All they do is annoy me. And they get in the way when typing.

Once you have used the Expert Trackball from kensington, you will never go back to an other kind. With this one you will not have a problem with precision/tremor of fingers.

 

[Day24]

The problem with the kensington, for me, is that the ball itself is in the middle. I simply cannot work that ball with anythin other than my thumb. Trust me, I've tried. I have a trackball at work which has the ball in the middle, and I have tried and tried to use it.... but I simply can't get it to do what I want it to.

 

[Johannes]

The Expert Track ball? the ball is about 6 cm, I use the index finger for the ball, the tumb for the right click and the ring finger for one click and index finger for the double click. They are all adjustable for right or left hand use. Anyway, for me it works like a charm :D

 

[johngalt]

You're preaching to the choir, Johannes. I myself use 2 mice:

The http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/130&cl=us,en because of all the integrated buttons - I rarely have to move the mouse as I have the buttons doing what I want them to - open tabs, closing tabs, moving back and forth (and this works in Windows Explorer as well, and IrfanView, Windows Media Player, WMC, etc. - not just while browsing) and the http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/159&cl=us,en for gaming, especially FPS and RTS games - I find the trackball easier to use.

However, I am an old school trackball user, so a trackball that I have to use my fingers on is not near as efficient as one that I use my thumb on - then again, I don't have CTS so it is not painful for me to use the thumb....

 

[Johannes]

Hi John, I tried a similair trackball as noted in the second URL, but it was too awkward for me to use. With mine I can sweep in one movement across the 19" screen and have a finger and a thumb on the single click and right click while I only have to move one finger a little to reach one of the top buttons for a double click.
This mouse is extremely useful for quadraplegics because of the ease using it, however I was curious why not more gamers are using this type. I have seen them also used in pictures from the NASA control center.

 

[johngalt]

I know - I read the entire thread - and that is why I added

However, I am an old school trackball user, so a trackball that I have to use my fingers on is not near as efficient as one that I use my thumb on - then again, I don't have CTS so it is not painful for me to use the thumb....

at the end....

As for gamers, I have having this discussion with dmex yesterday, and he said it was awkward to use them when sniping ppl in TF2, which he is currently and rapidly becoming a master at. But for me it is second nature to use the trackball in FPS and RTS games. Then again, I have used trackballs for years, and thus it is easier for me to use.

 

[dmex]

As for gamers, I have having this discussion with dmex yesterday, and he said it was awkward to use them when sniping ppl in TF2, which he is currently and rapidly becoming a master at. But for me it is second nature to use the trackball in FPS and RTS games. Then again, I have used trackballs for years, and thus it is easier for me to use.

Hey guys,

I find trackballs a little slow and cumbersome for gaming, I guess it just depends on what your used to using...

I know I would never have got 355 Pyro kills in 23 minutes or 120 Sniper kills in 9 minutes using a trackball

Each Stat is the highest I achieved before dying :D
Steam Community :: Team Fortress 2 Stats :: DeM'oN'iC

 

[Johannes]

Well guys, thank you for all the replies, now I know the why?

 

[johngalt]

Well, in actuality, you know Steve's reason - may not be the same for others.

For me I love being able to spin around in a circle and strafe without having to have that ugly pause in the middle as I adjust my mouse back to a point where I can spin around again.....

 

[scissormetimbers]

i have a trackball and i find it a bit too slow and inaccurate for gaming.