5 ms·

I've been a happy user of trackballs for many years, and can also happily recommend the Kensington variety. It is also quite configurable, both in the traditio

I've been a happy user of trackballs for many years, and can also happily recommend the Kensington variety. It is also quite configurable, both in the traditional software sense, and in the sense that you can use it in a variety of different physical ways (thumb, forefingers, at a variety of angles, etc). This variety kind of helps reduce the "repetitive" part of RSI.

Galanwe 6y ago
I always fancied switching to track balls but never dared to jump. Can you be as fast as with a mouse with it? As precise?
- lmilcin 6y ago
  More precise but slower (at least in my case).
- danielbarla 6y ago
  I've managed to play slow-paced FPS'es with the trackball (e.g. PUBG) and remain - well, not "competitive" exactly, but not total trash either. You can generally dial it in for great accuracy but slow turning, or less accuracy but fast turning. But not really both at the same time, unlike a mouse. (since there you can your elbow for large movements, and your wrists for smaller ones) With the latter option, you would not be able to hit small targets quickly. In terms of desktop use, you can generally find a balance where it can get across the screen in a single swipe, but you can still hit a button immediately, so it's an OK trade off for me.
  - lmilcin 6y ago
    So I just now remembered why I don't use trackball. I have two huge monitors side by side and jumping from the end of one to the end of other was really uncomfortable with trackball whereas it is a snap of the wrist with the mouse I move the width of the mouse to span two monitors yet I have no trouble clicking on a 4 dot cluster on 27inch 4k monitor (which would be equivalent of a single pixel on full HD). Now I am not sure I want to use regular mouse with a PC and trackball with a laptop. In my mind this is either or choice.
    - Krasnol 6y ago
      You just have to set the speed higher. I work on 3 screens with it. For precision, the ergo has a small button near the ball which makes slow.
    - fomine3 6y ago
      I've opposite experience. Moving cursor in wide display is comfortable by thumb trackball rather than mouse. Just move thumb, don't need snap of the wrist.
- Krasnol 6y ago
  I switched because I've been doing CAD too much lately. It is more precise and once you're into it, you're faster too.

Galanwe 6y ago

I always fancied switching to track balls but never dared to jump. Can you be as fast as with a mouse with it? As precise?

lmilcin 6y ago
More precise but slower (at least in my case).
danielbarla 6y ago
I've managed to play slow-paced FPS'es with the trackball (e.g. PUBG) and remain - well, not "competitive" exactly, but not total trash either. You can generally dial it in for great accuracy but slow turning, or less accuracy but fast turning. But not really both at the same time, unlike a mouse. (since there you can your elbow for large movements, and your wrists for smaller ones) With the latter option, you would not be able to hit small targets quickly. In terms of desktop use, you can generally find a balance where it can get across the screen in a single swipe, but you can still hit a button immediately, so it's an OK trade off for me.
- lmilcin 6y ago
  So I just now remembered why I don't use trackball. I have two huge monitors side by side and jumping from the end of one to the end of other was really uncomfortable with trackball whereas it is a snap of the wrist with the mouse I move the width of the mouse to span two monitors yet I have no trouble clicking on a 4 dot cluster on 27inch 4k monitor (which would be equivalent of a single pixel on full HD). Now I am not sure I want to use regular mouse with a PC and trackball with a laptop. In my mind this is either or choice.
  - Krasnol 6y ago
    You just have to set the speed higher. I work on 3 screens with it. For precision, the ergo has a small button near the ball which makes slow.
  - fomine3 6y ago
    I've opposite experience. Moving cursor in wide display is comfortable by thumb trackball rather than mouse. Just move thumb, don't need snap of the wrist.
Krasnol 6y ago
I switched because I've been doing CAD too much lately. It is more precise and once you're into it, you're faster too.