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If you just use your fingers, have you ever considered a trackball? I’ve used them since I started experiencing a little wrist pain 12 years ago, and I thankful

If you just use your fingers, have you ever considered a trackball? I’ve used them since I started experiencing a little wrist pain 12 years ago, and I thankfully haven’t experienced it since. My favorites include Logitech’s series (MX Ergo wireless trackball, the version available only at Best Buy), and some new ones out of Japan by Elecom. Elecom’s are available on Amazon in a few different sizes - I bought two and returned one that didn’t feel good. And the beat one I ever used is Microsoft’s Trackball Explorer, but that’s been discontinued for years, and fetched quite a price even used. Some of Elecom’s seem to emulate the ergonomics of that to a degree though, which is why I recommend them.

thebean11 6y ago
I tried to switch to the MX Ergo for a few weeks, and while it was ok, every time I tried that mouse again I'd just be way faster. Do you think you reached speed parity with the mouse?
mistersquid 6y ago
I use Kensington's Slimblade Trackball which is excellently designed and works (for me) as a natural extension of my hand and fingers. I highly recommend it. (Be advised, the software was excellent but is now in a period of transition post-Catalina.) I looked up Elecom's "trackball" offerings but only see trackball mice. Such designs reduce the trackball to something that can be manipulated only with a thumb rather than two fingers (index and middle). Such designs are unappealing and too restrictive to me.
- numpad0 6y ago
  They do have index finger models, probably not on Amazon US and not yet as perfect as Slimblade
- vladvasiliu 6y ago
  > Such designs reduce the trackball to something that can be manipulated only with a thumb rather than two fingers (index and middle). Such designs are unappealing and too restrictive to me. Interesting. Does that mean that with the kind of trackball you describe you'd have to move your whole wrist to move the ball left and right? I find I have very little lateral mobility in my index finger and practically none in my middle. Isn't that tiring after a while? I often use an MX Ergo (which is a "trackball mouse" — thumb operated — and is my only trackball experience) and what I like about it is that my wrist can have a fairly natural position and I don't have to move it around or hold it suspended.
  - mistersquid 6y ago
    > Does that mean that with the kind of trackball you describe you'd have to move your whole wrist to move the ball left and right? The trackball is fairly large, about 5.5 centimeters in diameter. So I personally use mostly finger movements with slight flicks of the wrist. However, the ball is so large one could keep one’s wrist rigid and use both shoulder and elbow to move it. It really is a very comfortable device.
wirthjason 6y ago
Is this what you mean? https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-HT1DRBK.html https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-HT1DRBK.html Or maybe this? https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-DPT1MRBK.html https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-DPT1MRBK.html

thebean11 6y ago

I tried to switch to the MX Ergo for a few weeks, and while it was ok, every time I tried that mouse again I'd just be way faster. Do you think you reached speed parity with the mouse?

mistersquid 6y ago

I use Kensington's Slimblade Trackball which is excellently designed and works (for me) as a natural extension of my hand and fingers. I highly recommend it. (Be advised, the software was excellent but is now in a period of transition post-Catalina.) I looked up Elecom's "trackball" offerings but only see trackball mice. Such designs reduce the trackball to something that can be manipulated only with a thumb rather than two fingers (index and middle). Such designs are unappealing and too restrictive to me.

numpad0 6y ago
They do have index finger models, probably not on Amazon US and not yet as perfect as Slimblade
vladvasiliu 6y ago
> Such designs reduce the trackball to something that can be manipulated only with a thumb rather than two fingers (index and middle). Such designs are unappealing and too restrictive to me. Interesting. Does that mean that with the kind of trackball you describe you'd have to move your whole wrist to move the ball left and right? I find I have very little lateral mobility in my index finger and practically none in my middle. Isn't that tiring after a while? I often use an MX Ergo (which is a "trackball mouse" — thumb operated — and is my only trackball experience) and what I like about it is that my wrist can have a fairly natural position and I don't have to move it around or hold it suspended.
- mistersquid 6y ago
  > Does that mean that with the kind of trackball you describe you'd have to move your whole wrist to move the ball left and right? The trackball is fairly large, about 5.5 centimeters in diameter. So I personally use mostly finger movements with slight flicks of the wrist. However, the ball is so large one could keep one’s wrist rigid and use both shoulder and elbow to move it. It really is a very comfortable device.

wirthjason 6y ago

Is this what you mean? https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-HT1DRBK.html https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-HT1DRBK.html Or maybe this? https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-DPT1MRBK.html https://www.elecom.co.jp/products/M-DPT1MRBK.html