Trackball Needed

[Radec]

Hi

Need recommendations on a trackball mouse.

As I'll be using it on my work laptop it needs to be plug and play without the need to install any drivers or software as we can't download any non company approved applications.

I used to have a Microsoft Trackball Optical ps/2 back in the day so something in that style.

Thanks in advance.

[Chozza]

I received some good suggestions here ..


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Radec]

Chozza said:

I received some good suggestions here ..


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Cheers Chozza just had a read through.

I think I just need confirmation on whether I can use them on the work laptop without having to install additional software/drivers first before I can buy one.

Are they all just plug and play if they are USB?

[AlexC1981]

Interesting that you went for an Elecom trackball. I use an Elecom EX-6 and it's been great. Saying that, it only gets light use because I use it from the sofa to control the mini-PC I have connected to the TV.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elecom-wireless-button-fu...

I don't think I'd go for a trackball for my work or gaming PC. I'd get thumb fatigue.

Mine was plug and play, no software needed.

Edited by AlexC1981 on Tuesday 28th July 19:00

[jimmyjimjim]

I've a feeling my EX-6 was faulty on arrival; it feels quite gritty and jerky, whereas my Elecom HUGE is very smooth. If they did a HUGE for lefties, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

[Chozza]

Mine was plug and play. BUT the software meant i could remap some of the buttons to something more convenient for me - which worked well.

Work laptop let me install the drivers without any issue - but i guess thats down to individual companies policies

[Deep Thought]

I've a couple of Logitech M570s.

One for my laptop here in the living room, the other for the laptop i take with me on site.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0042BBR2S/ref...

Funky little hard travel case too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073Y5ZLFF/ref...

[Radec]

Deep Thought said:

I've a couple of Logitech M570s.

One for my laptop here in the living room, the other for the laptop i take with me on site.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0042BBR2S/ref...

Funky little hard travel case too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073Y5ZLFF/ref...

Thanks I think the Logitech is maybe the one to go for based on price and reviews and it is a similar shape to the old MS trackball I used to have, which I loved using.

I only need it for emails and Word/Excel/PP so nothing taxing.

Can you confirm it was plug and play and no software needed?

[nigelpugh7]

We’ve still got our original Microsoft Trackball V1 Mouse, and still love to use it.

Have you seen how much the V1 models go for on eBay, regularly £99-£120!

It’s because the original had a much better design and construction of the ball apparently, which means they stay running smoother longer.

We would like a more modern version of it though, so let us know how you get on with the Logitech ball Mouse too.

We also have a Logitech MX Master Mouse, that gets used with Our macs and pc, it’s great that it supports working with three different pc/Mac devices at the touch of a button on the bottom of the mouse.

[ZesPak]

Always found these interesting. What's the main reasons people use this? Is it ergonomics (wrist problems?)? Surface issues?

[Radec]

I may have to try and find my old one if they are going for that much and get it sold.

Main reason I need it is just space issues on my desk since it's quite slim, along with keyboard laptop notepad etc I don't have enough space to move a normal mouse around.

From what I can remember of using my Microsoft one it was really easy and comfortable to use, a quick spin of the ball in any direction with my thumb is all it took hence the need to go for one again.

[Radec]

I just thought maybe I can try a ps/2 to usb adapter first and then I can use my old one as these are only a couple of quid.

[ZesPak]

For peripherals in general, a lot would need to happen for me NOT to get Logitech or Microsoft. Both have been absolutely solid in everything I have from them.

[nigelpugh7]

As we do lots of editing of big 4K Movie files for clients, and on our Big Macs when using DaVinci resolve, you spend a lot of time moving the mouse from the top left of the screen to the top right etc, so the more ease of control you have over that the fastest and less tiring it becomes on your wrists.

We also like the fact you can map lots of the buttons to tasks you repeat a lot too, and that you can choose to have different rates for acceleration of the pointer on the X and Y axis.

We’ve heard lots of good reviews of these too.

https://www.kensington.com/en-gb/p/products/contro...

[Deep Thought]

Radec said:

Deep Thought said:

I've a couple of Logitech M570s.

One for my laptop here in the living room, the other for the laptop i take with me on site.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0042BBR2S/ref...

Funky little hard travel case too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073Y5ZLFF/ref...

Thanks I think the Logitech is maybe the one to go for based on price and reviews and it is a similar shape to the old MS trackball I used to have, which I loved using.

I only need it for emails and Word/Excel/PP so nothing taxing.

Can you confirm it was plug and play and no software needed?

Confirmed. Yes its just plug and play.

[ZesPak]

nigelpugh7 said:

As we do lots of editing of big 4K Movie files for clients, and on our Big Macs when using DaVinci resolve, you spend a lot of time moving the mouse from the top left of the screen to the top right etc, so the more ease of control you have over that the fastest and less tiring it becomes on your wrists.

We also like the fact you can map lots of the buttons to tasks you repeat a lot too, and that you can choose to have different rates for acceleration of the pointer on the X and Y axis.

We’ve heard lots of good reviews of these too.

https://www.kensington.com/en-gb/p/products/contro...

Looks good. But why on earth would you want a wireless trackball

[nigelpugh7]

ZesPak said:

Looks good. But why on earth would you want a wireless trackball

I think they do both wireless and Bluetooth for cable free connections, but you can get a usb version too, for us old die hares who like to plug stuff in.

Our old original Microsoft Trackball is good old usb too.

I was trying to work out which machine we bought it for, and I think it was for our very original V1 Imac, with the floating screen, if that’s the case I bough that back in 2003, and it’s still packed in its original box in the loft, don’t have the heart to get rid of it!

So can that mouse really be 17 years old I wonder, Christ if it is it’s older than my Son Tom!

[Will O. Bey jr]

nigelpugh7 said:

As we do lots of editing of big 4K Movie files for clients, and on our Big Macs when using DaVinci resolve, you spend a lot of time moving the mouse from the top left of the screen to the top right etc, so the more ease of control you have over that the fastest and less tiring it becomes on your wrists.

We also like the fact you can map lots of the buttons to tasks you repeat a lot too, and that you can choose to have different rates for acceleration of the pointer on the X and Y axis.

We’ve heard lots of good reviews of these too.

https://www.kensington.com/en-gb/p/products/contro...

Why wouldn't you get a trackpad then? It does everything that trackball would do in scenarios provided here (for all of the cases mentioned in this thread), plus you'll get gestures on macOS.

[nigelpugh7]

Will O. Bey jr said:

Why wouldn't you get a trackpad then? It does everything that trackball would do in scenarios provided here (for all of the cases mentioned in this thread), plus you'll get gestures on macOS.

Doesn’t work so well for right click type of pick up drop and insert type work, plus I’m old school so prefer a lot of options on my multi button type mouse.

We do have trackpads on our MacBook Pro’s, but still prefer old school right clicking when using a mouse, I guess it’s what we got used to before trackpads came along!

[ZesPak]

Tbh I've tried trackpads and in some software (CAD for example) I just can't get on with them.
As you mentioned, having extra buttons helps out a lot.
It's probably just a habit but still.