Questions about trackballs

[Sarig]

Are the kind where your thumb, or the rest of your fingers maneuver the ball preferred? I've never really used one, so I'm a bit hesitant to shell out for something I don't know will work for me, so I thought I'd at least get input on that, as there seem to be two different kinds first (:

And then I'd need to find a wired usb one, most seem to be "wireless to get rid of that wired clutter" and comes with a long wire and a wireless reciever, which makes it useless to me who uses a laptop everywhere around the house (hence the difficulty in using a regular mouse, needing a solid surface).

[Diamndzngunz]

The thing with tracker balls is if you have no experience using one while gaming, your sure to die. I tried using my friends, I suck at it. He has used one for the longest time like when we were kids, and he is good at games. I really don't think it's something you can just jump into. It could take time to get used to.

[Sarig]

Meh, I've got the patience to learn these sort of things, I had no experience using touchpads or those ibm sticks when I started using laptops either, and while they're rather useless for gaming, I got the hang of using them in non-gaming stuff quickly enough (:

[empeha]

I've played a realy long time with this one:
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk:8082/lco/support/disabled/microsoft_red_trackball.jpg
not only WoW but shooters also. Best of it is to look at friends trying to use it at my pc ;)
One of the best exercises to learn the handling is the following:
Open paint
draw straigth lines

So you can see how well you're improve your skills.

[Katharsis]

I recommend the thumb controlled versions. I use the Logitech ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=995') for everything I do on the computer. I've also used it connected to a laptop and had it sitting on the chair arm or resting on my leg. I use a cordless version to control another PC hooked up to the TV but I prefer the wired because I got tired of batteries going dead at inconvenient times.

The advantage of the thumb controlled version is that your left and right click fingers never have to leave the buttons. The advantages for gaming are obvious but for general computing it's just more relaxing in my opinion. The Microsoft Trackball Optical pictured above is discontinued, I think, but those extra buttons are a nice feature. The extra programmable buttons on the Kensington tempted me enough to buy one but the large ball requires a lot more hand movement to operate.
I've been using a trackball for so many years I've forgotten what the learning curve is like. Whenever I set up a new computer I have to adjust the cursor movement speed higher than the default. Finding the sweet spot can be frustrating if you have a twitchy thumb.

[elo]

I played Counter-Strike for years with a trackball. Once I realized no one else did I started running around named 'Trackball Avenger'.

My personal take is that the index finger ones are easier to switch to and are a little easier to control, but I agree with Katharsis that the thumb controlled ones give you better button control. The only possible exception here would be to get one of the Kensington Expert Trackball Pro here ('http://www.buy.com/prod/kensington-turbo-mouse-pro-trackball-opto-mechanical-4-button-s-cable/q/loc/101/10273245.html') but I can't seem to find a place that actually has them in stock and it's big $$$. I also think the larger the ball the better and easier to control. One thing with this kind is that the ball is so big that you can actually control it to varying degrees with all of your fingers, so if you slide your hand over to the left you can work it with you pinky and vice versa with your thumb.

It's the only one I've seen with enough buttons that I wouldn't be constantly moving back and forth from my 10 key to my mouse and back. If anyone else has seen an obtainable trackball with a sh*t ton of buttons please post. The Evolution ('http://www.infogrip.com/product_view.asp?RecordNumber=95')has 6 but that's still not quite as many as I'd like

http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/prod_images/245/10273245.jpgKensington Pro 64214http://www.infogrip.com/images/products/EvolutionMouseweb_prod.jpgEvolution

Given this I've just purchased a fang game pad, hoping to reduce mouse use to looting alone, we'll see
http://www.ideazon.com/global_images/product_imgs/productshots/prdsht_fang_01.jpg

[Diamndzngunz]

Why did you get a zboard (pad). I swear those thinks are non responsive.

[zanthor]

I used the Logitech TrackMan marble for years (Thumb driven trackball similar to the one pictured above gray/red). I stopped buying them because for about 2 years Logitech stopped making them.... though I did wear out about one a year before that thanks tot he VERY intensive right click action of Ultima Online.

[elo]

Why did you get a zboard (pad). I swear those thinks are non responsive.

o rly? Iono, just saw it and thought it looked promising. Reviews were mixed but seemed overall good. Regardless considering my xkeys cost $180 (with shipping, etc.) I figured $40 for this was worth trying out. The main consensus I saw was that I'm going to have to nail it to my desk, and it's small so my mammoth hands may have issues. I really wanted like an N52 that I could work with my right hand but this was as close as I could get.

If you've got a suggestion for something better I'd definitely consider sending this thing back. Basically I just need something with about 16 keys on it that I can operate with my right hand. 6 are for movement (strafe L/R, turn L/R, foward, and back) then 10 for abilities (consecrate, righteous fury, defender thingy, avengers shield, judgement, SoR, SoC, SoL, SoW, SoWhatever). Saw one deal that head a tiny thumb trackball built into a 10key pad with like 2 extra buttons... considered that but meh. Can't seem to find the Kensington mentioned above sold anywhere, besides it's $$$. I figure if the Fang proves to be crap and I can't find something else I'll probably just get another X-Keys Pro and call it good.

[Ziran]

I personally use logitech marble mouse. I have tried many other trackballs but I have not found any that were more accurate and comfortable to use. As a bonus the unit is completely symmetrical so you can use it with either hand (I have three on the left side and three on the right side of my XKeys to best utilize space). It took awhile to learn how to use a trackball with both my hands but it was well worth it. The unit costs about $20 so it is very affordable:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104108&Tpk=marble%2bmouse

The only downside of this device is a lack of scroll wheel. I also used the wireless trackman from logitech and while not bad it is not as good as the marble mouse (and costs $50 to boot). But if you have to have a scroll wheel it fits the bill:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104125

I tried a bunch of top end products from both kensingtom and micro$oft (about the only other two companies making trackballs) but they were not as good as the logitech ones.

I also used the logitech thumb operated trackball:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104156

and while definitely usable your thumb is simply NOT as precise and fast as your other fingers. The same goes for your wrists when using a mouse.

Ziran

[Sarig]

Think I'd be more comfortable using a index-finger controlled one than a thumb one (but hey, I risk being wrong!), so thanks for the tips about the different models (: I'll try to hunt down some of the logitech ones locally, I'd need lots of buttons and preferrably a scroll-wheel so I guess my options are pretty limited (;

The Kensington looks good, but way out of my price-class. Thanks for the advice, I'll report back on how it goes in a while (;

[Aloratnm]

On the topic of learning to use a trackball...

I was forced to learn how to use one at work because it was all my boss used and I was stationed at her desk for the first two weeks I was there. After a good week of using it frequently I caught the hang on it and then found out I absolutely LOVED it in gaming!!

It's so easy to do 720 turns on a simple jump while running, the turn response time is excellent. I imagine first person shooters love these mice.

I would recommend it in a heartbeat to a multiboxer. I currently have (2) thumb driven Logitech Trackball mice sitting on (1) mousepad on my desk. The beauty of it is never having to move the actual mouse around, just your thumb.

I use a wireless one for my work laptop and absolutely LOVE watching first time users sit down and curse as they use two fingers on the ball to get the pointer to go where they want it too ROFL!!

[Atorifan]

I too use the grey/red microsoft pictured, and absolutely love it. I haven't searched online, but haven't seen any local stores with one or one close enough to it. They get close, but lack the extra mouse buttons, which one is used for autorun by default :)

[freakyspider]

I've been using trackballs for nearly 13 years now. 12 1/2 of those years I was using the logitech marble:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=383572&CatId=540

The last 6 months or so I've been using:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=383571&CatId=540

I definitely recommend finger ball over a thumb ball. Not sure how you thumbies do it, my fingers are way more accurate/responsive than my thumb, but I guess everyone has their different talents =) I switched to the new wireless one because not having a scroll wheel was killing me. A lot of software/games incorporate good functions with the scroll wheel now, and sometimes things you can ONLY do with it. It shouldnt take too long to get the hang of it, I'd say less than 2 weeks if you use it a lot.