Trackball or Mouse?

[pamier242]

I've seen a lot of workstations where people use trackballs, instead of a mouse.

Is there any reason for that? Is the trackball more accurate when adjusting knobs and dials? Or is it mostly helpful in that it takes up less space required for movement than a mouse + mousepad?

[kritikon]

I used to use a trackball mainly because of RSI - lots of mouse use knackered my wrist, whereas a trackball mitigated most of that. The added bonus of less space, as you mentioned. However, there's a huge difference in trackballs. I've always found a mouse is pretty much a mouse, but a cheapo trackball is quite noticeably crappier than a more expensive one. Can't say I remember much of an improvement on accuracy etc though.

Nowadays I use a laptop whenever I can, and the touchpad on those is better for me personally, though they're probably not quite as accurate as a trackball.

[DocAtlas]

Years ago I was getting a lot of pain in my hand and wrist, and switching to a trackball fixed that problem. It didn't seem any more or less accurate than a mouse. I absolutely hate the touchpads on laptops, though. Given a choice, I'll always go for the trackball.

[kritikon]

Yeah, laptops aren't ideal admittedly. I might have a look at what's available in trackballs nowadays, it's a while since I used one and they might be even better. TBH, as long as it's not a mouse I'm happy with whatever.

[melomood]

I want sensors on my fingertips so I can just swipe them on any surface . custom assigned actions for each appendage

[kritikon]

I'll go further and put in a request for eyeball-activated. Wherever I point my eyes, that's where the cursor goes and I can tell it to action stuff. Might work well in conjunction with appendage-activated sensors...

[melomood]

Oooh. Noice

[chk071]

Trackball or mouse?

Mouse.

[Kalamata Kid]

Was trackball
then switched to mouse.
but now thinking abut going back to trackball to save the real estate.

[zerocrossing]

Kensington Expert Mouse. You’ll thank me later.

[Burrito Whisperer]

I had really bad wrist and elbow pain for a bit and bought a cheap trackball thinking I could learn it and it would help. It was one of those ones that's just a giant ball you flick around, but it ended up being way too much wrist movement and I was nowhere near as fast or accurate. I'm currently using a Logitech mx master 3 and love it, but I've been looking at the mx ergo for a few months now for when I'm on the go and don't have space, or to use my laptop in bed.

Great now you've got me looking at it again, I might as well just buy it...

[Kalamata Kid]

Now I remember it was that I can scroll much easier with a mouse.
Also the left click was hard on my thumb.
Best for me to stay with the mouse.

Also years ago when I was testing to return to using the trackball the ball was either too loose or to difficult to turn. Oh well!

[ON BEATS]

Personal taste I'd say. I use my MacBook trackpad and am completely fine with it.

A mouse with a button would probably be easier but I've gotten used to using two fingers to drag and drop a new plugin - click with index and drag down with the middle finger.

It is definitely personal taste and from my basic setup standpoint, more accessories connected adds more 'drag' on the processor. The same reason I use the internal sound card. It already has one, and it works.


I find with any specialist hobby there will always be people who say ''you MUST use this mouse, and you MUST buy this Focusrite audio interface, and you MUST buy these Audio Technica M50 headphones..''


On my planet I 'MUST' have an M1 Apple Silicon logic board. That is all I need. It is definitely subjective.

[pamier242]

Thanks guys.

I'll try one of those Kensingtons @zerocrossing! You've got me curious

[pamier242]

Kensington Expert Mouse. You’ll thank me later.

Yeah, this is kinda cool so far. Thanks for the recommendation.