Trackballs: The 3 Best Trackballs for 2023

The Best Trackball Mouse – Spring 2023: Mice Reviews

1. Table of Contents
2. Intro
3. Best Mouse
   1. Best Mid-Range
      1. Best Budget
         1. Best Gaming
            1. Recent Updates
            2. All Reviews
            3. Discussions

            Updated Apr 17, 2023 at 12:33 pm

            By Gregory Vodden

            Although they’re often called ‘trackball mice,’ trackballs aren’t technically mice. A conventional mouse has an optical sensor on the bottom that tracks your movements across a surface, while a trackball stays put on your desk, and you use your thumb or fingers to spin a ball while a sensor inside tracks the movement of that ball. Trackballs are a great option if you have limited desk space, and they can be a more ergonomic option because they don’t rely on movements from your wrist or arm.

            When shopping for the best trackball mouse for your needs, it’s important to find an option that will be comfortable for your hand size. You’ll also want to consider what kind of features are important for you. For productivity tasks, you’ll want a good scroll wheel for navigating documents or timelines, while for gaming, you’ll need to make sure your mouse has lower click latency and a high polling rate.

            We’ve tested over 285 mice, and below are our top picks for the best trackball mice. For other recommendations, see our picks for the best ergonomic mice, the best wired mice, or the best wireless mice.

            1. Best Trackball Mouse

               Logitech MX ERGO

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               Work

               6.9

               Video Games (FPS)

               5.9

               Video Games (MMO)

               7.3

               Raw Performance

               5. 7

               Ambidextrous

               No

               Connectivity

               Wireless

               See all our test results

               The best trackball we’ve tested is the Logitech MX ERGO. It has a comfortable right-handed shape and a thumb trackball design suitable for all hand sizes. While using it, your hand posture is between a handshake and a more traditional palm-down position. It also features a metal plate attachment that lets you choose between a 0-degree or 20-degree tilt position. You can connect this mouse wirelessly using its Logitech Unifying USB receiver or via Bluetooth, and you can pair up to two devices simultaneously. It feels well-built and sturdy, and the materials and finish are high quality. Some users also report that the rubber coating is prone to wear out after extended use.

               The scroll wheel has tilt buttons for horizontal scrolling but doesn’t unlock for a quicker free-scrolling mode like some high-end productivity mice. Also, while it has companion software to program buttons and adjust sensitivity settings, there’s no option to increase the polling rate. It won’t concern most people, but the polling rate isn’t high enough to produce smooth cursor movements for gaming or if you use a 4k monitor. Alternatively, you may want to check out the Logitech ERGO M575, a very similar model that’s typically available for less. However, it doesn’t include a tilt base, doesn’t support multi-device connectivity, and feels cheaper overall.

               See our review

            2. Best Mid-Range Trackball Mouse

               ELECOM HUGE M-HT1DRBK

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               Office/Multimedia

               7.9

               Video Games (FPS)

               4. 0

               Video Games (MMO)

               6.8

               Ambidextrous

               No

               Connectivity

               Wireless

               See all our test results

               At a mid-range price point, we recommend the ELECOM HUGE M-HT1DRBK. It’s a versatile finger-operated trackball with a right-handed shape. It includes a conventional scroll wheel with left and right tilt buttons and ten programmable inputs. It also has an integrated leatherette wrist rest which, true to its name, makes it fairly large and bulky. However, it’s still a good fit for all but small-sized hands. It connects wirelessly with a USB receiver and uses a pair of AA batteries for power. You can use the companion software for remapping buttons and adjusting CPI settings.

               However, only three sensitivity presets are available, and the highest setting is only 1200 CPI, which may not feel sensitive enough if you use a very high-resolution display. Unfortunately, this trackball doesn’t have Bluetooth support like our best pick on this list, the Logitech MX ERGO. Also, like nearly all trackball mice, it has a very low fixed polling rate, making it unsuitable for gaming. That said, it’s an affordable option with plenty of customizable controls for productivity or everyday use.

               See our review

            3. Best Budget Trackball Mouse

               Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring

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               Office/Multimedia

               7.7

               Video Games (FPS)

               4.1

               Video Games (MMO)

               4.9

               Ambidextrous

               Yes

               Connectivity

               Wireless

               See all our test results

               We recommend the Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring as a budget option. It has a truly ambidextrous design with a center-mounted, finger-operated trackball. It also has a ring-style scroll wheel and two main buttons that serve as left- and right-click buttons on either side. There’s an included palm rest that you can detach, making it much more compact. Overall, it feels very well-built and connects wirelessly with its USB receiver. It uses two AA batteries for power.

               Unfortunately, this mouse doesn’t have as many programmable inputs as our mid-range recommendation, the ELECOM HUGE M-HT1DRBK. Additionally, the somewhat unconventional ring-style scroll wheel may take a little getting used to if you aren’t already familiar with it. Also, like most trackball options, this mouse has a very low, fixed polling rate and a low maximum CPI setting, which means it isn’t suitable for gaming or if you have a very high-resolution display. That said, it’s an affordable wireless option for anyone looking for a no-fuss trackball for work or everyday browsing.

               See our review

            4. Best Gaming Trackball Mouse

               GameBall Mouse

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               Work

               6. 0

               Video Games (FPS)

               5.1

               Video Games (MMO)

               5.5

               Raw Performance

               6.9

               Ambidextrous

               True Ambidextrous

               Connectivity

               Wired

               See all our test results

               For gamers, we recommend the GameBall Mouse. Unlike other trackball options, this mouse has a maximum polling rate of 1000Hz, the current standard among gaming mice. This higher polling rate produces much smoother, more consistent cursor movements in-game. It has a true ambidextrous shape that’s comfortable whether you’re right- or left-handed. It also features a sloping palm rest long enough to accommodate your entire palm. There are three buttons on either side and a tactile scroll ring around the trackball.

               Because this is a wired mouse, something that isn’t super important as the mouse stays put during use, it does mean a bit more clutter on your desk. Unfortunately, its click latency is high compared to most conventional gaming mice. While it’s well-suited for a range of game genres, it isn’t ideal for competitive FPS or other fast-paced, reaction-based games and may not feel as snappy and responsive as most conventional gaming mice. It also lacks dedicated software for programming buttons or adjusting sensor options. Note that the GameBall is only available directly from the manufacturer’s website.

               See our review

            Recent Updates

            1. Apr 17, 2023:
               We’ve reviewed this article and confirmed the availability and pricing of our picks but haven’t made any changes to our lineup.

            2. Feb 16, 2023:
               We’ve refreshed some of the text in several entries, but we haven’t made any changes to our recommendations after verifying that all our picks remain in stock and are the best choices for their respective categories.

            3. Dec 20, 2022:
               We’ve refreshed some of the text in this article and verified that all picks continue to represent the best products currently available.

            4. Oct 21, 2022:
               We’ve reviewed this article and made several small changes for clarity, but have chosen not to change our current lineup of recommendations as they still represent the best choices for their respective categories. However, we’ve removed the Logitech M750 from our list of Notable Mentions as it’s no longer a more affordable option compared to the newer, upgraded Logitech M575.

            5. Aug 19, 2022:
               We’ve revamped the category names and our picks for this article to better represent the current market and to provide more insight for readers. We’ve also overhauled our Notable Mentions section to include fewer, more relevant recommendations.

            All Reviews

            Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best trackball mice for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper mouse wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no mice that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

            If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our mice reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no mouse is perfect for every use, most mice are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

            Logitech MX ERGO Review – RTINGS.com

            Tested using
            Methodology v1.4

            Reviewed Sep 21, 2020 at 08:33 am

            Latest change: Test bench update Dec 09, 2022 at 01:07 pm

            By Kelsey Linhares, Nicholas Di Giovanni, and Olivier Gariepy

            5. 9

            Video Games (FPS)

            7.3

            Video Games (MMO)

            5.7

            Raw Performance

            overview
            test results
            deals
            discussions

            Type

            Trackball

            Ambidextrous

            No

            Default Weight

            261.9 g

            Connectivity

            Wireless

            The Logitech MX ERGO is an ergonomic trackball mouse in Logitech’s office-oriented MX Series lineup. It’s very well-made and feels extremely comfortable when used with a palm grip. Its design may take some time getting used to, but luckily, the trackball is easy to move around. It comes with a metal tilt plate that tilts the mouse upwards, aimed at relieving stress in the wrist, but this isn’t something we test for. There are a good amount of buttons you can program, and you can connect with up to two devices at once, which is great for multitasking. Sadly, it’s not a versatile mouse outside of office use because it’s limited on gaming features, and the polling rate is set at 125Hz.

            Our Verdict

            6.9

            Work

            The Logitech MX ERGO is excellent for office use. It’s an ergonomic trackball mouse that feels extremely comfortable if you’re using a palm grip. It’s very well-made, and there’s a good amount of buttons you can reprogram, which helps with your workflow. Also, it connects with up to two devices at once, and you can switch between them easily with the press of a button.

            Pros

            • Extremely comfortable.

            • Very well-made.

            • Good amount of programmable buttons.

            5.9

            Video Games (FPS)

            This mouse is okay for FPS gaming. The Logitech MX ERGO isn’t specifically designed for gaming, and the trackball isn’t for everyone. It has a fairly wide CPI range, low error, and low click latency, but you can’t set its polling rate above 125Hz. It’s a heavy mouse, but this won’t make a difference when gaming because you rotate the trackball instead of moving the entire mouse.

            See our Video Games (FPS) Recommendations

            7.3

            Video Games (MMO)

            The mouse is good for MMO gaming. Although not designed for this use, the Logitech MX ERGO offers a good amount of programmable inputs, including three ways to program the scroll wheel, but there’s only one side button. It has low click latency, fairly wide CPI range, and minimal error, but you can’t adjust its polling rate higher than 125Hz.

            Pros

            • Extremely comfortable.

            • Very well-made.

            • Good amount of programmable buttons.

            See our Video Games (MMO) Recommendations

            5.7

            Raw Performance

            • 6.9

              Work

            • 5. 9

              Video Games (FPS)

            • 7.3

              Video Games (MMO)

            • 5.7

              Raw Performance

            + Create your own

            1. Updated Dec 09, 2022:
               We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.4. This update modifies our Hand Size Recommendation test, adding a more granular hand size recommendation chart. We’ve moved several minor tests into different test groups, removed the Travel usage, and added a new Raw Performance usage. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.

            2. Updated Sep 16, 2022:
               We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here.

            3. Updated Aug 17, 2022:
               We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here.

            4. Updated Aug 16, 2022:
               We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1. 1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.

            5. Updated Nov 02, 2020:
               Converted to Test Bench 1.0.

            6. Updated Sep 21, 2020:
               Review published.

            7. Updated Sep 02, 2020:
               Early access published.

            Check Price

            Black
            MX ERGO

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            MX ERGO

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            MX ERGO

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            MX ERGO

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            SEE CURRENT DEALS AND PRICE TREND  

            Differences Between Sizes And Variants

            We tested the Logitech MX ERGO, and there’s a Best Buy-exclusive variant called the Logitech MX ERGO Plus. The only difference is that the MX ERGO Plus is sold with an extra rubber plate that can help raise the metal tilt plate by an additional 10 degrees, for a total of a 30-degree tilt. Besides comfort, we expect our results to be valid for both variants.

            If you have a Logitech MX ERGO that’s different from ours, let us know and we’ll update the review.

            Compared To Other Mice

            The Logitech MX ERGO is an excellent office mouse with a unique design. It has a lot of the same features as most other Logitech MX mice, like the Logitech MX Master 3, with multiple programmable inputs and multi-device pairing. Choosing this over other Logitech mice comes down to personal preference and whether or not you’ll feel comfortable using a trackball. We haven’t tested many trackball mice, but its design is much more comfortable than the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball. Also, make sure to check out our recommendations for the best ergonomic mice, the best wireless mice, and the best Logitech mice.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO is a better ergonomic trackball mouse for office use than the Logitech ERGO M575. The MX ERGO feels better-built and has a rechargeable battery. It also has more programmable inputs, a scroll wheel with L/R tilt buttons, and better click latency when using Bluetooth.  On the other hand, the ERGO M575 is heavier and uses an AA battery. Both mice are very well-suited for palm grip, but those with small hands may not be able to reach all buttons using a claw grip with the M575.

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            The Logitech MX Master 3 is slightly better overall than the Logitech MX ERGO, but they have different designs. The Master 3 is a traditional mouse with a sensor. It also has a thumb rest, a wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and has a horizontal scroll wheel. On the other hand, the ERGO is a trackball mouse with a pinky rest.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO is better than the Logitech MX Vertical, but they’re two differently-designed mice. The ERGO is a trackball mouse that’s better-built and a lot more comfortable. It also has lower click latency, a vertical wheel tilt, and more programmable buttons. However, the Vertical is much lighter, making it easier to carry around, and it has a wider CPI range. The vertical shape of this mouse may be comfortable for more people.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO and the Logitech Lift are both wireless, ergonomic gaming mice with very different designs. The MX ERGO has a trackball design and uses a micro-USB cable to recharge. It has two additional programmable buttons, and its scroll wheel has L/R tilt inputs. It also includes a tilting base plate. On the other hand, the Logitech Lift has a vertical shape. It has a better sensor in which you can more precisely set your CPI in a slightly wider range, and it uses a single AA battery for power. Its scroll wheel also has a free-scrolling mode.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO is slightly better than the Logitech MX Master 2S. The ERGO is a trackball mouse with an extra programmable button, lower click latency, and a more comfortable design. On the other side, the Master 2S is a traditional mouse with a wider CPI range, lower increment steps, infinite vertical scrolling, and a horizontal scroll wheel.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO is an updated version of the Logitech M570. It has a plate you can use to tilt the mouse up to 20°, a rechargeable battery, and four additional buttons. It also has an adjustable CPI and companion software compatible with Windows and macOS. Comparatively, the M570 only connects with its USB receiver and uses an AA battery. It also has a compartment for its USB receiver when not in use. Both mice are well-suited for a palm or claw grip for nearly all hand sizes.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO is much better than the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball. The Logitech is better-built, and it has a more comfortable design. It also has much lower click latency, more programmable buttons, and you can adjust its CPI by increments of 100. However, the Kensington comes with a wrist rest, which is a nice touch.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO and the Kensington Orbit Fusion Wireless Trackball are wireless trackball mice with similar shapes. They’re both intended for office and productivity work, but the Logitech has better performance overall. The Logitech feels much better built and has a more consistent sensor. You can also adjust the set CPI by steps of 100 within a narrow range, while the Kensington only has three CPI presets. On the other hand, the Kensington has more side buttons and a top-mounted trackball, which may be more comfortable for some.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO and the Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring are both wireless trackball mice designed for office and productivity tasks, but the Logitech performs better overall. It has a right-handed ergonomic design with the trackball on the left side under the thumb rather than mounted in the middle. It has more programmable inputs, feels better built, and has significantly better click latency. On the other hand, the Kensington has an ambidextrous design, comes with a detachable wrist rest for extra ergonomic support, and uses a ring around the trackball rather than a typical mouse wheel for scrolling.

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            The Logitech MX ERGO and the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball are stationary trackball mice designed for office use. However, the Logitech performs much better overall. It features a more common mouse shape that feels much better built and more comfortable to use. Instead of a central trackball, it’s on the left side where the thumb rests. It’s wireless and connects via Bluetooth or its USB receiver. On the other hand, the Kensington has an ambidextrous design. Although both mice have software fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, the Logitech offers more customization.

            + Show more

            Test Results

            Sort Category───────────RATINGSWorkVideo Games (FPS)Video Games (MMO)Raw Performance

            Category AllDesignControlOperating System And Software

            Design

            Type

            Trackball

            Coating

            Matte

            Lighting Color

            No Lighting

            The Logitech MX ERGO mouse is professional-looking and ergonomic with a slanted body. Its body is matte gray, and the trackball is glossy. The metal tilt plate (not pictured) and the scroll wheel’s sides are both stainless steel. Being office-oriented, there’s no RGB lighting.

            Length

            5.2″ (133 mm)

            Width

            3.9″ (100 mm)

            Height

            2.4″ (60 mm)

            Grip Width

            62 mm

            Ambidextrous

            No

            Left-Handed Friendly

            No

            Finger Rest

            Pinky

            Box Volume

            48. 70 in³ (798 cm³)

            Receiver Storing

            No

            The Logitech MX ERGO Trackball is heavy and may be difficult to carry around. Luckily, it’s much smaller than the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball, so you can still place it in a bag if you need to.

            It has excellent build quality. The plastic body is really solid and there aren’t any obvious issues. The mouse rattles a bit when you shake it, but that’s because of the trackball. The trackball rotates well and feels smooth to move around. There’s rubber on the backside and underneath the metal plate, which helps keep the mouse in place.

            Lowest Weight

            261.9 g

            Default Weight

            261.9 g

            Weight Distribution

            Centered

            Extra Weights

            No

            This mouse is very heavy, but it doesn’t make much of a difference because, thanks to its trackball, you don’t need to move it around. You can remove the metal tilt plate if you want to make it lighter to carry around.

            Palm Grip Hand Recommendation

            Claw Grip Hand Recommendation

            Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation

            The Logitech MX ERGO wireless is extremely comfortable. It’s an ergonomic mouse with a slant for right-handed people. It comes with a tilt plate that can tilt up to 20°, which is designed to relieve stress on the wrist, but this isn’t something we test for. It’s made for a palm grip and there’s rubber along the backside where your palm rests. The buttons are well-placed and easy-to-reach. If you’re interested in an earlier version of this mouse without a tilt plate, check out the Logitech M570. For a trackball mouse with a top-mounted trackball and a scroll ring instead of a scroll wheel, check out the Kensington Orbit Fusion Wireless Trackball. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an ambidextrous trackball mouse, check out the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball.

            Maximum Of Paired Devices

            2

            Bluetooth

            Yes

            Receiver

            Yes

            Battery Type

            Rechargeable

            Use When Charging

            Yes

            On/Off Activation

            Auto Off And On/Off Switch

            Receiver Extender

            No

            Battery Indicator

            Yes

            You can connect the Logitech MX ERGO to your computer either via Bluetooth or its proprietary receiver, and it can connect to two devices at once. It has a cable for charging, but you still need to connect it wirelessly to your computer while it’s charging. Logitech advertises a battery life of up to four months, but this isn’t something we test.

            Connectivity

            Wireless

            Cable Length

            4. 2 ft (1.3 m)

            Cable Type

            Rubber

            Permanent Kink

            No

            Port Type: Mouse End

            Micro USB

            Port Type: PC End

            USB

            The Logitech MX ERGO comes with a decent rubber cable. It feels well-made, but it’s also stiff and not very flexible. It’s a charge-only cable and data isn’t sent through it.

            Gliding Experience

            Stationary

            Material

            Plastic

            Extra Included

            No

            • Logitech MX ERGO Wireless Trackball Mouse
            • USB receiver
            • Micro-USB cable
            • Tilt plate
            • User manual

            Control

            Total Number Of Buttons

            9

            Number Of Side Buttons

            1

            Number Of Programmable Inputs

            6

            Profile Switching Button

            No

            Gesture Support

            N/A

            There are a good amount of buttons that you can customize. You can reprogram every button except the left and right click, and the device switch button underneath the scroll wheel. You can reprogram the scroll wheel click and the left and right wheel tilt buttons.

            Expected Connection

            12.8 ms

            Wired

            N/A

            Receiver

            12.8 ms

            Bluetooth

            18.0 ms

            This mouse has a similarly low click latency whether you’re using it via Bluetooth or its proprietary receiver, which is great.

            SRAV @ 1600 CPI

            N/A

            SRAV @ 800 CPI

            1.19%

            SRAV @ 400 CPI

            6.10%

            SRAV @ Fixed CPI

            N/A

            Precision Error Between Speeds

            1.84%

            Precision Error Between CPI

            1. 28%

            Worst Tracking Error

            11.30%

            Minimum CPI

            50 CPI

            Maximum CPI

            1,150 CPI

            CPI Adjustment Steps

            100 CPI

            Delay To Start Of Movement

            N/A

            Delay At Half Movement

            N/A

            Delay To End Of Movement

            N/A

            Sensor Technology

            Optical (LED)

            Sensor Model

            Not Specified

            Works On Glass

            Yes

            Minimum Lift Off Distance

            N/A

            Maximum Polling Rate

            125 Hz

            The sensor is located underneath the trackball. The trackball is easy to remove in case you need to clean the sensor. If you’re interested in a trackball mouse with a 1000Hz polling rate, and gaming sensor, check out the GameBall Mouse.

            Scroll Wheel

            Notched Wheel

            Scroll Wheel Steps

            24 Steps

            Scroll Wheel Tilt

            Yes

            Thumb Wheel

            No

            Thumb Wheel Steps

            No Thumb Wheel

            The Logitech MX ERGO has an incremented scroll wheel with a wheel tilt. Sadly, you can’t unlock it for infinite scrolling.

            Click Noise

            Quiet

            Operating System And Software

            Software Name

            Logitech Options

            Software Windows Compatibility

            Yes

            Software macOS Compatibility

            Yes

            On-Board Memory

            No

            CPI (DPI) Adjustment

            Yes

            Polling Rate Adjustment

            No

            Profile Configuration

            Yes

            Profile Auto-Switching

            Yes

            RGB On/Off

            No RGB

            The Logitech G HUB software offers great customization options. You can create a profile for different programs on your computer, but you can only create one profile per program. The mouse doesn’t have onboard memory, but if you create an account, you can use your settings on another computer with the software downloaded.

            Windows Compatibility

            Fully

            macOS Compatibility

            Fully

            This mouse is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS.

            The Tale of Trackballs / Habr

            There are various non-standard input devices in my area of ​​interest. And after all, they seem to have come up with a keyboard and a mouse, but they calmed down on this, but this is not enough for me. Parallel to the world of the mouse, there is the world of amazing input devices like the trackball. We are all used to the mouse and know how to use it, so if you put an ordinary person at the trackball and make the ball rotate, his brain breaks. And it’s cool when you use something that’s not quite what everyone else is. And not everyone can use your tool, let alone work on your computer.

            So I want to tell you about my many years of experience with trackballs, why it’s cool and at the same time what medical problems it causes. Go!

            What is a trackball?

            The trackball, in ancient times, was called an inverted mouse. Previously, mice were ball, opto-mechanical, so the trackball was supposedly the reverse version of the mouse, where the ball was rotated by the fingers. Those who found these types of mice remember the problems of dirt on the rollers of the optical-mechanical system. With trackballs of that time, this problem was especially acute, since the fat from the fingers collected on the rollers and hardened there. As a result, trackballs were significantly more frequently cleaned than classic ball mice.

            Before we go to sort out the whole zoo of trackballs that have passed through my hands, I will tell you about the main types of trackballs.

            There are, of course, typical and obvious differences between trackballs, for example, by the way the movement of the ball is read: it is an optical-mechanical system and either only optical; according to the method of connecting to a computer: USB interface, ps / 2, COM port, etc. However, in reality, these are not significant differences, since there will not be much difference when using trackballs with different interfaces. Moreover, modern trackballs have only a USB interface and they are all, without exception, optical. The main constructive difference is how we rotate the ball (hussars, be silent): with one thumb, or with the index, ring and middle fingers at the same time.

            I like thumb trackballs the most; in my opinion, they are more comfortable and the hand rests better on them. And in the market, these models have received significant distribution. Unfortunately, for medical reasons, I had to stop using these models. You will soon find out why.

            Why are trackballs so good and why do I love them? Trackballs are convenient for programmers, writers and draftsmen, as they have less distraction to use the manipulator. The trackball does not require space, does not damage the table surface and can be easily used even on the knee. I like to use the trackball during software development to minimize distractions from the keyboard. In general, as for me, the ideal trackball built into the keyboard in the very center, like on laptops of ancient times. In general, a trackball keyboard is the ultimate in my dreams.

            My first trackball

            My acquaintance with trackballs began with the manipulator “The Microsoft Ballpoint mouse” (its photo is presented on KDPV). Its peculiarity is that it was attached with a special clip to the keyboard or laptop, and made it very comfortable to work with it with the left or right hand. For these purposes, on this model, the buttons were duplicated on both sides.

            Picture from the trackball box.

            I got it brand new, in a box, with wires. It came with a thick book with an instruction manual, a wire for the COM port and ps / 2, a keyboard mount and the trackball itself. By the way, the trackball was easily unfastened from the mount and could be used simply in the hand, which at that time was very cool, but what can I say, even today I really miss such a manipulator!

            This model instilled in me a love for input devices of this type. The ball was rotated by the thumb, and it was very comfortable and heavy, even now I remember that feeling of cold soft rubber. Many of my friends asked me to give this device for use and were very delighted with its operation. We even took it with us to computer clubs and played various shooting games, it was so much more convenient than a mouse.

            But not everything was so rosy, every medal has two sides. The lack of a trackball of this design was one: it was opto-mechanical, and this ruined it. Eventually the rotation bearing grease dried up and the trackball stopped working. Unfortunately, at that time I did not have enough experience or the ability to restore it.

            Today, for an article, I was looking for photos of this trackball, and it turned out to be a very rare beast, photos were found with great difficulty. Especially if you don’t remember the model name. Specifically, this model appeared in the pre-Internet era. The photos in the article are taken from the Microsoft website.

            Notebook trackball

            My second trackball was the manipulator built into the Compaq Contura 410C laptop. This laptop, surprisingly, is still alive, except that its power supply has been lost somewhere in the years.

            Trackball in Compaq Contura 410C.

            The trackball is designed in such a way that the input is carried out by the index and middle fingers. As it turned out, this solution was very convenient, and I played the first civilization on this device for a long time, even with a more advanced computer. In general, today I look towards keyboards with a similar arrangement of the trackball, but so far I have not seen successful models.

            The main disadvantages of this input device include not the best location of the keys, as well as the size of the ball and its absolutely smooth surface. Still, the larger the ball, the more convenient it is to work.

            My main workhorse

            When working on a standard PC, I used a mouse. And as a rule, this was not enough for me, since everyone had a mouse, but I wanted something of that kind, unusual, so that it was as convenient as possible. And then I met him, the trackball of my dreams! And this laid the foundation for my passion for trackballs, and this lineup has been with me for more than ten years, in different and more advanced versions. Meet “Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical” .

            Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical.

            This was my first optical trackball. That is, now the position of the ball was read in the same way as in modern mice: using a camera. The ball was illuminated by an IR diode, so that the light did not interfere or distract in any way.

            This device was a total bomb and completely revolutionized my trackball practice. Big ball, comfortable design, as if it was specially molded for my hefty paw. After washing, the ball had to be rolled a little between the palms so that it was a little smeared, and then it rotated delightfully.

            I never parted with this trackball, it was always with me, except that I did not go to bed with it. In the end, I decided that I would also play with a trackball. In general, let’s be honest, the response speed and data accuracy of the input device is much worse than that of a standard mouse. But I made a strong-willed decision to hone my reaction speed and accuracy to the level of mouse rivals, and having managed to do this, for a long time I was in the top three leaders on our Quake III servers in terms of hit accuracy.

            Screenshot of the end of the duel in CTF on the q3ctf4 map (E+ mod, madsod config), statistics are highlighted in red, In a real battle, on the madsod config, 30% of the rails – this was a very good indicator, taking into account the insane dynamics of the game. Alas, after this config, all other games seem like turtle races to me and I can’t play them.

            Of course, with such intensive use, I had to periodically repair it. First of all, the plastic was worn off, which presses / transmits force from the key to the button. As a result, I made a lining from an aluminum can there. During the disassembly and repair, I took pictures of my beauty, so that we can look inside.

            
            This photo clearly shows the spikes holding the PTFE ball, as well as the window of the optical sensor. The device of the optical sensor is curious, it is more cunning and more complicated than that of an optical mouse.

            I have had 4 versions of this type of trackball, wireless version, laser version. Unfortunately, I have not preserved photos of all versions of these devices.

            Another new trackball.

            With each new version there have been nice changes: different scrolling, better sensitivity, nicer ball that seems to slide better and much more. Also, the ball wears out during long-term operation and rotates worse. due to the furrows formed on it. Unless the wireless ones pleased me less than the wired ones, as problems with charging and batteries surfaced. Plus station search. I do not remember the exact name of all models, but there were four types.

            The last trackball of this form factor was the chic “Logitech M570” . He was perfect.

            Logitech M570.

            Wireless, laser reader, soft ball, ideal weight for standing firmly on a table. In general, everything was fine with it, but I only managed to use it for about a month, because I got an occupational disease from trackballs …

            A disease of fanatical trackball players

            One day, I suddenly felt unpleasant pain in the joints of my thumb with fine motor skills of the rotation of the trackball ball. At first, I did not attach any importance to it, but the pain grew steadily every day and eventually became unbearable.

            Places of pain.

            Realizing that it would not go away on its own, I went to see a surgeon in the district polyclinic. After going through 13 circles of hell, he was sent for an x-ray and the diagnosis was disappointing.

            Conclusion (underlined): pronounced signs of arthrosis.

            Then injections, ointments and other procedures and trackballs for the thumb of the right hand had to be forgotten. Forget forever. Now, even after so many years, if I sit down at this type of trackball, after literally ten minutes of work, my joints begin to ache. Yes, even messages on the phone now I type only with my left hand.

            So everything wears out, including our joints. Computer games, training in the clan for 5 hours a day, all this too quickly wore out the joints of the thumb, which accounted for all the load. And this led to sad, irreparable consequences.

            But if you think my trackball story is over, no.

            Other trackballs I have used

            There are other models of trackballs that I have used for quite a long time, but they have not sunk into my soul so strongly.

            The first fancy trackball was “A4 Tech Wintrack PC XT” trackball, COM port. Despite the fact that it was opto-mechanical, and even on the COM port, it was a three-button one. And if now it would have a scroll wheel, then I would still use it, because I find it very convenient and interesting.

            A4 Tech Wintrack PC XT.

            The device is really hefty, but very cool, especially the huge keys deliver. Unfortunately, it didn’t take root with me, since you won’t find a COM port in modern computers today with fire, and an adapter is such a method, since additional drivers and other problems are needed. I even became curious, but can modern Windows 10 work with COM port mice?

            Another model that I have had in use for a while is the “Logitech TrackMan Marble Silver” .

            Logitech TrackMan Marble Silver.

            I can say about him that the model is very unusual. In general, I liked the device. The main disadvantages include the lack of a scroll wheel, which puts an end to its comfortable use. I used this model for a while after I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, as it involves other fingers. But still, she did not take root with me, and went on hand by hand. Somehow no one stayed long.

            The ultimate trackball, and the most unusual one I’ve used recently, was the “Logitech Cordless TrackMan Optical Trackball” . I bought this model very profitably on one Internet site a few months ago.

            Logitech Cordless TrackMan Optical Trackball.

            It turned out to be a very unusual device, even for me. The main oddity was the completely unusual layout of the keys: the usual left mouse button is under the thumb, and the right mouse button is behind the ball.

            The big key on the side is LMB.

            Due to joint problems in my thumb, I can’t use the thumb button. Therefore, this was the reason for my refusal to use this model. In principle, it is possible to reprogram the buttons of this trackball using the supplied software. But in fact, it turned out that reprogramming is carried out at the level of the operating system to which the trackball is connected, and not at the level of the controller of the manipulator itself.

            The big key on the side is LMB.

            Therefore, the manipulator went further from hand to hand.

            In general, we have a friendly community of trackball lovers, and we exchange models of various devices with each other. That allows you to feel different solutions and understand what you need most.

            What is the result?

            To my great regret, due to an injury, I can no longer use trackballs under the thumb under the right hand. Yes, and as my acquaintances, trackball lovers who have been using them for about 5-10 years, say that they also have signs of arthrosis (the joints of the thumb ache). So at the moment I’m using a mouse type manipulator. But, nevertheless, I look at interesting models. An example of such models is a thumb trackball for the left hand “ELECOM M-XT4DRBK” .

            ELECOM M-XT4DRBK

            Or another model that haunts me with its beauty is “Microsoft Explorer 1.0” .

            Microsoft Explorer 1.0

            Of course, this model also has buttons under the thumb, but the model itself looks just cosmic. And it is the main object of dreams for avid trackball players.

            Of the most interesting and rare trackball models that I would be interested in touching are “CST Laser Trackball” .

            CST Laser Trackball (photo from here)

            The model is so unique that even at auctions it is very rare and for crazy money.
            The problem with all these models is their price. If you go to a well-known Western auction or an online store and look at the prices for these devices, it turns out that mice are incomparably cheaper. But, if you are a true geek, then this should not stop you, there are no barriers to patriots. Experiment with input devices and choose the one that suits your tastes and interests!

            Why and who needs a trackball? Review of the Logitech Trackman Marble trackball. — Ferra.ru

            As in golf, let’s first get acquainted, so to speak, with balls and clubs, i.e. closer to the device itself. The trackball box is common for devices of this kind, quite convenient and functional. In the box, we received the device itself, a CD with Logitech® software for Mac and Windows, and a quick start guide. Actually, nothing else is needed.

            Our subject, as many people think, looks like a sea animal – either a stingray or an outlandish fish. Indeed, there is something from the inhabitant of the depths in it: a streamlined flexible shape, a silver-green color, “fins” keys. That’s just a large cherry ball in the head looks a little strange, but … what kind of creatures does not give birth to a deep blue sea. There are no complaints about the design – it is beautiful and harmonious.

            The trackball is made of good durable plastic, on the underside there are thin rubber pads that will not let it budge during operation. The device is symmetrical and can be used with equal ease by left-handers and right-handers. The trackball ball, as already mentioned, is cherry speckled, the motion tracking system is completely optical. The company claims that Marble’s proprietary optical smooth tracking technology (those same specks) allows you to more accurately read the position of the ball and avoid failures when it gets dirty.

            There are 4 functional buttons on the sides of the “animal”: two large ones that perform standard mouse functions, and two additional small ones – the left one navigates to the previous page in the Internet browser, the right one turns on the universal scrolling mechanism. The trackball does not have a dedicated scroll wheel.

            Computer scientists somehow didn’t get along with trackballs, unlike mice. Rodents have won an absolutely dominant position, multiplying and changing at an unprecedented speed, to match their animal counterparts. Trackballs, on the other hand, occupied an extremely small isolated niche, remaining the prerogative of rare eccentrics and fans. But they have the same principle of operation: the trackball, in fact, is an inverted mechanical (ball) mouse, only the mouse moves the entire body, and the trackball rotates the ball on a fixed body. But no luck, despite the improved ergonomics.

            _

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            The fact is that while controlling the mouse, the muscles of the arm, forearm, shoulder and chest work – after all, we move the mouse with the whole arm. And behind the trackball, only the muscles of the fingers of the hand, which calmly lies with the wrist on the table, are loaded. For example, trackball maker ITAC Systems claims that after 4 hours of active mouse use, wrist fatigue results in up to 60% weaker hand in tests, while trackball use has no effect on test scores. Thus, the occurrence of “tunnel syndrome” when using a trackball is practically excluded. And, obviously, using it for ergonomic reasons when working with texts is meaningless, since here most of the time the hands are occupied with the keyboard and rare distractions to the mouse do not overload them. But when working with graphics and in games, many hours of intense manipulation of the mouse leads to pain in the wrist and arm in general.

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            But even this obvious and strong advantage over mice did not help trackballs gain any noticeable popularity. Perhaps a lot of small flaws outweighed a huge significant plus.

            Connecting the device to the USB port, as you understand, did not cause any problems. The gadget worked without special drivers, being content with standard system drivers. But the functions performed minimally: the movement of the cursor and the actions of the right and left buttons of a standard mouse. To download the latest version of the proprietary driver, I went to the manufacturer’s website and was stunned: the SetPoint program, which is actually the device driver, weighed 65.5 MB (!), And the site shyly states: “about 50 MB.” What is it that is inside? What super functions will the wonderful trackball perform? Maybe wash clothes and make coffee? Well, what if something cooler?! After all, say, the 11th, if not the latest, version of the full-featured vector graphics editor Corel Draw takes some 52 MB, and the full-fledged Scribus publishing system is generally only 20.

            Downloaded driver, installed, rebooted. Everything is predictable – the program for setting the trackball buttons SetPoint turned out to be in autoload, in RAM – it is 13 MB and another 5 MB process from the KHAL2 folder. A lot for setting the “mouse”. With a more careful combing of the system folders, everything became finally clear. Logitech has installed ALL drivers for ALL the devices it makes, right down to webcams and microphones, on the unfortunate user’s computer. That’s where 65 MB comes from, and not at all from the flight of technical thought and the super-functionality of the trackball!

            But back to the customization options. In the first tab of the program, you can set up tasks for the trackball buttons: there is only one option for large buttons – swap their functions, but for small ones, the repertoire is much wider (see screenshot). The “Other” item opens up even more options, including opening the “Start” button, minimizing windows, etc. Interestingly, the scroll speed setting for the “Universal Scroll” function did not give anything when scrolling a web page in Opera: any values.

            On the next tab, you can adjust the movement speed and other parameters of the cursor. There is a checkbox to enable the “Smart Move” function. By the way, an attempt by an inexperienced user to find out what kind of trick it is using the Help button will cause considerable difficulties. No, the help system is good – it is completely in Russian, detailed and meaningful. But again, it is intended for all manipulators, more precisely, mice at once and contains many functions that are missing from this device. You will have to spend time to figure out what applies to your device and what does not.

            Now the “sea animal” is completely ready for work, the hand is asking to take its place on its smooth back, the brain is eager to get an answer to the main question: will it be possible to move the cursor from point A to point B in the shortest way and with less effort . Let’s get started.

            I must confess I have no experience with trackballs. It’s not that I didn’t know them at all, but it was more like that, a hat acquaintance. Against this background, the usual attempts to move the device like a mouse lasted no more than a few minutes, for another half an hour or an hour the hand settled on the convex surface of the device, and the wrist chose the optimal place for a fixed support on the table, and finally, for 2-3 hours, the fingers adjusted to the buttons and control the ball. So the unoptimistic claims that it takes several days or a week to get used to the trackball after using the mouse are not so true. It is clear that it is still far from perfection, but you can work absolutely freely in a few hours.

            By the way, there is an opinion on the net that the movement of the mouse is intuitively clear to a person, but the movement of the trackball is not, it is difficult to predict. Nonsense! The level of understanding of the direction of movement is exactly the same, no more, no less.

            The first and obvious advantage of the trackball – the minimum space required – does not require any proof. The second advantage logically follows from the first – the trackball “mat” never ends. When working on large screens, it is often necessary to move the mouse back when it moves too far forward or rests on the edge of the table. At the trackball, the table never ends, however, sometimes the fingers “end”. This happens when you need to draw a long, neat line: your fingers rest on the edge of the ball hole and you have to move them, which knocks the cursor to the sides due to the lightness and mobility of the ball. And here, in my opinion, the advantages and disadvantages of both types of manipulators collide. The mouse is bulkier and difficult to draw a precise line in a given direction. But it is precisely because of this that the line is smoother. The trackball ball is lighter and more agile, and can be guided with greater precision by the fingers. And it is this obvious advantage, especially when fingered, that creates sharp jerks, making the line more uneven. Although training, apparently, can significantly improve results. Here are examples of selecting a section of the image with the Lasso tool using the trackball (1) and the mouse (2).

            The third advantage of the trackball over the mouse is the complete disregard for the nature of the surface. Computer rodents, of course, are constantly improving, but they still don’t work normally on glass and transparent plastic. The trackball, of course, does not make any difference on what to install it on.

            Another plus is especially important in games – the speed of movement of the cursor, fast movement over long distances. The mouse requires a lot of free area, significant hand movements and constant transfers. In the trackball, you can simply spin the ball, and it moves to the opposite corner of the screen. Experienced gamers claim that the reaction speed when using a convenient (!) Trackball increases significantly, although this is not for everybody.

            Since the advantages seem to have run out, let’s talk about the disadvantages. The first and main problem with the Logitech Trackman is the buttons. If the left main button is located under the thumb, then the right one is exactly under its base and middle. And what is it supposed to reap on it? The base of the finger is uncomfortable, and the accuracy of such pressing is low. By bending your finger, you involuntarily raise your entire palm above the surface of the device and hold it on weight. It is unergonomic, the hand gets tired and the probability of accidentally pressing the keys increases.

            In general, the movement of the buttons is so easy that accidental pressing cannot be avoided. The reason for such an inconvenient arrangement of buttons can be assumed: since the device is intended for both right-handers and left-handers at the same time, it must be symmetrical. Perhaps, for the sake of this, convenience had to be sacrificed.

            There is a special discussion about additional buttons. They are extremely small and almost do not protrude above the adjacent large button. And if the left one can still be used with sin in half, then the right one “wanders” somewhere under the bases of the middle and ring fingers. The only way out for this model, apparently, is to reprogram the left additional button for a scrolling function – nevertheless, this is an often requested action.

            By the way, scrolling does not work correctly in all programs. If in MS Office everything works fine and is configurable, then in different browsers the scrolling speed does not depend on the SetPoint program (or depends, but in the opposite way) and the movement is jerky. In GIMP, scrolling didn’t work at all, even though the mouse wheel worked just fine.

            Another problem common to all trackballs: quick ball contamination from contact with fingers. And, although the optical system for registering the position of the ball suffers less from dirt than the mechanical one, the ball still does not hang in the air and dirt will accumulate on the internal supports.

            Let’s summarize. The answer to the main question is quite positive. By rolling the ball on a home trackball, we can draw a line from point A to point B; it won’t be super easy, but it won’t be more difficult than using a normal mouse. And then – a lot of subtleties.

            902 61

            Advantages	Disadvantages
            Significantly better ergonomics than a mouse, no hand fatigue	Awkward button placement
            Little space required	No scroll wheel
            Works on all surfaces and vibrations	High chance of accidental presses
            More accurate and easier cursor control	lines with the cursor due to ball mobility
            Good design and build quality	Ball quickly dirty
            Possibility of fast reaction in games with control skill	Incorrect scrolling in some programs m. <- Предыдущий пост: Tile tracking: Tile Mate 1-Pack, White. Bluetooth Tracker, Keys Finder and Item Locator; Up to 250 ft. Range. Up to 3 Year Battery. Water-Resistant. Phone Finder. iOS and Android Compatible. : Electronics Следующий пост: Best buy wilmington de: Best Buy Concord Pike in Wilmington, Delaware ->