Re: [PLUG] This Box Rocks, but on XP?

[Kevin Brosius <kbrosius@kns.com>]

"William H. Magill" wrote:
> 
> On Thursday, August 21, 2003, at 04:41  AM, Art Clemons wrote:
> > Actually, I'ld suggest switching to optical trackballs instead if
> > you're worried about tracking reliably.  They don't need to be moved,
> > and little folks who start out with them seem to love them.  They
> > don't even have to be the clunky ones from a few years back, Logitech
> > for example has one that isn't much larger than a mouse which can be
> > successfully used with either hand (something that's important to me,
> > since I use my left hand to operate rodents and trackballs even though
> > I theoretically am right handed).  I admit though that cleaning one
> > that has had coffee, tea or some other sugared beverage spilled is no
> > fun but that usually causes us to throw out keyboards too.
> 
> I'd love to switch to an optical trackball, but the last time I checked
> there were none.
> 
> There are a couple of optical "thumballs" but no real "trackballs." A
> "trackball" is something you can control with your ANY of your finger
> tips, not just your thumb, and normally, two or three simultaneously.
> (A "palmball" is about the size of a softball.)
> 
> I used the Logitech TrackMan for many years, but ultimately gave it up
> because it was killing my thumb.
> 
> Right now, my favorite trackball (but non optical) is the Kensington
> Expert Mouse Pro, wireless. It has a pool-ball sized ball I can operate
> with my finger tips as smoothly as an optical mouse, four primary
> buttons, and a bunch of weird little ones and a scroll wheel. The
> design is completely ambidextrous (you can use it with either hand and
> program the buttons anyway you like).
> 
> As an adjunct to my iBook, I use a Microsoft optical USB mouse, which
> seems to work well on virtually any surface.  I'm still not "happy"
> with touch pads even though my newest keyboard from Adasso
> (www.adesso.us) [ADESSO TRU-FORM 3D Ergo USB TOUCHPAD KEYBOARD
> (EKB-2150)], an ergonomic, split, contoured keyboard, has one (as does
> the iBook).

I've become rather fond of the Logitech Trackman Marble FX.  It's a
large ball (mid squash to racquetball sized ball) with optical pickup. 
It's made mostly for right handers, but except for that, should be
usable by anyone.  Because the ball is center mounted, you use thumb and
fingers for normal use, allowing you to grab the ball rather than just
palming it like a standard trackball.

I picked up my second one for around $35 on ebay a couple years ago. 
None listed at the moment, but looks like they've been going for $20-75
recently.  Here's one picture:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2747516400&category=11193

-- 
Kevin Brosius
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