RE: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Greetings, all. Over the last several months, I've been having increasing pain in my right wrist. A co-worker suggested that this is due to problems with standard mice and recommended that I try a trackball instead. So, I'm looking for a trackball that will work well with potato/X. My primary goals: * at least 3 buttons that work in X. * I'm using potato and kernel 2.2.18, so I'd need a PS/2 connector. * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. * Compatibility with gdm is not an issue, as I never use it. * Other random features, like scroll wheels, extra buttons, and wireless connections, are extra. Ideally, I'd like to avoid these, as they probably drive up the price, but I'll take them if I have to. I'm looking at the Kensington Expert Mouse, Kensington TurboRing, Kensington TurboBall, and Logitech Cordless Trackman. (All the other Logitech trackballs have the ball under the thumb or only 2 buttons.) I use a Logitech TrackMan Marble FX. It has a big ball that is between your fingers and thumb. I can rest my hand on it and navigate around without any hand or shoulder strain. It has 4 buttons. Also works with nt with the logitech drivers. It is very comfortable and is optical (rather than mechanical) and is very predictable. It is an older model so you might have to hunt for one (~$50 to $60 retail). jim What experiences have people had with these devices under Linux? Do people have any other recommendations for trackballs (or other pointing devices, for that matter)? Thanks kindly, Richard (I'm subscribed, so no need to CC me.) -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Lo, on Saturday, February 17, John Galt did write: On Sat, 17 Feb 2001, Richard Cobbe wrote: Greetings, all. Over the last several months, I've been having increasing pain in my right wrist. A co-worker suggested that this is due to problems with standard mice and recommended that I try a trackball instead. Look at the Mouse Systems one--3 diameter ball... Logitech makes a good one as well, but I'd go with a larger ball with RSI injuries: some of the movement can be pushed back up the arm... Well, I tried to look at that, but it would appear that Mouse Systems has gone out of business. The mousesystems.com domain is up for sale, at least. * I'm using potato and kernel 2.2.18, so I'd need a PS/2 connector. ?! I've used various kernels/Debian distributions and NEVER got limited to just a ps/2 mouse. In fact, I was prevented FROM using a ps/2 mouse oftener than I should've, but never had issues with a good old fashioned serial. Sorry, I wasn't clear. I wrote this just after I'd browsed through the offerings at the local MicroCenter---I think you'd be hard-pressed to *find* a new serial mouse or trackball, so I hadn't even considered that possibility. I meant PS/2 as opposed to USB. Serial would be fine, but I don't know that anybody actually sells those any more. (My current mouse is a PS/2, and I've never had any difficulties with it, at least under X.) * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. Again, go with a 3 or larger trackball. The larger the ball, the less often you're wrist is going to move. Remember the old Centipede trackballs that you used your palm to control because they were so big? If I can find one, great. That may be difficult. Have you considered a touchpad? Cirque and Synaptics are well supported. You can actually use a touchpad without any wrist movement at all... Touchpads are certainly worth consideration. However, getting one looks to be a bit tricky. If www.synaptics.com is correct, they sell primarily to OEMs, not end users---all their product descriptions have pictures of PCBs. Cirque (www.cirque.com) seems to sell to end-users, but none of theirs have 3 buttons. :-( Thanks for your advice, Richard
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
On Saturday 17 February 2001 12:18, Richard Cobbe wrote: * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. A pity, that. I've been using a Logitech Trackman Marble since Christmas and I really like it. Best $40 I've spent in a while. -- Bud Rogers [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.sirinet.net/~budr/zamm.html All things in moderation. And not too much moderation either.
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Hi, I have been using AlfaData's trackballs almost half my life now. Perhaps they make them now with PS/2 and the third button enabled, *IF* they are still in production. The biggest advanture is that they have a really big ball, so you can scroll over your screen in notime and retain accurecy. Greetz, Sebastiaan On Sat, 17 Feb 2001, Richard Cobbe wrote: Greetings, all. Over the last several months, I've been having increasing pain in my right wrist. A co-worker suggested that this is due to problems with standard mice and recommended that I try a trackball instead. So, I'm looking for a trackball that will work well with potato/X. My primary goals: * at least 3 buttons that work in X. * I'm using potato and kernel 2.2.18, so I'd need a PS/2 connector. * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. * Compatibility with gdm is not an issue, as I never use it. * Other random features, like scroll wheels, extra buttons, and wireless connections, are extra. Ideally, I'd like to avoid these, as they probably drive up the price, but I'll take them if I have to. I'm looking at the Kensington Expert Mouse, Kensington TurboRing, Kensington TurboBall, and Logitech Cordless Trackman. (All the other Logitech trackballs have the ball under the thumb or only 2 buttons.) What experiences have people had with these devices under Linux? Do people have any other recommendations for trackballs (or other pointing devices, for that matter)? Thanks kindly, Richard (I'm subscribed, so no need to CC me.) -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Lo, on Saturday, February 17, Sebastiaan did write: Hi, I have been using AlfaData's trackballs almost half my life now. Perhaps they make them now with PS/2 and the third button enabled, *IF* they are still in production. Is this www.alfadata.com? If so, it would appear that they no longer make trackballs of any sort; they appear to have switched exclusively to gaming input devices. Or do I have the wrong company? Richard
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Lo, on Saturday, February 17, Bud Rogers did write: On Saturday 17 February 2001 12:18, Richard Cobbe wrote: * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. A pity, that. Truly---it's starting to cause problems when I write for long stretches at a time. I've been using a Logitech Trackman Marble since Christmas and I really like it. Best $40 I've spent in a while. Yeah, I saw that one on their web site. Looks nice, and it appears to be popular among Linux users, but the ball's in the wrong place for me. :-( Ideally, I'd find one of those I could borrow for a couple of weeks to see what I think of it---I find that I can't really make a good decision about input devices until I've used them for a while. Richard
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
On Sat, 17 Feb 2001, Richard Cobbe wrote: Lo, on Saturday, February 17, Sebastiaan did write: Hi, I have been using AlfaData's trackballs almost half my life now. Perhaps they make them now with PS/2 and the third button enabled, *IF* they are still in production. Is this www.alfadata.com? If so, it would appear that they no longer make trackballs of any sort; they appear to have switched exclusively to gaming input devices. Or do I have the wrong company? Richard Darmed, you're right. Seems for me that this is the last very good trackball for me. Greetz, Sebastiaan -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Richard Cobbe wrote: snip So, I'm looking for a trackball that will work well with potato/X. My primary goals: snip requirements Do people have any other recommendations for trackballs (or other pointing devices, for that matter)? I've got a Belkin Trackmaster (model F8E189) here. It's a PS/2 device, three button, with the ball under the fingers. It's also got two wheels on it, but I've never gotten them to work. It was the cheapest three-button PS/2 trackball at the local Office Depot - sorry, it was long enough ago that I don't remember the price. Other than the two wheels, it works perfectly under both X and console, being read as a straight PS/2 device. No tricks needed. -- Mike Werner KA8YSD | He that is slow to believe anything and | everything is of great understanding, '91 GS500E| for belief in one false principle is the Morgantown WV | beginning of all unwisdom. pgpQqmzCKaeW8.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
On Sat, 17 Feb 2001, Richard Cobbe wrote: Greetings, all. Over the last several months, I've been having increasing pain in my right wrist. A co-worker suggested that this is due to problems with standard mice and recommended that I try a trackball instead. Look at the Mouse Systems one--3 diameter ball... Logitech makes a good one as well, but I'd go with a larger ball with RSI injuries: some of the movement can be pushed back up the arm... So, I'm looking for a trackball that will work well with potato/X. My primary goals: * at least 3 buttons that work in X. Trivial: most trackballs have too many rather than too few. * I'm using potato and kernel 2.2.18, so I'd need a PS/2 connector. ?! I've used various kernels/Debian distributions and NEVER got limited to just a ps/2 mouse. In fact, I was prevented FROM using a ps/2 mouse oftener than I should've, but never had issues with a good old fashioned serial. * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. Again, go with a 3 or larger trackball. The larger the ball, the less often you're wrist is going to move. Remember the old Centipede trackballs that you used your palm to control because they were so big? * Compatibility with gdm is not an issue, as I never use it. * Other random features, like scroll wheels, extra buttons, and wireless connections, are extra. Ideally, I'd like to avoid these, as they probably drive up the price, but I'll take them if I have to. Find youself a good old fashioned serial mouse systems or equivalent trackball. Should be OTO $5-$15. Three buttons, 3 ball, no frills. I'm looking at the Kensington Expert Mouse, Kensington TurboRing, Kensington TurboBall, and Logitech Cordless Trackman. (All the other Logitech trackballs have the ball under the thumb or only 2 buttons.) I've never used the cordless trackman, but the corded ones are passable. What experiences have people had with these devices under Linux? Do people have any other recommendations for trackballs (or other pointing devices, for that matter)? Have you considered a touchpad? Cirque and Synaptics are well supported. You can actually use a touchpad without any wrist movement at all... Thanks kindly, Richard (I'm subscribed, so no need to CC me.) -- EMACS == Eight Megabytes And Constantly Swapping Who is John Galt? [EMAIL PROTECTED], that's who!
Re: Suggestions for and comments on trackballs?
Bud Rogers wrote: On Saturday 17 February 2001 12:18, Richard Cobbe wrote: * the ball should be under my fingers, not my thumb, as it generates the most pain. A pity, that. I've been using a Logitech Trackman Marble since Christmas and I really like it. Best $40 I've spent in a while. me too.. been usign the trackman marble wheel for a good 2 years now i think can never use anything else. never had even the slightest hint of pain. however it's not a good device if you got small hands(so my co workers say..) and as for keyboards i highly reccomend the acer ergo keyboard. hard to find but i haven't found anything that can beat it(again not reccomended for small handed people). my last 2 i bought on buy.com for about $40 each. nate -- ::: ICQ: 75132336 http://www.aphroland.org/ http://www.linuxpowered.net/ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
