https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explore...

Over those twenty years I've acquired three of them for parts. Two of the people I've gotten them from asked to buy them back once they spent time without them. The design is simply that amazing and to think it came from Microsoft and was originally $35, often a combo buy with their 'web' keyboard. So it will be interesting to see how much this reverse engineered version will feel like the original.

I currently use a Kensington Expert Mouse (well, three of them!), which despite the name is a trackball. It has a great ambidextrous design, and a scroll ring that's really easy to use (you can use thumb and finger to walk it around, or go round and round without lifting your finger). That Microsoft/Ploopy scroll wheel would destroy my thumb in no time.

I previously used several (cheaper) Logitech TrackMan Marbles, which have a smaller ball, but their main problem is the lack of scrollwheel/ring.

Also die hard Kensington Expert Mouse user, it sits immediately right of my Return key, drastically reducing motion needed to use.

// For those reading along, if you haven’t used this device, it’s amazing for accurate work on dual 4K screens. The trackball is the size and weight of a billiards ball, so you can “fling” the cursor with physical momentum, yet due to its diameter, position with sub pixel accuracy.

What keyboard did you settle on?

https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle-pro/

Goldtouch:

https://www.goldtouch.com/ergonomic-keyboards/

In X11 you can use an EmulateScrollWheel option by holding the little button with your thumb. I cannot for the life of me figure out why this isn’t the default or even an option in the Mac / Windows drivers. I LOVE the Logitech Marble Mouse, but only with this option.

https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/trackman-marble-busin...

I use one all the time with a utility that maps one of the little buttons to turn on mouse wheel emulation.

https://gist.github.com/arlaneenalra/a3ea9cf2d3a57397bda14a7...

https://www.hammerspoon.org/

I ended up getting the Huge (since I live in Japan and it's easy to get here) and I'm liking it a lot. I'm wondering if it hits the same buttons that you like with the Microsoft one.

Also on my to-try list is a rollermouse. https://www.contourdesign.com/product/rollermouse-red/

The only down sides I've run into so far are:

1. It's a bit clicky

2. The wheel being thumb-driven is a bit awkward for me

The utility I'm using (SteerMouse) sadly doesn't seem to properly support chording for using the trackball for scrolling, but I've contacted the dev about that and if he can get it working, then I'll be 100% happy with this.

If you can find a Huge at a decent price (they're ~$37 USD here in Japan), I'd highly recommend giving it a shot. The Ploopy seems like a far worse deal in comparison to me (though I don't have the nostalgia connection) at $200 CAD.

Edit: And here it is for 800 yen cheaper, but no free shipping through prime so you pay 700 yen for shipping: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0735584RM

And for the question on scrolling: let me press an additional button that enables scrolling with the ball, both horizontally and vertically.

The Logitech TrackMan Marble would, in my opinion, be a wonderful example for such a trackball. (Here, the described scrolling behavior can be configured with the Logitech driver on Windows, with Karabiner on macOS, and by mapping a scroll modifier button in xorg.conf setting in X, see https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Logitech_Marble_Mouse#S... )

I mentioned this in another comment, but on macOS, there's a utility called SteerMouse (http://plentycom.jp/en/steermouse/index.html) that apparently supports chording for scrolling with the ball and is compatible with a number of different trackballs.

Sadly, I've found that that particular feature isn't working properly on Catalina with my Huge, but I contacted the dev and he said he's looking into it. So fingers crossed...

Using software for a scroll button like that is often annoyingly flaky and inconsistent in practice, as too much software isn't expecting it or tries to do its own special thing (websites in particular for the latter). I haven't used a trackball that does it in hardware, but that may run into issues too, as a lot of software is built to scroll in whole numbers of lines, and so feels unresponsive to more precise scrolling methods (e.g. scroll button or touch screen).

The ball has weight and diameter for both speed and accuracy, surrounded by a ring for scrolling.

// See mkl’s sibling comment, also elsewhere in this thread.

I used a huge old one for a while (with a serial adapter I think), which probably could've accepted a billard ball as a substitute. After a while, you got pretty intuitive and just "threw" it in the right direction, then made a minor adjustment. Loved it.

I also remember when it was all the rage with FPS players…

Before that, I have used various trackballs (Microsoft Trackball Explorer, several Kensington, Logitech Cordless Optical TrackMan) but came to stick with the TrackMan Marble. Especially, I dislike those requiring the pointer finger for clicking - I prefer the pointer finger to move the pointer. It is much more precise. Leaves the strong thumb to thumb the button.

And for the question on scrolling: I press one of the small buttons, then scroll using the ball both horizontally and vertically. This can be configured in Windows, macOS, and X.

I had the one where the trackball is operated by the thumb[1], which was quite great, at least until I "felt" it. Probably not that bad, but I was worried enough about RSI, and had to use a mouse at work anyway...

I actually bought one of the ones you mentioned recently, let's see how that works.

As for scrolling, I only rarely use a scroll wheel and do most of my paging with the keyboard, so I always missed a proper third middle button more. So the original design was quite close to my heart. (I also once had a Kensington trackball where you scrolled with a ring set around the ball. Not that great for scrolling, but I think I managed to connect it to the volume in Linux back then…)

[1]: https://i.imgur.com/K8tDHfN.jpg

I have the same model, I try not to pick the(stock) ball and fidget with it too much - as I'm worried about damaging it - it's a fun feature nonetheless.

I'm still using trackball for FPS(e.g Battlefield V), not sure if it gain me any advantage. (Beside snipping, where the ability to click eithout causing a move is useful)

[0] https://www.trackballmouse.org/kensington-expert-trackball-i...

Also it's good for people with big hands.

The only downside is the rubber downside of it. It got unstuck so I had to glue it back onto the metal part. They really didn't think much about that.

It's fantastic especially for general purpose work and browsing, browsing is so much more easier with the SlimBlade, turning the ball to scroll.

The only time I find a mouse more efficient is if doing lots of selecting text and copy/pasting or diagram type apps. I have a backup mouse for when a mouse is more useful but almost never use it.

I was getting minor RSI which is why I originally thought i'd try a trackball. Glad I got one, it's so much more comfortable and wrists / arms now stay relativity still. It's just a shame the form factor isn't that great for carrying about with a laptop.

I'm using it for ~2 years now, before I had the expert mouse for about 10 and before some PS2 trackball. The Slimblade is by far the best - both ergonomically and and mechanically. (previous trackballs tend to collect a lot of dirt and required frequent cleaning, this one have a hole beneath the ball that prevents accumulation)

On my couch / entertainment computer I use a Logitech M570, but for work nothing beats the Slimblade.

I'd actually love a laptop with a trackball instead of a trackpad, but nobody mainstream makes those.

I am rocking CST2545W(GL) BLUE[1] now-a-days. With plenty of other track balls you can see over on r/trackballs[2].

[0] https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-trackball-m5...

[1] https://www.clearlysuperiortech.com/cst2545w-gl-b

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/top/?t=all

I use a keyboard for most interaction (XMonad, vim shortcuts in most apps) so YMMV, but really enjoying it so far. The weighting is beautiful, there's four map-able buttons, but the nicest element is a ring that sits around the ball. Spinning it in each direction acts as a scroll and is one of nicest feeling inputs I've used.

My only complaint is that the trackball (on the M570) should be 2X it's current diameter, I don't know why they make them so small.

My mice have thumb trackballs: my fingers stay on the mouse buttons while I use my thumb to scroll, so I don't need to lift them to move the mouse pointer.

My first four years out of college I spent a lot of time in that space, so I got quite comfortable with trackballs. Now I use them exclusively on my desktop. My only complaint is they aren't embedded flush in the desktop :)

That means your wrist sees less strain + motion, and you have no need for a mouse-pad, to name two possible benefits. Some people find it to be more precise as well, but I don't know if there's any evidence apart from personal preference.

Of course, your wrist still moves some as you manipulate the ball with your fingers, and if you use a trackpad you already don't need a mousepad-like-surface.

On CAD applications is very annoying when the mouse unintentionally register a movement while clicking a button which never happens with a trackball.

Well, for me it is much more precise. Or at least seems more natural.

But... ergonomic warning... I switch up between three different trackballs to keep “trackball thumb” from setting in. I get pain in the base joint if I don’t vary the angle, and also spend some time using a finger-positioned trackball.

I also got my SO and her parents to switch. My SO plays games a lot and had started getting problems around her wrist. She never came back to the mouse.

It's fantastic.

My hands are too big for most normal mice; trackballs are just way more comfortable for me.

However, lots of others are placed regularly around the edges of curved surfaces. Are they “via fences”, to block electromagnetic interference?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_fence

EDIT: On further inspection, they look like they are "stitching" two copper pours together, presumably ground or power, in order to decrease impedance maybe.

“Spark Gaps - Case: Since the case has gaps in it we expect [electrostatic discharge] to worm it’s way in via creepage and perhaps other ways. To protect the board from this eventuality, we place spark gaps along the edges.”

https://github.com/ploopyco/mouse/blob/master/hardware/Elect...

So technically a via fence, but not quite as sophisticated.

it's the best mouse I've ever used...

ELECOM M-XT4DRBK Wireless Trackball mouse for Left-Handed, EX-G series L size 2.4GHz 6 buttons Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QCPRBM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0j...

I've got one at work, one at home: very comfortable and intuitive to use.

   // Startup delay. This sometimes prevents a USB handshake lockup.
   delay(1000);

    // This is the firmware that is uploaded to the PMW3360 each time the mouse starts up.
    // Don't mess with this. Just...just trust me. Don't do it.

Excited to see who this fairs!

I must have missed the swear words...