Title pretty much says it all. I hate mice (mouses?). I heart trackballs. However, I do not heart Logitech or Kensington, and nobody else seems to be making them anymore.
Everywhere I look I find the same three Logitechs and the same two Kensington ones available. They’re all “thumb on ball, fingers on buttons”-style, or have one thumb button and one… pinky(?) button. Not a fan of either arrangement, frankly.
I want a “fingers on ball, thumb on both buttons”-type deal, preferably with a scrolly wheel under the ring finger.
As a fellow trackball lover, I feel your pain. I was pissed when I found out Logitech discontinued the model I lurved more than anything and repaced it with the current junk they have now. It doesn’t have the scroll wheel where you want it, but AFAIK, MS’s Trackball Explorer is still made and the software let’s reprogram them button settings to your liking . It’s my all time fave and is used by the likes of Burt Rutan (on his Macs, no less). Whoops! In checking, it seems they must have killed it, so I’m feeling your pain all over again! Trackball World seems to have pretty broad selection. No idea of what the company’s like to deal with, though.
ooOo they have a trackball with no scoll wheel and 4 buttons that you can thumb the trackball…I use the trackman version but the 4 button would be great for world of war-crack! I could have the 2 spare buttons set for my microphone toggle and my assist macro =) I may have to ordr it to play around with=)
My MS Trackball Explorer bit the dust just a few weeks ago, and I was forced into an emergent purchase of Logitech’s far inferior (thumb-driven, two-button) piece o’ crap…and I am not at all pleased. I’ve been willing to cut Microsoft a little slack up to now, but discontinuing the One True Trackball? That’s a hangin’ offense.
I’ve been considering a pen-based doohickey (the name escapes me but has something to do with a cat), but I’m not sold on that idea yet.
Kensington makes one decent trackball, the Expert Mouse. I was hesitant to spend so much on a trackball, but it’s the best damn input device I’ve ever used. It has 4 buttons and a scroll ring, and the ball is a little over 2" in diameter. Great for games as well as general computing. I’d buy another in a heartbeat if mine were to crap out (it’s about 3 years old, never had any trouble with it).
I don’t know why you don’t heart Logitech, but I’ve been using the Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman for years and I love it best out of all the trackballs I’ve owned. I used my last one for 4+ years (heavy use). I replaced it with the same thing last fall. It is thumb on (programmable) buttons, fingers on ball. The only thing you ask or that it doesn’t have is the scroll wheel under the ring finger; it is under the pointer finger.
I really just started the thread to vent but I’ve actually gotten some really good ideas… I don’t like the one you pointed out because it’s too small - I’ve got really, really long fingers and with that one the heel of my palm ends up resting on the table a good inch from the body of the trackball.
I <3 my Logitech trackball and my fellow gamers do not understand how I can use it for gaming - but I love it! I prefer the thumb-ball, though, but I believe I saw a couple fingerballs at Office Depot or Staples, and one at Best Buy.
Reminds me, i should go pick up another one, just incase something happens to my current one.
When I bought my new trackball I wanted to make sure it was one I could use with either hand (I’m ambimousetrous).
I managed to find a good one at Frys. I think it was a Logitech (it’s at home. I’m at work) Basically you have to go to a good computer store or online.
I use the wireless version of this one, for gaming, and I LOVE it. I’ve been thinking about stocking up on one or 2 extra, against the day that they are discontinued.
With the wireless, I can set it between me and the keyboard, making it fast and easy to switch between the trackball and the keyboard, while keeping an eye out for that sneaking bastard that’s gunning for me.
