# Mouse alternatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 26, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017 "2011-01-26T03:39:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/41 "2011-01-26T19:26:40Z")
There’s always Universal Studios Orlando. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/42 "2011-01-26T20:18:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > There’s always Universal Studios Orlando. _Ba-da-da-bump!_😛 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/43 "2011-01-26T20:49:50Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > Finally, you might consider getting a numpad-free [keyboard](http://www.amazon.com/89-Key-Mini-USB-Windows%C2%AE-Keyboard/dp/B0036WTWX0/) so you can position whatever mouse-ish thing you use closer to your centerline. Good point. My personal favorite is the [Lenovo Thinkpad Keyboard](http://www.amazon.com/ThinkPad-USB-Keyboard-with-TrackPoint/dp/B002ONCC6G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1296074780&sr=1-1). Although the non-standard placement of the Fn and Ctrl keys may throw some people off. (This keyboard, like ThinkPad laptop keyboards, have the Fn key at the bottom left corner, and Ctrl key to the right of it.) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/44 "2011-01-26T21:01:40Z")
I have [this](http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless-Optical-Trackman-USB/dp/B00006B9CR/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1296075603&sr=8-2) trackball, and have been using similar trackballs for at least the last decade. I prefer the ones where you use your fingers rather than your thumb to manipulate the ball. I love mine. I often rest it on my leg while I’m surfing. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/45 "2011-01-26T21:49:44Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I ordered [this](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C4ETUU/ref=oss_product)one last week. It is due today, so I don’t yet have feedback for you. (And due to our weather it may not come today.) OK, so I am a complete and utter moron - I meant to buy the [arc touch](http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Arc-Touch-Mouse-Black/dp/B003UT6C9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296078559&sr=1-1), not the arc. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/46 "2011-01-26T21:56:11Z")
Well, I ended up picking up a [TrackMan Marble](http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-000806-Trackman-Marble-Mouse/dp/B001F42MKG). Inexpensive enough that if I don’t like it I don’t feel bad about not using it. So far, it does not seem too bad. I have it on the mouse tray of my keyboard tray and it seems to be a pretty good height. I am still experimenting around with it. The finger control of the ball does seem pretty good. I also have my cordless mouse hooked up and am using that with my left hand when my right needs a rest. Today is definitely a painful day as I went to physical therapy this morning and really got a workout on my right shoulder. But, the doc says that I am healing fast! 5 weeks after the surgery, I am where most people are after 2 1/2 months. So, despite the fact it feels like it is taking forever, I guess I’m doing OK. Hopefully, the trackball will help me keep it from getting too irritated. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/47 "2011-01-27T04:28:30Z")
Once you make the adjustment I suspect you will prefer the trackball. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017/48 "2011-01-27T04:39:09Z")
So far I’m finding it a lot easier to use than what I expected. I figure within a week I should be able to tell if this is the right item for me. It looks promising so far. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-alternatives/569017.md?page=2)