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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 09:43 PM
Original message
Any trackball users here?
I'm on day three and my mouse induced wrist and arm pain are gone. Totally anecdotal, consult your doctor of course.



It took awhile to get used to the lack of a scroll wheel, but as of today I'm hooked. It's quick and easy to scroll with the ball and a modifier button. I bought this particular trackball because it uses the forefinger for tracking instead of the thumb and it works with both hands. I'm truly amazed at how well it works.

If you're having pain issues with your mouse hand you might want to give one a shot.
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nickinSTL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 09:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. one of my coworkers loves them
she's big on the idea of preventing carpal tunnel - which I understand, but I don't usually mouse heavily enough these days to cause issues.

I did have some soreness sometimes in a previous job, but now - I'm ok.

Good that the trackball is working for you.

(I also would switch mouse hands if one got sore - I can mouse just as well either way)
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Skink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 09:49 PM
Response to Original message
2. After a few years some Microsoft guys come to see you.
and it ain't so soft.
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Captain Hilts Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 09:56 PM
Response to Original message
3. The navy has been using trackballs for decades. nt
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 10:01 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. No room for mice on those panels.
It's pretty crazy to think that the mouse is early 70's tech, but I bet the trackball was invented first.

It needs to make a comeback, for health. Mice really aren't very ergonomic and they require way too much arm motion for what they accomplish.
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Captain Hilts Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 10:06 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Yes. Trackballs came first. For the reason you've stated. They don't slide around!
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TheDebbieDee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 10:12 PM
Response to Original message
6. A mousepad with a gel wristpad reversed my developing carpal tunnel.
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virgdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-13-10 11:16 PM
Response to Original message
7. Yes, I've used them for years....
I used the thumb trackball initially, but just recently switched to the same trackball you have a pix of in your post, Logitech. I was getting pain in my wrist and thumb with the thumb trackball, so I switched. I am so used to using the trackball that I would not ever consider going back to a mouse-too cumbersome with too much arm movement.
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Orrex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-10 06:54 AM
Response to Original message
8. I once got a zillion points on Centipede. Does that count?
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-10 07:28 PM
Response to Original message
9. I liked it a lot better than those "ball on the bottom" mice
I have arthritis and a heavy hand and I kill mice pretty quickly. The trackball lasted a bit longer, but the optical mice last the longest of all.

It takes a little while to get the control down with a trackball mouse, but it's far superior to those old ball type mice.
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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 07:33 AM
Response to Original message
10. looks like it's still designed to get your exercise crawling around on the floor
looking for the damned ball. i used a similar logitech mouse for a long time. i liked it fine, but i would love to know why they don't think it is important to keep a grip on the damn ball.
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. The ball on modern trackballs snaps into place.
And the bearings are just 3 teflon points. About as simple as it gets, one moving part.

I had a trackball in the 80's that used a cue-ball for the ball, and it sucked.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:18 PM
Response to Original message
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