This trackball certainly a beautiful product. (Though not cheap.) And I seem to be getting used to it quite fast, I'm optimistic about it. I like how you scroll by rotating the mouse. By the way, it's much larger than it looks in pictures.
Update: it's a little tricky to use for accurate work, but that's probably true with most new devices. [Later update, better now.]
2nd update: An irritation which I hope is not common. It seems the Slimblade may be responsible for my Mac not being able now to stay asleep. It wakes up after an hour or so. And then the media- and document-mode of the trackball do not work anymore. [This I've not really solved yet, I have to disconnect it before putting the Mac to sleep.]
Reviewers complain about how the software is confusing, but some recommend viewing the video tutorials to get used to the "media mode" and the "graphics mode". I don't think they are that important anyway, I already have keyboard shortcuts to control iTunes and picture sizes in Photoshop, and the modes don't seem to go much further than that.
*A bit of an odd name. It has no blade.
Philocalist asks:
Eolake: ... you mention that this is much larger than it seems ... I've been looking for something like this to hopefully make life a little easier for a friend with MS ... could you perhaps tell me what size this is, and also maybe give an approximation of the ball size? Are we talking golf ball, tennis ball, etc?
In-between. The ball is about 5.5 centimeters in diameter. The device is about 13 by 15 centimeters. Just now took this:
Both keyboard and my hands are over average size.Oooh, I just realized, I could use a golf- and a tennis ball... Like I felt, right in-between:
12 comments:
Eolake: ... you mention that this is much larger than it seems ... I've been looking for something like this to hopefully make life a little easier for a friend with MS ... could you perhaps tell me what size this is, and also maybe give an approximation of the ball size? Are we talking golf ball, tennis ball, etc?
Thanks
See update to post.
Updated also with balls photo.
My wife and I have been using Logitech trackballs for years (they are durable!) - hers is illustrated here:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/166&cl=ca,en
Mine is the predecessor to this model. Saves a lot of wrist-grief. I also use a gel wrist-pad and cutting a hole in the mousepad (mousehole?) keeps the trackball properly positioned. BTW, get a dental Sulcabrush to clean dust out of the socket where the trackball sits - the reduction in drag that develops over time is amazing!
That really is one gorgeous peripheral.
Wow! Looks GORGEOUS!! A "handsome" ball for a handsome hand on a handsome man! ;-)
Happy Birthday, Dear!
Happy B-day!
Thanks, guys.
It is good looking. I like that they made the ball burgundy instead of bright blue as some might have.
Update: it's a little tricky to use for accurate work, but that's probably true with most new devices.
2nd update: An irritation which I hope is not common. It seems the Slimblade may be responsible for my Mac not being able now to stay asleep. It wakes up after an hour or so. And then the media- and document-mode of the trackball do not work anymore.
There are no blades in a Beyblade, either.
That bey looks pretty darn badass cool, though. ;-)
"Updated also with balls photo."
Ooh, porn! 8-P~~~
Pointing devices, spinning top duels... It's always about having big balls, isn't it?
"You've got a big set of maraccas, amigo. Too bad the band is going to split!" -- (Mr. Funktastic, in Bulletproof Monk)
"It's not about the size of the dreidel, it's how you spin it." -- Yiddish proverb
Eolake: I've been using a trackball for more than 15 years. Although I'm definitely right-handed, I place the trackball on the LEFT of the keyboard and trained my self to use my left hand -- it's not hard to do.
On the left, it is much closer to the keys, so your hand does not need to skip over the arrow keys and the number pad to get to it. I also have the software set so I can hold the control or shift keys with my thumb while clicking one of the four keys. This gives many more easily keyed clicks for assigning functions to.
Dave
Sounds good, except I'm very clumsy with my left hand, I don't think I could get very good.
Also sadly and oddly the Mac version of the software of this one does not allow assigning special functions to the buttons.
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