So there's the history, on to the modern day question: why is it so hard to find a trackball that isn't wireless? I don't think Logitech makes one anymore. I can see the appeal of wireless mice, but a trackball doesn't need to move so the wire is much less of a burden - and it removes the need to change batteries.
I was alarmed by your comment and had to go to the website to confirm it is still for sale.
Also: I switched to this because of wrist issues. I really think having this large marble trackball at your fingertips could be helpful to a lot of people. Give it a try! It's cheap.
Another vote for Kensington. I've got several of the wired Orbit trackballs with the scroll ring, I'm very happy with them. I've used the Logitech Trackman Marble as well but I think I prefer the Orbit. The scroll ring feels very intuitive.
Yeah, it is plenty stupid. I have read many people complaining the same, but to no avail.
You can also add the lack of reliability to the drawbacks (more hardware, more software involved).
I am fond of thumb trackballs, and the M570 I was forced to buy did not last very long ('forced' because I did not want wireless). It stopped working after a while, without any visible sign of damage on any component.
Whereas my much older Trackman Wheel (the same as M570, but wired) is still my daily driver after more than 10 years.
I'm a big fan of the classic TrackMan from Logitech.
Their recent release is wireless, BUT it comes with a rechargeable battery via USB. And they also provide you with a USB receiver. Furthermore, the scrollwheel is really good quality unlike their previous offerings. I like it.
Try https://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacemouse/ - it's designed for 3D authoring but can be used as a simple trackball type device and there is a non-wireless variant. The wireless variant can be tethered and untethered. Kind of pricey but great for CAD/CAM type work.
> So there's the history, on to the modern day question: why is it so hard to find a trackball that isn't wireless? I don't think Logitech makes one anymore.
Googling “wired trackball” finds quite a few available from a wide variety of sellers and manufacturers, and Logitech clearly thinks they still have them.
I know you can get the Elecom Huge[1] wired or wireless, it's super comfy and has a giant marble.As far as why you can't find them in retail stores, most people don't want a trackball and it takes getting used to for gaming.
Unless you are using it on your leg, on a sofa. Trackballs are second-to-none for home cinemas. Regardless, most are semi-wireless (such as the M Ergo) - just keep it plugged in.
You can just leave these plugged in all the time if you never want to think about the battery again. Unfortunately plugging them in doesn’t make the MX Ergo be a USB mouse. It only charges the battery.
I'm a trackball fan, but trackballs and mice have different properties that make them suitable for different tasks. Mice are better than trackballs at fine motion and precise movement. Trying to get pixel-perfect movement (say, in a drawing program) with a trackball can be frustrating.
But trackballs have the following advantages over mice:
1. You don't need as much desk space, since the trackball doesn't move about.
2. The trackball stays where you put it so you can find it quickly without having to look.
3. Because the trackball doesn't move about, the cable can be arranged so that it doesn't get in the way.
4. Clicking the buttons on a trackball never accidentally nudges the pointer.
5. Trackballs are faster for big pointer movements, as you can spin the ball in the right direction and then brake it when the pointer gets close to its destination.
6. When a mouse user comes over to your desk and tries to use the trackball they will find it trickier than they expect, and they will have to hand control back to you.
>Trying to get pixel-perfect movement (say, in a drawing program) with a trackball can be frustrating.
High levels of acceleration can help. The classic X windowing system input method has something described as "a more natural and continuous formula, giving precise control for slow motion but big reach for fast motion, and a progressive transition for motions in between." which works really well with my Trackman Marble.
Another advantage is that usually when you hold a mouse, your hand is in pretty much the same position the whole time, whereas with a trackball (particularly the larger kind), you can roll the ball with whichever of your finger tips, or the long side of your fingers, or even the flat of your hand. I've no doubt that for me, this flexibility leads to much better long-term comfort.
Very nice historical overview, but the abrupt closing with "Last month, in fact, Logitech released its first new trackball in seven years, ..." makes me wonder if this is just grey advertising of the new product.
I play video games with a trackball instead of a mouse when I can. Most games do not require mouse-specific movement. The main problem I've found is that the market allows thumb-based trackballs, which are extremely painful to use for more than a few seconds and very hard to precisely control. The ideal trackball lets users switch between index-finger-only and two-finger control, so that it's possible to rapidly click mouse buttons while improving precision in a cross-screen scroll.
Did this article completely skip over the microsoft trackballs?
I'm far from an Msoft fanboy, but the wired trackball they had got more use from me and the various mice I had for many years.
I was on a quest to develop a system to use it more and suddenly they stopped making them! I think I got one still in stock somewhere for bit more, and now they are $380 on amazon.
Please come back with that design and shape - it was a little longer than the logitech (I think), which gave it a perfect feel for my hand, and made it very stable when on a desk, or cinder block, or pressed against the body.. in the lap or while standing up.
Any chance the old Msoft design on that is past any kind of patent stage?
I still like the logitech one I have that works, when not at my desk, just because I find trackballs better in general than a mouse or trackpad in mobile situations.
I bought two extras of those when I saw they were no longer being carried at the local office box just to be sure to have one if no longer being made. Wish I had bought an extra couple of the Msoft ergo keyboards they no longer make.
I still don't understand why the air controller needs the trackball. The article makes it sound like they select planes on screen, but it also says that before selecting the plane, they enter the code of that plane, which to me sounds like it is already selected.
[+] [-] mark-r|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Isamu|8 years ago|reply
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/trackman-marble?crid=...
I was alarmed by your comment and had to go to the website to confirm it is still for sale.
Also: I switched to this because of wrist issues. I really think having this large marble trackball at your fingertips could be helpful to a lot of people. Give it a try! It's cheap.
[+] [-] hotsauceror|8 years ago|reply
https://www.kensington.com/us/us/4493/k72337us/orbit-trackba...
[+] [-] wott|8 years ago|reply
You can also add the lack of reliability to the drawbacks (more hardware, more software involved).
I am fond of thumb trackballs, and the M570 I was forced to buy did not last very long ('forced' because I did not want wireless). It stopped working after a while, without any visible sign of damage on any component.
Whereas my much older Trackman Wheel (the same as M570, but wired) is still my daily driver after more than 10 years.
[+] [-] thefounder|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nextos|8 years ago|reply
Their recent release is wireless, BUT it comes with a rechargeable battery via USB. And they also provide you with a USB receiver. Furthermore, the scrollwheel is really good quality unlike their previous offerings. I like it.
https://www.logitech.com/product/mx-ergo-wireless-trackball-...
[+] [-] contingencies|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dragonwriter|8 years ago|reply
Googling “wired trackball” finds quite a few available from a wide variety of sellers and manufacturers, and Logitech clearly thinks they still have them.
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/trackman-marble
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] aidenn0|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SuperPaintMan|8 years ago|reply
http://xahlee.info/kbd/i2/elecom_huge_trackball_87142.jpg
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] stockground|8 years ago|reply
[1]https://www.kensington.com/us/us/4493/trackballs
[+] [-] zamalek|8 years ago|reply
Unless you are using it on your leg, on a sofa. Trackballs are second-to-none for home cinemas. Regardless, most are semi-wireless (such as the M Ergo) - just keep it plugged in.
[+] [-] ebikelaw|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tetraodonpuffer|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] z0r|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] garethrees|8 years ago|reply
But trackballs have the following advantages over mice: 1. You don't need as much desk space, since the trackball doesn't move about. 2. The trackball stays where you put it so you can find it quickly without having to look. 3. Because the trackball doesn't move about, the cable can be arranged so that it doesn't get in the way. 4. Clicking the buttons on a trackball never accidentally nudges the pointer. 5. Trackballs are faster for big pointer movements, as you can spin the ball in the right direction and then brake it when the pointer gets close to its destination. 6. When a mouse user comes over to your desk and tries to use the trackball they will find it trickier than they expect, and they will have to hand control back to you.
[+] [-] teolandon|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] upofadown|8 years ago|reply
High levels of acceleration can help. The classic X windowing system input method has something described as "a more natural and continuous formula, giving precise control for slow motion but big reach for fast motion, and a progressive transition for motions in between." which works really well with my Trackman Marble.
[+] [-] radiowave|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] acjohnson55|8 years ago|reply
The ThinkPad pointer stick also has its acolytes.
[+] [-] ogdoad|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] EtDybNuvCu|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rconti|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ghaff|8 years ago|reply
I used trackballs for ages but I actually preferred the trackpad when I switched to a Mac even though I had always hated pads on Windows laptops.
[+] [-] stevenicr|8 years ago|reply
I'm far from an Msoft fanboy, but the wired trackball they had got more use from me and the various mice I had for many years.
I was on a quest to develop a system to use it more and suddenly they stopped making them! I think I got one still in stock somewhere for bit more, and now they are $380 on amazon.
Please come back with that design and shape - it was a little longer than the logitech (I think), which gave it a perfect feel for my hand, and made it very stable when on a desk, or cinder block, or pressed against the body.. in the lap or while standing up.
Any chance the old Msoft design on that is past any kind of patent stage?
I still like the logitech one I have that works, when not at my desk, just because I find trackballs better in general than a mouse or trackpad in mobile situations.
I bought two extras of those when I saw they were no longer being carried at the local office box just to be sure to have one if no longer being made. Wish I had bought an extra couple of the Msoft ergo keyboards they no longer make.
[+] [-] wodenokoto|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Overtonwindow|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ebikelaw|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joezydeco|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] logfromblammo|8 years ago|reply
Possibly also for Golden Tee. Not sure about that part.