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Mouse or trackball??

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Right now I've got a horrible regular 2-button mouse on my computer. I'm looking to get something better, and I've got $30 in Amazon gift certificates, so I'm willing to spend $30-$40 on a good pointing device.

I'm considering getting a trackball also; does anyone have any advice/encouragement/discouragement to give me about trackballs?

I'm looking at the Intellimouse Optical, which seems nice and basic, the Logitec Optical Marble Mouse, which seems like a cool idea and is easy to clean, and I'm looking at the Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical.

Which one seems the best? I'm gonna stay away from anything wireless (hate batteries) and from the Intellimouse Explorer, because I can't see spending $20-$30 on a mouse (after gift certificates), let alone $50-$60.

EDIT: I ended up buying a side-wheel trackball from Amazon here. After gift certificates and a couple scrounged-up coupon codes, it was only $4.82 INCLUDING shipping. Nice deal...
 
I use the wireless MS Intellimouse Explorer optical. I have had no problems with it. I used a regular Intellimouse Explorer optical before that, and just a regular Intellimouse optical before that.

I have never been a fan of a trackball.

 
Never really been a fan of mice. I have used trackballs on all the systems I own. Because it stays in one spot on the desk. My wrists don't hurt. I'm not running into the cable. Or other things on the desk.

To each their own. It takes a little adjusting, but it's well worth it. Gamers seem to think a trackball is not as precise, but I beg to differ and find games harder to play with a mouse. But I'm conditioned, of course...

--Christopher
 
As far as gaming is concerned, opinions on trackball vs. mouse differ widely, because it depends on personal taste. For myself, I like a mouse better because I like to have my forearm, wrist and fingers all in motion when i move a cursor, vs. the fingers only for a trackball. Right now I'm using the 5 button M$ intellimouse optical. Good for gaming, for the most part, but then again, i'm never that good anyway..
 
Originally posted by: cricky
Gamers seem to think a trackball is not as precise, but I beg to differ and find games harder to play with a mouse. But I'm conditioned, of course...
--Christopher
Click to expand...

I'm not a gamer, so precision only matters to the point of clicking on links and maybe doing some photo editing and graphics work.

 
If you are considering it for photo editing and graphics, it is probably a worse choice than a mouse. With practice, it can be just as good as a mouse (but I've been using them for almost ten years now) but there is more chance to stray with a trackball. What I mean is with a mouse and drawing, say, a mask in Photoshop, you are better in control as you outline. Because the tactile sensation is that you are outlining the shape you want on the mousepad with the mouse, not with your fingers on a ball. If that makes any sense...

I wouldn't use EITHER for any serious graphics work. Save $75-100 and get a Wacom Graphire tablet. A graphics tablet is the ONLY way to work with Photoshop, I feel.

For clicking links and such (general browsing) I like a trackball more. Again, it's personal preference. I tend to like a center ball (like the Logitech Marble Mouse) over a thumb ball (Microsoft Trackball Optical) but I use both on the two computers I have. A center ball doesn't leave much room for a scroll wheel and such, though.

I don't have much experience with the larger ball ones (Trackman FX or Trackball Explorer) but they seem like they would lie between the two.

The only way to really know if a trackball is for you is to try it out. Maybe pick one up at Best Buy and try it out for 14 days and return it if you don't like it...

--Christopher
 
Let us know what you think when you get it. It's similar to the Microsoft Trackball Optical I got. Expect your thumb and the area between thumb and index finger to hurt for a little while as you adjust. That happened to me for about a week when I switched from a center ball (controlled by the index and middle fingers) to a thumb ball.

Good luck. I love trackballs, and hopefully you will too... Just remember there's a bit of adjustment at first. Most people don't give themselves time to adjust from moving the mouse around to simply moving the fingers and give up.

--Christopher
 
Good luck with the trackball. I tried the Logitech models but found them to be too small and uncomfortable for my hands for any extended period of time (and my hands are just medium-sized.) I felt like I had to grip it more than the Microsoft model which is much larger where you can stretch out your fingers. The Logitech felt like better quailty though.

I use trackballs almost daily and while they're more comfortable than mice, I find them to be a LOT less precise and difficult to control (even after years of use.) I primarily use mine on the couch now when working with my laptop. In that position, it's absolutely perfect since you can just place the trackball beside you and not have to move your whole arm like you would with a mouse.
 
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