Trackball

[House of Mustard]

So, I go to work at a computer for 9 1/2 hours a day, and then I go home and write for two or three hours.  Not surprisingly, I'm developing tendonitis in my wrists.

In an effort to not get sued, my workplace just bought be ergonomic equipment, and my Trackball Explorer mouse just showed up.  It's stinking enormous -- about 6 inches from front to back.  And it going to take a LONG time to get used to using a trackball.

Here's a pretty picture: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=011

[stacer]

I've used one before--my roommate had one that she used her thumb on. I prefer thinkpads to trackballs, if you're not going to use a mouse. I often use my thumb on my thinkpad, and don't have to move too far. Don't know if that's ergonomic, but it's great for me.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

i hate trackpads. I'm thinking of taping cardboard over the one on my laptop so I don't accidentally click it anymore. That little dohicky in the center of the keyboard isn't doing me any favors either, but at least I don't accidentally click it.

I am, however, in love with my probably ergonomically dangerous micro-mouse. three buttons (including a wheel) and it's optical. Takes up almost NO space in my satchel. What's not to love.

[House of Mustard]

So here's the major problem: one of the effects of tendonitis is that I don't have incredible muscle control in my fingers and they tend to be a tiny bit shaky.  Combine that with a trackball, and it's very hard to click on anything.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

compensate by calling yourself a "twitch gamer"

[Mistress of Darkness]

I'm a big fan of trackballs.

[House of Mustard]

So, I'm enjoying my trackball much more now.  It makes my wrists happy.  But I still can't see how they expect you to click-and-drag with this thing.  (And I can't even imagine playing a FPS with it!)

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

see, that's what's weird. My friend Chris ONLY uses a trackball. And he can whoop me good on UT (not like it's hard to do that thought). Of course, he tracks with his thumb and buttons with his index/middle/ring. That one you showed me a picture of looks like you track with the index, wheel with the thumb, and left/right click with the middle/ring. That's a weird arrangement I wouldn't be used to.

[House of Mustard]

The whole point of a trackball (an ergonomic one, at least) is so that you don't click with any of your four fingers -- only with your thumb.  It seems weird to make a trackball that still requires index-finger clicking.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

oh yeah?! well.... COMMIE!

[House of Mustard]

At least I'm not a...  uh... guy with ninja monkeys.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

because you're a poo head! I think


*this has been a presentation of insults from idiots.*

[Mistress of Darkness]

You track with your fingers? Weird. . . .