geekhack
geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: Ranma13 on Tue, 15 December 2009, 02:45:11
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Does anyone have any experience with the CH DT225 trackball?
http://www.trackballworld.com/chproducts.html
If so, can you give some impressions? Most notably, whether it's worth the $230 and how it compares to other trackballs such as the CST LaserTrac. Also, is there a significant difference between the USB and PS/2 versions? Thanks!
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They're meant to be very well built. I'm not sure whether they are sufficiently better compared with the CST to justify the price. You'd have to ask Ripster or the like.
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I got one of those off of ebay awhile ago. It was way cheap too. It is a well made trackball but I don't think it is worth $230.
I ended up selling mine to a fellow geekhacker. I wasn't able to map the top two buttons to my liking.
You want a nice 4 button mouse? Get a kensington expert or slimblade.
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I bought BigPook's DT225. I use it with a round rock, and have rarely been back to my mouse. I think it's a great trackball, if just slightly slow in tracking speed.
I think it's one of the only trackballs that actually has steel rollers, too.
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I got one of those off of ebay awhile ago. It was way cheap too. It is a well made trackball but I don't think it is worth $230.
I ended up selling mine to a fellow geekhacker. I wasn't able to map the top two buttons to my liking.
You want a nice 4 button mouse? Get a kensington expert or slimblade.
+1 for the Kensington.
Probably not as well built, but you get a scroll wheel and wrist rest too.
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LOL, what are the chances that someone would ask a question about the trackball that like half of the site picked up off of eBay on a tip.
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I should add that its not that the DT225 is a bad mouse. I just don't think its worth 230 dollars.
NIB for 20 bucks shipped on ebay would be a much better price. I don't think they are available anymore though.
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You want a nice 4 button mouse? Get a kensington expert or slimblade.
Doesn't the Slimblade have trouble remapping the top 2 keys?
LOL, what are the chances that someone would ask a question about the trackball that like half of the site picked up off of eBay on a tip.
Heh actually, that's exactly why I asked. I'm interested in it (though I'm slightly put off that it's PS/2 only).
I have a Kensington Expert on order right now, but the reviews on Amazon said that the ball movement is not as smooth as it could be because it doesn't use steel rollers.
The LaserTRAC is another one I'm considering, but that one guy on Geekhack said that the angle is bad for his wrist and judging by the pictures, it does look that way.
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Very cool but no scroll.
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Hmm, you're right. I guess that limits it to the LaserTRAC then. I'm looking for something with a scroll wheel/ring, with 4 programmable buttons preferred.
By the way, has anybody managed to find the 'extension' buttons that can plug into the back of the LaserTRAC?
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Yeah, I saw your post on that. Unfortunately I was hoping for something a little more user-friendly, as I don't have woodworking skills.
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Maybe you can turn it into a business. I know I'd be willing to buy one if it was decently modded.
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the slimblade works fine under linux. all 4 buttons work. I think you need to be running the latest kernel though.
The ball on the kensington expert is very smooth. It doesn't use metal rollers which I suppose would be more durable; but not as smooth as the 'ruby pointers' that the expert uses.
I had the lasertrak which IS a nice trackball, but not for me. It killed my elbow.
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Doesn't the Slimblade have trouble remapping the top 2 keys?
A little bit if you use Windows (Linux is fine, dunno about Mac).
For Windows (tested in Windows 7 64-bit and WinXP) you can use the hacked version of the software here (http://web-karakuri.com/archives/433). See this thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=6812) for details on the japanese.
To use it. Just install the version of the Kensington software v1.00. Copy the two exe's from the website (SBT4ButtonPatch100.zip) to the software installation directory (i.e. C:\Program Files\Kensington\SlimBlade Trackball). Then run SBT4ButtonPatch.exe. Restart the software, then use SBTConfigurator.exe to change the top two buttons.
I only really needed the Middle Click, so I haven't really discovered what X1 and X2 are for (maybe when work slows down a bit).
Overall, I'm really liking the Slimblade. I really like the scrolling mechanism.
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My DT225 sticks a bit.
However, I'm frustrated by a want of buttons. The competition is a Logitech G5 (4 buttons + wheel) Rigged as 3-button, you can cope with Marble Mouse Scroll, but it's incompatible with IE8. http://simans.net/marble/
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Damn, wish I knew about the hacked drivers before I bought the LaserTRAC this afternoon!
...Oh well. I'll probably end up ordering a Slimblade anyway.
And I'm still trying to win two eBay auctions for a Trackpoint L40 and DT225...
Curse you Geekhack!
And I haven't even received my two keyboards yet, but I'm considering getting a Filco Blue Cherry...