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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: bettablue on Sat, 08 October 2011, 11:10:40

Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: bettablue on Sat, 08 October 2011, 11:10:40
OK, I'm envious of Ripsters trackball.  So now I'm looking for one that I can use with a regular billiard ball too.  I want one, and I'm ready to buy!  

I've been looking on Google and E-Bay and have found a few that look like they might be the same thing, but I really don't have a clue as to which model I should look at.  Also, if I were to purchase one with a PS2 connector, will the blue box PS2 to USB adapter work with pointing devices as they do with keyboards?  

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks for reading.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: vun on Sat, 08 October 2011, 11:58:48
Isn't it a CST L-trac? Or am I confusing them?
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: demik on Sat, 08 October 2011, 20:44:35
http://industrialcomponent.com/usbstuff/cst2545wrc.html

not a kensington trackball.

not sure what model cst trackball ripster has tho
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: hcry4 on Sat, 08 October 2011, 20:50:43
Who else is interested in ripster's balls...?
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: HaiiYaa on Sun, 09 October 2011, 21:53:22
This one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3KA7bKKguw
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 09 October 2011, 23:24:07
Trackball wiki:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=All+About+Trackballs&redirect=no

Quote
CST and CH Products use a standard pool size ball (2.25")
---
Also from the trackball wiki:
Quote
Kensington has been a long time player in this market as well and are probably the market leader in this segment.


Back in the Day they used pool sized balls too. The Expert Mouse 5.
Me, I want to make one like the real old school ones that use canadian bowling balls.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: iindigo on Mon, 10 October 2011, 01:34:49
Yeah well, I want a trackball that can use an Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom trap-rigged giant stone ball!

On a more serious note, CST's products look nice, but it looks to me like the lack of width on the buttons between the sides and the ball would make it difficult for one to rest his fingers upon. To those who own one, is this a problem?
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: bettablue on Mon, 10 October 2011, 10:04:15
Will the Expert Mouse 4 work as well?
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 10 October 2011, 17:16:31
http://kraftsound.com/oscommerce_st/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3746&osCsid=b7b706327520a8b1424f3841db8005ef
"click to enlarge"

From the picture: Looks like it. This is the first image of a kensington expert mouse 4 trackball I could find.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 11 October 2011, 18:55:52
Quote from: iindigo;428179
Yeah well, I want a trackball that can use an Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom trap-rigged giant stone ball!

On a more serious note, CST's products look nice, but it looks to me like the lack of width on the buttons between the sides and the ball would make it difficult for one to rest his fingers upon. To those who own one, is this a problem?

It's what I use all the time, and when I'm using it, I usually rest my hands on it, with my thumb resting on the left button, my first two fingers on the scroll wheel, and my ring finger on the right button.

When I'm actively mousing (balling?), I curl my hand and use the first three fingers on the ball, right clicking with pinky, left clicking with thumb or palm.

Does that make any sense at all?
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: iindigo on Wed, 12 October 2011, 00:03:54
Quote from: theferenc;429194
It's what I use all the time, and when I'm using it, I usually rest my hands on it, with my thumb resting on the left button, my first two fingers on the scroll wheel, and my ring finger on the right button.

When I'm actively mousing (balling?), I curl my hand and use the first three fingers on the ball, right clicking with pinky, left clicking with thumb or palm.

Does that make any sense at all?

It does. Your rest position is the same as mine on my Logitech Marble Mouse. Mousing sounds a little odd though... on my marble mouse, my hand stays in almost the exact same position except for the index and middle finger that are moving around the ball. Do you think the CST's form would allow for similar usage?
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: theferenc on Wed, 12 October 2011, 07:56:58
Well, my hand itself doesn't move. It's just that I curl my fingers, and use those to move the mouse. So, yes, I think it would. If we're understanding each other correctly, anyway.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: zareliman on Fri, 14 October 2011, 22:23:50
Quote from: iindigo;429314
It does. Your rest position is the same as mine on my Logitech Marble Mouse. Mousing sounds a little odd though... on my marble mouse, my hand stays in almost the exact same position except for the index and middle finger that are moving around the ball. Do you think the CST's form would allow for similar usage?


Indeed the Marble's ball is too small to use 3 fingers on it (like theferenc). I think the idea of CST trackballs is to build your own double thumb button and to place it somewhere usefull so they're your main buttons.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: spolia optima on Tue, 18 October 2011, 02:56:37
After using a microsoft trackball explorer for a few months, I'm totally convinced to go out and get myself a really top end trackball. I'm just about surely oing for the CST though, I like the scroll wheel a lot.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: 500_pts on Tue, 18 October 2011, 06:36:21
This thread could've been avoided with clever and excessive use of ripster's sig:P
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:8810
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 18 October 2011, 22:55:00
Quote from: 500_pts;433492
This thread could've been avoided with clever and excessive use of ripster's sig:P
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:8810

That's no fun, though. Also, I'm pretty sure this is the most times we've mentioned His name, without him coming in person.
Title: Ripsters Kensington Trackball
Post by: mushupork on Thu, 17 May 2012, 09:35:40
Like BeetleJuice? :-)