geekhack

geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: tipo33 on Mon, 15 April 2013, 00:18:39

Title: IBM M5-1 trackball
Post by: tipo33 on Mon, 15 April 2013, 00:18:39

The M5-1 Is a Model M with a trackball above the arrow cluster.  Has anyone tried one?  Are they actually usable?  Is it worth tracking one down?  Thank you.

Title: Re: IBM M5-1 trackball
Post by: bazemk1979 on Mon, 15 April 2013, 01:01:15

http://pckeyboard.com/page/ClassicTrackball/UB404LA, no love for this one?

Title: Re: IBM M5-1 trackball
Post by: tipo33 on Mon, 15 April 2013, 03:18:02

I don't like the placemant.

Title: Re: IBM M5-1 trackball
Post by: kishy on Mon, 15 April 2013, 08:04:31

M5-1 has the trackball above the arrow keys, M5-2 has it above the numpad.

I have previously owned an M5-2 and find the placement quite usable, but it's a very low resolution tracking device. I have not used the M5-1 but I'm inclined to say it's probably less usable than the M5-2 because you can't really cup your hand around it.

Title: Re: IBM M5-1 trackball
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 15 April 2013, 08:08:14

A wild Kishy appears!

Title: Re: IBM M5-1 trackball
Post by: tipo33 on Mon, 15 April 2013, 09:39:35

Quote from: kishy on Mon, 15 April 2013, 08:04:31

M5-1 has the trackball above the arrow keys, M5-2 has it above the numpad.

I have previously owned an M5-2 and find the placement quite usable, but it's a very low resolution tracking device. I have not used the M5-1 but I'm inclined to say it's probably less usable than the M5-2 because you can't really cup your hand around it.

I saw both, I think I would like the M5-1 more because I usualy rest my fingers above the arrow cluster anyways, and I could operate it with my index finger.  I was curious to it's sensitivity, and weather or not it is even worth it to try to get it to work on a modern computer.  I figure even with a low DPI trackball you could play with the sensitivity settings in the OS and get it to work.