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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: sethstorm on Wed, 10 March 2010, 20:04:07

Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Wed, 10 March 2010, 20:04:07: I already have a pair of Logitech mice (Revolution MX, MX310 aren't bad in themselves) but wouldn't mind recommendations on a good trackball that isn't in the Topre/uTron realm of cost and isn't some shoddy knockoff.

Only other preferences being towards multiple/remappable buttons, good DPI range, and being relatively common (i.e. it's not as rare as an M13).

Even though it's not a trackball per se, I would be open to the IBM Spaceball.

Interface isn't an issue (read: PS/2, USB, RS232 are fine).
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Wed, 10 March 2010, 20:28:40: Quote from: ripster;163055
Good timing. Looking at your Sig and "Buy American" preference I'd think you'd like the rock solid construction of the CH Products DT225 now on Ebay starting at $30. (http://cgi.ebay.com/CH-Products-DT225-Trackball-PS-2-mouse-beige_W0QQitemZ120541306545QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c10d25eb1)

Click on my Sig for details. Otherwise for run of the mill asian built stuff you have the usual Logitech suspects.

Noticed your sig, but I was thinking also of that one you've modded as well if it's not rare as an M13 and overly expensive($100).

As for your guess as to my "Buy American" preference, you know me well; but that doesn't necessarily limit me - I'm fine with a *good* one.

I've already had the Kensington Turbo ADB trackball - so the other type of trackballs(the slightly smaller, mouse-like grip type) are fine (as well as the CH's format).
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: JulienC on Wed, 10 March 2010, 23:44:19: Quote from: ripster;163055
Good timing. Looking at your Sig and "Buy American" preference I'd think you'd like the rock solid construction of the CH Products DT225 now on Ebay starting at $30. (http://cgi.ebay.com/CH-Products-DT225-Trackball-PS-2-mouse-beige_W0QQitemZ120541306545QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c10d25eb1)

Sad thing this one doesn't ship to Canada :(
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: salcan on Thu, 11 March 2010, 08:24:15: The Spaceball, from what I understand, generally isn't a replacement for a mouse/trackball. It's usually (or "was" usually) used for graphics manipulation.

Maybe try the Kensington Expert (http://us.kensington.com/html/2200.html)? I think there are some fans of that around there.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Thu, 11 March 2010, 08:28:19: My Logitech Trackman Wheel has been giving me yeoman service at work for many, many years. It's not gadgetastically sexy, but it gets the job done comfortably and without any fuss (save the occassional cleaning).
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 11 March 2010, 09:43:32: The latest iteration of the Kensington Expert Mouse is a sound choice, although you might find that the build quality has dropped a bit... CST makes some good ones too.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: TexasFlood on Thu, 11 March 2010, 09:48:28: Quote from: Shawn Stanford;163139
My Logitech Trackman Wheel has been giving me yeoman service at work for many, many years. It's not gadgetastically sexy, but it gets the job done comfortably and without any fuss (save the occassional cleaning).

Which trackman do you have. Seem to be a few models out there. Thinking about a trackball myself but don't know much about them really.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 11 March 2010, 11:23:23: Trackman Wheel would be this one -

(http://media.laptoplogic.com/upload-images/10195/large/10195_trackman-wheel.jpg)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Thu, 11 March 2010, 11:38:35: Quote from: ch_123;163154
The latest iteration of the Kensington Expert Mouse is a sound choice, although you might find that the build quality has dropped a bit... CST makes some good ones too.

the CH and CST ones are already on my list. The question is how is the situation w/ the hacked drivers w/r/t Kensington trackballs?
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 11 March 2010, 11:41:25: Slimblade I'm not too sure... It's meant to be pretty mediocre anyway.

The Expert Mouse has plenty of hacked drivers for all platforms. Linux picks up all four buttons fine. The only feature loss I can think of is the lack of chording support (i.e. binding two buttons so that when they're are pressed together they will do something)

I have a CST on the way to me... theoretically I could have it as soon as tomorrow. I'll let you know how it stacks up against the KEM, but from what I've read about it so far, it should blow it out of the water.

Quote
Logitechs are made in the People's Republic of China.

Did you know that the PCBs for the AT Model F was made in Hong Kong? So much for "American quality"
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 11 March 2010, 12:01:38: Quote from: ripster;163180
Everybody knows about British manufactured goods.

Model Ms with drainage holes but no channels inside? Not Britannia's finest hour... Winston Churchill would be pissed.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: hyperlinked on Thu, 11 March 2010, 13:07:58: Quote from: ripster;163177
CST LaserTrak is American Made.

You sure that they weren't referring to the box? ;)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Fri, 12 March 2010, 12:35:38: Quote from: ch_123;163170
Trackman Wheel would be this one -

Show Image
(http://media.laptoplogic.com/upload-images/10195/large/10195_trackman-wheel.jpg)

That's the one...

With all deference to Ripster, the CST is designed to be moved with the fingers and the Trackman is moved with the thumb. I've used finger-based trackballs before and while they worked fine they weren't as effortless as the thumb-based Trackman.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 14:19:06: Sanwa make a cheap KEM-like trackball that supposedly isn't as poorly built as some of their other models. If it was only available outside of Japan...
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:18:38: If I don't win that CH 225, I'll be going for the CST or a Kensington w/ scroll.

Unless the Kensington drivers and such can be forced to work with 7, they seem to be a "wait and see".
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:39:45: The KEM works fine out of the box with Windows 7. There exists a third party utility out there that can be used to map the extra buttons on it, although I can't remember it's name. As I said before, all that you miss by not having the official drivers is the ability to chord bottoms.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:54:59: The Lasertrack version has three buttons and a scroll wheel. There is a cheaper model, but that still has three buttons afaik.

I'm not entirely sure what you are getting at with the spinning thing, but I noticed that it spins more freely than my KEM.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 17:02:23: Quote from: ripster;163494
The CST is stickier than the Kensington Expert if you pinch the ball and try and make it spin clock direction. .

I noticed this too. I was thinking that it could be the inertia of the heavier ball, but I could be completely wrong.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 17:06:52: I wonder if there's some way to properly remove them if you dismantle the KEM? Mine need a really proper clean. Not even an airduster works at this stage...
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 17:18:31: Quote from: webwit;163504
Inconsistent :P

Yeah, took me a while to think about it. I've had it for less than 12 hours, detailed opinions are still on the way!
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Fri, 12 March 2010, 20:24:44: Well, missed the DT225. So much for quality.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 12 March 2010, 20:27:14: Quote from: webwit;163502
there is no perfect trackball design as they all have their flaws.

I think I have a perfect design, I just haven't got round to building it yet. My idea is to have the ball resting on three roller bearings. I've bought a bunch of skateboard ones, they are the right size and incredibly well engineered compared to 'normal' bearings so they can handle lateral forces with ease among other things.

The trick is the bearings themselves need to rotate in their own mount, so they act as short travel casters. And the 'casters' have to be perfectly aligned so their axis points toward the centre of the ball, to avoid any funny effects as they spin.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: didjamatic on Fri, 12 March 2010, 22:00:38: It's not a bummer to me at all that it went for $31 :)

I had it in my watch list from a couple hours after it listed. FYI, the seller has a second one he will be listing soon.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Fri, 12 March 2010, 23:12:28: One more reason I usually say, no BIN, no help. Basically 5 days of nothing, then seconds of bidding.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 13 March 2010, 08:03:34: I've wanted a high quality trackball for a while so I'm excited to give the DT225 a spin, I just wish it had a scroll wheel. A mod may be in order.

Time to get a billiards ball.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 10:11:25: Quote from: didjamatic;163573
It's not a bummer to me at all that it went for $31 :)

I had it in my watch list from a couple hours after it listed. FYI, the seller has a second one he will be listing soon.

What? You won that? You don't know how lucky you were...so I'll tell you:

I bid in the last 2 seconds with a bid that would have demolished you (or at least cost you a bundle), but the seller forgot to remove his buyer requirements and allow sale to Canada - which he said he'd do. So my bid was refused.

Last-second bids are a bit like a kick to the groin, so I try to avoid doing them these days unless I already "announced my intentions" by bidding earlier (makes me appear less of an ******* that way). With this one though, I only found out about it in the last half hour. Ironically, if I had made an initial bid like I usually do, I would have had time to tell the seller about the blockage.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 10:30:15: What's a "Deck Trucker Girl"... and where may I obtain one? ;)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ricercar on Sat, 13 March 2010, 11:05:30: The Deck trucker girl is a key cap that Deck made in the Linux accessory set. Deck no longer sells them, and no known vendor has stock.

Ripster claims the dubious honor of buying the last one. My mission in life is to find one for sale and buy it, in hopes of driving him into depression and suicide.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 11:11:19: Quote from: ricercar;163706
The Deck trucker girl is a key cap that Deck made in the Linux accessory set. Deck no longer sells them, and no known vendor has stock.

Ripster claims the dubious honor of buying the last one. My mission in life is to find one for sale and buy it, in hopes of driving him into depression and suicide.

Oh... I thought he was talking about some kind of trucker girl that is very desirable and hard to find.

Good luck driving him into depression and suicide.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 13 March 2010, 13:43:58: Look alive folks, the other DT225 is posted as a 1 day auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/CH-Products-DT225-Trackball-PS-2-Mouse-Beige-World-Wide_W0QQitemZ120542866403QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c10ea2be3#ht_500wt_1182)

Happy sniping!
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 14:10:41: Quote from: didjamatic;163744
Look alive folks, the other DT225 is posted as a 1 day auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/CH-Products-DT225-Trackball-PS-2-Mouse-Beige-World-Wide_W0QQitemZ120542866403QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c10ea2be3#ht_500wt_1182)

Happy sniping!

Damn you. I was hoping to keep it a secret.

To paraphrase Airplane!, "Sir, don't you want to bid now?" "No.... that's what they'll be expecting me to do."
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 13 March 2010, 14:15:27: Should I bid now or wait until the last minute? :) Just kidding, if I really like the one I get I'll keep an eye out for another for work but only getting one for now. I need to look into the scrolling driver mod ripster linked in another thread. Too bad you can't twist the ball to scroll like you can with the Kensington blade, then this device would rule over all pointing devices.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Sat, 13 March 2010, 14:35:10: Quote from: ripster;163717
Reminds me, I gotta finish this mod.

I'm gonna call it,

"You Light Up My Balls"

If it weren't for the amount of CST2545's at $100+ out there, I'd just let the next CH DT225 go and add the buttons to a CST.

The only other downside is according to this post (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=86373&postcount=4), pool balls are something that will only fit the DT225.

Quote from: ripster;163690
Sniping means being an *******? It's ebay. That's like worrying about the ethics of buying the last Deck Trucker Girl key in existence.

Sniping's an accepted practice. It's not one that I particularly like either, but it happens.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Sat, 13 March 2010, 15:00:51: Quote from: ripster;163763
Trackballs, especially the vintage ones, can get spendy. This is another one.
Show Image
(http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/779/product-5434779.jpg)

$180 on Ebay. (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-kensington-turbo-mouse-trackball-64210-expert-pro_W0QQitemZ310205486253QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4839b014ad)

Noticed. Never mind sifting through all the Arcade/MAME trackballs to find what you're looking to get.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 15:06:59: The funny thing about that thing is that it's probably inferior to those $30 DT225s knocking about.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: bigpook on Sat, 13 March 2010, 15:48:08: I have an older style kensington expert, no scroll ring, but it does have metal rollers. While not as stout as the DT225 it is still a robust trackball.
I need to dig it out and post some pics.
Title: DT225 mechanical info
Post by: Specter_57 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 16:13:56: ..

...something I stumbled upon during my net travels....

http://ftp://ftp.chproducts.com/pub/oem/Trackballs/Trackball_DT225.pdf

and there is also a mention as to how big your balls should be......

enjoy

........
Spec57
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 13 March 2010, 16:22:10: I haven't used a CST 2545-5W yet, but I think this trackball could be a great 5 button setup if you added one external button on each side of the trackball case. Not sure if vertical or a 45 degree mount would be better. If right handed, you would hit the left (back) button with your thumb, right (fwd) button with your pinky. Or Ripsters awesome 2 button mods.

(http://clearlysuperiortech.com/Pictures/Models/CST2545-5W_big.jpg)

But would it really be that hard to rip a mouse apart and mount a scroll wheel on the surface of a DT225, just above the ball in the same location as a Kensington Expert Mouse Pro?

(http://www.hykw.com/tbfan/gallery/tbpro/images/IMG_0370.jpg)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 13 March 2010, 16:26:06: The CST has some other nice features too, like the ability to switch between three DPI settings (400,800,1600)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Sun, 14 March 2010, 00:34:16: Quote from: ch_123;163779
The CST has some other nice features too, like the ability to switch between three DPI settings (400,800,1600)

Quote from: didjamatic;163778
I haven't used a CST 2545-5W yet, but I think this trackball could be a great 5 button setup if you added one external button on each side of the trackball case. Not sure if vertical or a 45 degree mount would be better. If right handed, you would hit the left (back) button with your thumb, right (fwd) button with your pinky. Or Ripsters awesome 2 button mods.

Would the 2-button mod also be doable w/ the CST1550 (w/o scroll-wheel)? That might be another option for those of use who prioritize buttons over working scrollers(and save about $20-$30).

I'm feeling a bit inspired to put those in thanks to Ripster's article on those extra buttons. If it's contact -> wire -> button -> wire -> other contact, then that'll seal the deal.
If all of that's the case, then it's off to get the CST.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: microsoft windows on Sun, 14 March 2010, 17:08:27: Quote from: ch_123;163170
Trackman Wheel would be this one -

Show Image
(http://media.laptoplogic.com/upload-images/10195/large/10195_trackman-wheel.jpg)

Looks like an optical trackball there. I prefer the mechanical ones because they can be more precise. I like the scrolly wheel though.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 14 March 2010, 17:14:45: I'd disagree. And given that I've actually tried laser, optical and mechanical trackballs, I think I actually know what I'm on about.

Quote
Would the 2-button mod also be doable w/ the CST1550 (w/o scroll-wheel)? That might be another option for those of use who prioritize buttons over working scrollers(and save about $20-$30).

I don't think so. I haven't seen any of the optical models with side ports. If you get the basic laser model (the one with no side ports at all) you'll find that the PCB still has that functionality included, all you need to do is solder up the wires to the appropriate pads.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Sun, 14 March 2010, 17:29:43: Quote from: ch_123;164010
I'd disagree. And given that I've actually tried laser, optical and mechanical trackballs, I think I actually know what I'm on about.

I don't think so. I haven't seen any of the optical models with side ports. If you get the basic laser model (the one with no side ports at all) you'll find that the PCB still has that functionality included, all you need to do is solder up the wires to the appropriate pads.

Ok. I'd want to solder headers in if there's room, though. I've got plenty of those.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 14 March 2010, 17:32:50: Also, it wouldn't be particularly easy to make your own scroll wheel... I think $20 is worth it for that much alone. The laser too is good.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Sun, 14 March 2010, 23:15:21: Quote from: ch_123;164015
Also, it wouldn't be particularly easy to make your own scroll wheel... I think $20 is worth it for that much alone. The laser too is good.

Wasn't wanting to make the wheel, but if that's the only way to go for the additional buttons, fine.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: kohan69 on Sat, 12 June 2010, 02:43:24: So I'm looking for a trackballs too.

Nothing seems more logical than Microsoft Trackball Explorer
(http://mrbillgeorge.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/m17-1726-callout1.jpg)

My only concern is - does the scroll wheel CLICK?
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: mjma on Sun, 13 June 2010, 21:49:11: Yes, it does. As I've said elsewhere, the TBE is a great product, a personal favorite... but these days the going rate (for a used unit, no less) is pretty ridiculous. If that's not an issue for you, I say go for it.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: kohan69 on Sun, 13 June 2010, 21:57:13: Quote from: mjma;192877
Yes, it does. As I've said elsewhere, the TBE is a great product, a personal favorite... but these days the going rate (for a used unit, no less) is pretty ridiculous. If that's not an issue for you, I say go for it.

by scroll wheel click i dont mean its not a smooth-scroll, i mean can you press it as a button (same way you could press the scrolll wheel for mouse3)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: mjma on Mon, 14 June 2010, 00:17:25: Yes, it is a five-button device.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Voixdelion on Mon, 14 June 2010, 15:02:58: I'm another fan of the mechanical rollers. The optical ones just don't do it for me the same way as the big sturdy Expert and Turbo varieties of yore... Though if they could make the bearings a little more robust I might not feel that way, but a large billiard size (or even larger) is must for me. I scored a NIB USB Expert Mouse a bit ago on ebay for less than forty bucks but the used ones have held up so well I haven't even opened it yet. (But I like knowing its there, just in case =D) I really wish they made the new ones with the scroll wheel on steel roller bearings with a 2.25" (or some other large size that is easily substituted with a custom ball). Then make the entire thing a modular add on to a buckling spring capacitive keyboard with a num pad and lcd solar calculator... droool.

Sorry - drifted into fantasy land for a bit there.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: noctua on Mon, 14 June 2010, 16:33:19: After long time, i have won yesterday the ebay auction, 4.50 EUR for an CH DT225 (PS2).
I need the trackball suspension with these robust bearings.. you now why..

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11080&d=1276551865)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Oqsy on Mon, 14 June 2010, 20:58:52: Thanks to ripster's tip I just ordered one of those behemoths. The auction says PS/2, and so does your post, but that looks suspiciously like a serial connector in your pic. It really won't matter to me if it's a serial, ps/2, usb, firewire, bluetooth, or game port connector as I could find a way to accommodate it, I'm really just curious at this point.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Zalusithix on Mon, 14 June 2010, 21:48:33: Actually, it looks like a PS2 cable with a PS2->Serial adapter attached. Hence the different color etc.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Rajagra on Mon, 14 June 2010, 22:21:03: Quote from: Zalusithix;193133
Actually, it looks like a PS2 cable with a PS2->Serial adapter attached. Hence the different color etc.

Then again, it could be the old mouse port connector with a serial converter. Fingers crossed it is PS/2.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Oqsy on Mon, 14 June 2010, 22:29:52: It looks like these are built with different flavors of connectors, so if the auction says ps/2 I'm sure that's what it is. And I didn't notice the adapter on the end, I'm jealous of those of you with good eyes.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Zalusithix on Mon, 14 June 2010, 22:40:41: Good eyes? My glasses beg to differ! =P
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Oqsy on Mon, 14 June 2010, 22:55:44: http://www.nkcf.org/ (http://www.nkcf.org/)
My affliction. It's getting REALLY hard to read text on a screen anymore. Most details in daily life are lost on me these days. I just hope new treatments / surgeries are developed before I need cornea transplants. My father has the same disease, and is on his 4th and 5th corneas. The weirdest thing is, up until about 2 years ago I had 20/20 vision. My onset was later than most, but it's moving fast. I'd be less worried if I could tolerate contacts better. I just started Restasis for dry eyes and in a month or so I should start seeing results, and wearing those thick plastic contacts will be more bearable (I hope).

Oqsy's message of the day: Don't take your vision for granted!
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Zalusithix on Mon, 14 June 2010, 23:15:41: Ah, one of those people with eye issues other than the normal nearsighted/farsighted conditions. I feel for you... It's a pity how little we can do for a lot of the problems that our eyes and ears can suffer. I look forward to the day when science has matured enough so that bionic implants can be used to restore sight and hearing to those who have lost it, or suffer otherwise uncorrectable problems.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: EverythingIBM on Tue, 15 June 2010, 00:02:03: Quote from: Oqsy;193162
http://www.nkcf.org/ (http://www.nkcf.org/)
My affliction. It's getting REALLY hard to read text on a screen anymore. Most details in daily life are lost on me these days. I just hope new treatments / surgeries are developed before I need cornea transplants. My father has the same disease, and is on his 4th and 5th corneas. The weirdest thing is, up until about 2 years ago I had 20/20 vision. My onset was later than most, but it's moving fast. I'd be less worried if I could tolerate contacts better. I just started Restasis for dry eyes and in a month or so I should start seeing results, and wearing those thick plastic contacts will be more bearable (I hope).

Oqsy's message of the day: Don't take your vision for granted!

That's an interesting disease, what happens if the cornea gets too thin?
The only thing wrong with my eyes is a minor case of myopia and marked-up cornea from various things that happened (sand in the eyes etc).
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Oqsy on Tue, 15 June 2010, 00:51:28: When it gets too thin, it starts to bulge into a cone shape instead of the normal dome shape. That's when fitting with contacts (RGPs, and I've been TRYING to wear for several months now) becomes extremely difficult to impossible. You can't really fit a concave disc over a cone and create a seal with any efficiency or effectiveness. The reason Rigid Gas Permeable contacts are needed in keratoconus is because the inside of the contact seals to the eye, and the outside is the ideal shape for focusing light. It's like a clear coat of paint that creates the ideal outer surface even if the color coat isn't necessarily flawless. The key is just no bubbles of air behind the contact and a correctly shaped outer surface.

My father actually piggybacks his RGPs on top of soft contacts to get a better fit behind them. The softer contacts conform better to his irregular eye shape, and act like a cushion beneath the RGP, which provides the shape correction. It's also much gentler on his transplanted corneas, which really have to be babied and taken care of so they last as long as possible.

Sorry to go so far OT :D
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: noctua on Tue, 15 June 2010, 02:13:27: Quote from: Oqsy;193124
Thanks to ripster's tip I just ordered one of those behemoths. The auction says PS/2, and so does your post, but that looks suspiciously like a serial connector in your pic. It really won't matter to me if it's a serial, ps/2, usb, firewire, bluetooth, or game port connector as I could find a way to accommodate it, I'm really just curious at this point.

The trackball was originally intended for a light-project, which wasn't finished over the years,
therefore the unit self was unused. This may the reason why we see a serial adapter at
the end of the ps/2 connector.. If i have received the unit, i'll post some images.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Voixdelion on Tue, 15 June 2010, 06:15:55: Quote from: ripster;193049
I was thinking of putting the heavy duty CH DT225 bearings into the CST sometime...

HEAVY duty.
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11078&stc=1&d=1276550094)

DudE! That's what's in a DT225? Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice...

I may have to acquire one after all. That looks pretty sweet - almost like I could tune it up like when I put "ze German" bearings in my Rollerblades to bump up the ABEC a notch. This looks like serious smooth...
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: noctua on Wed, 23 June 2010, 02:13:16: Got my these days, the ball suspension should seem so. I would say this unit
is the heavy tank and declassifies CST units to middle tank's..

(http://www.geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11331&stc=1&d=1277276373)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Rajagra on Wed, 23 June 2010, 04:44:20: Quote from: noctua;195659
Got my these days, the ball suspension should seem so. I would say this unit
is the heavy tank and declassifies CST units to middle tank's..

If the DT255 is a heavy tank, the X-Arcade must be something like a battleship on wheels!

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=9605&d=1272798785) (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=178073&postcount=186)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: noctua on Wed, 23 June 2010, 05:29:32: Huhh.. thats truly a heavy turret, you use this weapon? ;-)
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ricercar on Wed, 23 June 2010, 12:21:32: Quote from: Oqsy;193186
The reason Rigid Gas Permeable contacts are needed in keratoconus is because the inside of the contact seals to the eye, and the outside is the ideal shape for focusing light. It's like a clear coat of paint that creates the ideal outer surface even if the color coat isn't necessarily flawless. The key is just no bubbles of air behind the contact and a correctly shaped outer surface.

This is the same logic that "map-dot dystrophy" is treated with rigid gas permeable "hard" contact lenses. The surface of the eye is irregularly wearing away, but smoothed by a rigid lens and sealed with tears.

I'm with you Oqsy. Sucks to KNOW there's stuff I ain't seeing all around me every day. I'm wearing glasses lately because the contact lens maintenance is too expensive for unemployment wages.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 23 June 2010, 18:10:28: Quote from: Oqsy;193162
http://www.nkcf.org/ (http://www.nkcf.org/)
My affliction. It's getting REALLY hard to read text on a screen anymore. Most details in daily life are lost on me these days. I just hope new treatments / surgeries are developed before I need cornea transplants. My father has the same disease, and is on his 4th and 5th corneas. The weirdest thing is, up until about 2 years ago I had 20/20 vision. My onset was later than most, but it's moving fast. I'd be less worried if I could tolerate contacts better. I just started Restasis for dry eyes and in a month or so I should start seeing results, and wearing those thick plastic contacts will be more bearable (I hope).

Oqsy's message of the day: Don't take your vision for granted!

For a while now my eyes have been slowly getting kind of bad. I can't read my keyboard anymore when at a computer but can still read characters on the computer screen when I look at it through the lower part of my eyes. But as long as I can read the newspaper, I'll be happy.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: EverythingIBM on Sat, 26 June 2010, 10:51:39: Quote from: ripster;163177

CST LaserTrak is American Made.
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=8293&stc=1&d=1268329211)

(http://www.images-graphics-pics.com/signs/safety/signs/made-in-america-sign.png)

Yeah! Good old American made, who needs cheap chinese stuff. I should pick one up just because it's American.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: bigpook on Sat, 26 June 2010, 12:05:13: There was a time when the US made everything....those days are long gone.

Nice to see there is a niche product with narrow appeal that is still made here....how long before even that moves off-shore to take advantage of the cheaper labor that every other company seems to be taking advantage of.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: sethstorm on Thu, 01 July 2010, 22:58:22: Quote from: bigpook;196671
There was a time when the US made everything....those days are long gone.

Nice to see there is a niche product with narrow appeal that is still made here....how long before even that moves off-shore to take advantage of the cheaper labor that every other company seems to be taking advantage of.

The problem is that moving it there is for cost, not quality.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: Voixdelion on Sat, 03 July 2010, 17:13:31: "The love of money is the root of all evil"

Which is probably why:

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven"
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 03 July 2010, 20:34:00: You guys don't seem to love money that much, throwing it all at Topres and things. But why are you all still evil?
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: EverythingIBM on Sat, 03 July 2010, 22:19:30: Quote from: microsoft windows;199170
You guys don't seem to love money that much, throwing it all at Topres and things. But why are you all still evil?

Ah yes... the root of all evil...
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11567&stc=1&d=1278213524)

We need to have a talk with webwit then.
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: ironman31 on Sun, 04 July 2010, 00:50:04: Quote from: microsoft windows;199170
You guys don't seem to love money that much, throwing it all at Topres and things. But why are you all still evil?

I think I'm going to go on head-fi and let everyone there know how much money they're wasting. Because they are definitely spending ten times as much on their hobby...
Title: Trackball Recommendations or "What are the * of trackballs?"
Post by: niplfsh on Thu, 08 July 2010, 10:53:54: Hey guys, this thread got me to signup on this forum. I'm looking to replace my aging MX518 and I'm thinking of switching to a trackball. My main question is, does 1600 CPI on the L-trac "feel" like 1600 CPI on a mouse? In other words, can you whip the pointer across the screen with the same tiny motion? Sorry if that's a stupid question, but I'm truly a noob when it comes to trackballs.

I ask because I run a dual-screen setup at 4096x1152, so I don't want to be struggling with movement. I run my MX518 at full speed and it does pretty well. I game some, mainly turn-based strategy games with the occasional shooter (TF2 mostly).

The mod-ability of the L-trac really appeals to me, but I want to be as sure as possible that it will work for me.