Ripsters Kensington Trackball

[bettablue]

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.

[vun]

Isn't it a CST L-trac? Or am I confusing them?

[demik]

http://industrialcomponent.com/usbstuff/cst2545wrc.html

not a kensington trackball.

not sure what model cst trackball ripster has tho

[hcry4]

Who else is interested in ripster's balls...?

[HaiiYaa]

This one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3KA7bKKguw

[dorkvader]

Trackball wiki:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=All+About+Trackballs&redirect=no

CST and CH Products use a standard pool size ball (2.25")

---
Also from the trackball wiki:

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.

[iindigo]

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?

[bettablue]

Will the Expert Mouse 4 work as well?

[dorkvader]

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.

[theferenc]

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?

[iindigo]

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?

[theferenc]

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.

[zareliman]

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.

[spolia optima]

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.

[500_pts]

This thread could've been avoided with clever and excessive use of ripster's sig:P
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:8810

[dorkvader]

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.

[mushupork]

Like BeetleJuice? :-)