[net.works] replacing mice

Hank.Walker@CMU-CS-VLSI.ARPA (04/06/83)

Track balls don't have buttons.  'Nough said.

chin%UCBKIM@Berkeley (04/06/83)

From:  chin%UCBKIM@Berkeley (David Chin)


True track balls don't have buttons, but you can always put buttons on the
package containing the track-ball (as video game fans know).  For example,
if the track-ball were built into the keyboard (perhaps where numeric
keypads are usually found), then one could put "buttons" above the
track-ball.  This track-ball in the keyboard package would be very
convenient for those of us who like to put our detachable keyboards on our
laps and sit back away from the screen (and the mouse).  There may be other
reasons why track-balls are inferior to mice as an interface, but I don't
think that the lack of buttons on the track-ball per se is a real issue.

				Dave Chin
				chin@berkeley
				ucb-vax!chin