orca@starnet.uucp (Sarah Emily Liberman) (04/08/91)
Greetings... I'm interested in purchasing a track-ball input device to replace my conventional mouse. I have seen many advertisements for Kensington's TurboMouse ADB and Curtis' MVP Mouse, etc., etc... Could somebody recommend/give comments about/describe experiences with track-ball mice? (eg, durability, ease/smootheness of use, size and space considerations, cost, and so forth.) Please send your messages VIA E-MAIL. I'd really appreciate the information! --sarah e. liberman orca@starnet.uucp orca%starnet@uunet.uu.net starnet!orca@apple.com ...!apple!starnet!orca
wnn@ornl.gov (04/10/91)
In article <1991Apr8.005905.12711@starnet.uucp> orca@starnet.uucp (Sarah Emily Liberman) writes: >I'm interested in purchasing a track-ball input device to replace my >conventional mouse. Take a look at Felix from Altra too. It's not a trackball! IMHO it is as great an improvement over a trackball as the trackball is over the mouse. I have used a variety of mice and trackballs, but Felix is the pointing device of my choice. It didn't work too well when it was originally released by another company, but the latest version has very smooth operation and works even faster than the best track balls. Particularly if you have a large screen, such as two-page display, you don't want to get an older model second hand. Pointing devices probably are the hardware components of a computer system that are subject to the greatest variation in personal preferences and subjective judgement. You shouldn't buy them on someone else's recommendation. I was less than completely satisfied with several of my previous choices. You really need to try if for yourself, and you need quite a bit of time until you can make a final judgement. Some that might seem strange and awkward to you during the first few minutes our hours of use may turn out to be your favorite, as the Felix did for me. A trackball is probaly still the better choice for systems with multiple large screens or with a virtual screen that substantially exceeds 2000 pixels in either direction. I use an E-Machines Z-21 QuickView with a virtual screen size of 2048x960 pixels. I could get more memory for a larger virtual screen area, but I feel that it would become difficult to accurately position the cursor without switching to precision mode. Altra supposedly works on revised software and hardware to accommodate such special cases. Wolfgang N. Naegeli University of Tennessee & Oak Ridge National Laboratory Internet: wnn@ornl.gov Bitnet: wnn@ornlstc Phone: 615-574-6143 Fax: 615-574-6141 (OrchidFax) QuickMail (QM-QM): Wolfgang Naegeli @ 615-574-4510
hoepfner@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov (Patrick Hoepfner) (04/11/91)
wnn@ornl.gov writes: >In article <1991Apr8.005905.12711@starnet.uucp> orca@starnet.uucp (Sarah Emily >Liberman) writes: >>I'm interested in purchasing a track-ball input device to replace my >>conventional mouse. >Take a look at Felix from Altra too. It's not a trackball! >IMHO it is as great an improvement over a trackball as the >trackball is over the mouse. These devices require different amounts of coordination. I am one who has little of it and I have trouble with anything but a mouse. You might like to try each before you buy (if you can). There are people at work who use the Kensington Track Ball. I have to sit down to use it and I have trouble with them, but they work fine according to those w/ coordination and w/o the deskspace for a mouse. +--------------------------+---------------------------------------+ / Patrick Hoepfner | NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center \ / America Online: PatrickH9 | Internet: hoepfner@heasfs.gsfc.nasa.gov \ +-----------------------------+------------------------------------------+
dave@cmi.com (David Halonen) (04/11/91)
I've used a Wacom pressure sensitive tablet for a month or so, and have gone back to the mouse. Most of my work is normal pointing, clicking, dragging, and keyboard activity. A pen must be picked up and put down after each use, whereas the mouse stays in its place (both the hardware and the cursor.) The pen must be placed somewhere after each use (Wacom supplies a convenient pen stand to park it in.) I like to be able to just let go of the device. My other complaint is that pushing (downward) on the pen isn't that great of a method for clicking. This device generated many erroneous clicks, that gets a little tiring. I have seen good pen/tablet combinations used by professional CAD users. Two striking conveniences: A cord that attaches to the pen, such that the pen can be suspended above the tablet. You can just let go. Usually a little rubber band is included to provide the needed flexibility. The other advantage these devices had was a button on the side of the pen for clicking - a very distinct and positive action. Anyway, I'm back to the mouse (I don't like trackballs either - jeez is this guy picky!) Your mileage may vary. David Halonen, Center for Machine Intelligence, Electronic Data Systems Ann Arbor, MI (313) 995-0900 AppleLink: N0548 Internet: dave@cmi.com