Best Ergonomic trackball (finger-operated, with scroll wheel) for programmer

Question

We programmers are at great risk of RSI. After 10 years, I was having shoulder problems and switched to a trackball, which helped, then switched to my left hand which helped even more.

I'm looking for a good finger-operated trackball with a scroll wheel. (I do not like the ones where you control the ball w/ your thumb. My thumb isn't as dexterous).

I also want to have a scroll wheel. I currently use a Logitech Marble Mouse but the scrolling implementation is very poor. EDIT: I just tried the Marble Scroll (free software that provides better scrolling. Works great. Another option is the KatMouse addon (which I've not tried) for trackballs.

I hear the old Logitech Trackman was very good, but is no longer available.

Anyone have experience with the Marble Mouse (and the above fixes) ? Or any suggestions of a good trackball.

Answer 1

Logitech's Cordless TrackMan Optical appears to still be available. I got mine from eBay a year ago or so and haven't looked back. The trackball is finger-operated and there are extra buttons and a scroll wheel.

Answer 2

Not traditional, but I use a Wacom Intuos tablet (12x19). Alternating between the pen and mouse offers a great deal of relief on my shoulders, wrists, etc.

I write software and having all the programmable options of the tablet is a plus too.

Answer 3

I use a Logitech Trackman Wheel and love it. Your thumb is capable of precise movement, so you can bump up the sensitivity and get around with very little movement once you get used to it.

That said, the best thing you can do to relieve mouse-related pain is to stop using it. Learning vim has done more to relieve my hand pain than switching to a trackball.

edit: Ok, so I didn't read carefully and this doesn't answer the question. It's still the best trackball :-)

Answer 4

You should try the Evolution trackball, made by ITAC systems. I have been using them for a dozen or so years.

They are big and ugly, because the form follows the hand instead of trying to be pretty. The large ball is easy to move with any of several fingers. The six buttons are programmable, but the default programing works pretty well. It is physically symmetric and the programming is left/right reversible, so it can be used left-handed if you want. I like to program buttons 2 and 4 both as 'left click', so I can hit that function with either the thumb or a finger. The 'scrolling' feature is unusual -- you hit butting 5 to enter/exit scroll-mode. I would rather have a proper scroll wheel, but that is really a quibble.

They are well made. There are a few moving parts, but they are made of stainless steel with roller bearings. I wore one out, but it took more than ten years of constant use. Overall, I would buy another when the ones that I have now wear out.

http://www.mousetrak.com/landing/landing%5Foffice.cfm

Answer 5

Kensington slimblade does scroll by twisting the ball around the z axis. Very slick

Answer 6

not directly to your question but relevant. i strongly recommend TWO trackballs that you use in tandem. that way, the "click and drag" and similar functions are handled by both hands.

Answer 7

I've used the Kensington Expert mouse for years. It's expensive, but the track ball is about the size of a cue-ball, which I find extremely comfortable, and it has a removable wrist-rest which is very helpful. There is a ring around the trackball that can act as a scroll wheel and can be easily manipulated by any finger, as well as a thumb. It has four programmable buttons, which I don't bother with; I mainly use this baby with the Adobe Master Suite, and other drawing and video apps. Kensington has been very lax in support of Windows 7, but I've had no problems using it in Windows 7 (again, I don't program the buttons), and I've had no problems with it using Apple's OSX. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

The Trackman Marble is still around, and still my absolute favorite "fingertip" trackball (I have four of them!) and it's not left or right handed which is a plus. Actually ordering the newer one in optical form right now. The Trackman series are an absolute miracle to me. Back/carpal pain reduced to next to nothing when I switched.