Migration from Mouse to Trackball

A comparison of Logitech Trackman Wheel and Microsoft Trackball Explorer

（ZT 原文：2005年，http://www.directron.com/mousetrackball.html）

About two months ago, I felt some unusual tension and sometimes pain in my right-hand wrist. It felt like my hand was trying to get separated from my arm. The pain eased in morning but got worse in the afternoon during a workday. For a few days, I couldn't figure out why. Some one in the office pointed out that the problem may be caused by the computer mouse. That gave me an idea – I should give the trackball a try.

I hated trackballs. My brain used to go crazy in a few instances when I tried to test a trackball. I couldn't believe how in the world there is any one who may actually like such a pointing device. However, I knew a trackball pointing device is ergonomic and supposed to be good to my wrist. So I decided to give it a serious try to see if it helps me and if I can get used to it.

I pulled a used USB trackball I could find and easily replaced my USB mouse without powering down my office computer.

Immediately I noticed that whenever I used the trackball my wrist felt better. Whenever I returned to my mouse, my wrist got much worse. So this experimentation proves one point: the computer mouse is the culprit! Over usage of the mouse is bad to my wrist.

I have a choice: either try to get used to a trackball or continue the slippery downhill of my wrist's health. I chose the former. I would like to select the best model on the market - like a test run of the track balls to make the transition as smooth as possible.

There are several trackball models on the market. The most famous ones are from Logitech and Microsoft. There is also a finger mouse that is ergronomic, too. However, I can't imagine having my right hand off the table all the time when I am working. It would be difficult to type and point at the same time. So I decide to limit myself to test two Logitech models (Trackman Marble and Trackman Wheel) and one Microsoft model (TrackBall Explorer).

I eliminated the Logitech Trackman Marble mouse quickly because it lacks the scrolling wheel. Who needs a mouse that can't scroll these days?

I used the Logitech Trackman Wheel model at office and the Microsoft Trackball Explorer at home so that I can compare them for an extended period of time.

Both models are comfortable to use and feel slick. However, the design and location of the buttons and wheels are quite different between the two. As a result, you have to use different fingers to operate them, which made a difference in the easiness of getting used to.

The Logitech Trackman Wheel has one ball, one scrolling wheel, and TWO buttons. You use your thumb to manipulate the ball. You use your index finger to control the Left-Click button, the middle finger for the scrolling wheel, and the nameless finger for the Right-Click button. The design and operations of the wheel and mouse clicks are very similar to those on a wheel mouse. I don't need to move my finger to do either Left or Right Clicks. The design made it very easy to migrate from a mouse to a trackball.

The Microsoft model has FOUR buttons plus a rolling wheel. One for the left click, one for right-click; another one for "Forward" button and the fourth one for "Back" button. That means that you have to use all of your five fingers to control all the functions, which is a little too busy for me. I was too used to the two-button wheel mouse. I am not used to using the mouse click to do automatic "Forward" or "Back" in the browser. The Microsoft model allows you to move the ball with your middle and index fingers, which is quite smooth. However you have to use your thumb to control the "Left-Click," "Right-Click," and the wheel.

That's too much work for my little poor thumb.

The "Left-Click" is okay. However, the Right-Click is very awkward. Since we do the "Left-Click" much more often than the "Right-Click, the thumb most time sits on or over the "Left-Click" button. To do the "Right-Click" I have to move my thumb from the "Left-Click" button over the scrolling wheel to the "Right-Click" button, which is very un-natural for me. I ended up having to look at the trackball to find the "Right-Click" button.

In addition, the "Forward" and "Back" buttons are controlled by my nameless finger and pinky finger, respectively. My lazy little pinky finger did not like the work at all. I ended up not using these buttons.

In an overall comparison, I like the Logitech model better. It's a very natural transition from a wheel mouse. I decided to standardize them with the Logitech by getting another one to replace the Microsoft one at home.

To be fair, the Microsoft Trackball Explorer does have one advantage. It’s easier to move the ball across the screen or make quick long moves on the Explorer than the Trackman. I believe this is due to the fact that the ball on the Explorer is slightly larger than that on the Trackman Wheel and our index and middle fingers are longer than our thumb.

About one month later, I am totally converted to the trackballs. Now, I am a big fan. I recommend everyone to start converting from mice to trackballs. This migration is like moving from a regular keyboard to a natural keyboard. In an analogy to the car industry, this is like upgrading from a stick, manual shift to automatic transmission, and from manual window to power window. You'll love it and you don't want to go back.

I noticed that my children got used to the trackball quickly. They are always quick to adapter to new things.

Do your wrist a favor. Try a trackball today. Don't wait until you feel something inside your wrist like I did. If I can convert myself from a trackball hater to a trackball lover, you can do it too. It just takes a little time to get used to.

The benefit is tremendous - regardless which model you choose. My wrist tension and pain disappeared for good.

How does the trackball do it? You may wonder.

With the trackball you are not moving your wrist any more. You are moving your fingers instead. Biomechanically, our fingers are designed to move around more than our wrists. That's my unscientific guess.

You might then ask: Would this cause any harm to my fingers in the long run? Well, I don't know. It took me 15 years of mousing around to feel the damage on my wrist. We'll see how long it will take on my fingers. Perhaps, I should modulate between the mouse and trackball over time.

I do have a piece of warning advise, though. In my opinion, the trackball may not be as precise as a mouse. I don't recommend it for people who have to do high-resolution work such as graphics and gaming. During my migration from mouse, I clicked on the wrong button at least once, which caused some unintentional effects on my work. Well, maybe, I was just not fully trained on trackball yet at that time.

Guys and gals, have fun with your balls – trackball, that is!

（原文：2005年，http://www.directron.com/mousetrackball.html）

[blackrose]

interesting article. Can you talk more about natural keyboard?