(Part 2) Best products from r/Trackballs

Tried using doorstops to change the angle as others have suggested, but that raises the height of the whole unit so you still need a high wrist rest and ideally an elevated armrest too, which becomes a hassle.

Using this 3M wrist rest is just the perfect angle for me, and I can rest me elbow on my desk or slightly hang it below it.

Compared with a Slimblade I would much rather have this, especially since the 4-5 button placement is probably much better now, I was having a hard time reaching for them when I changed the angle to flat. The comparison now becomes better buttons on the expert vs (probably) better scrolling on the Slimblade.

The scrolling on my unit is pretty decent, looks like the scroll wheel is lubed from below but not the sides which creates the slight rattle sound some people are mentioning. Idk if they took notice and changed it but it really doesn't bother me as much as people were saying, I also like that the scroll and mouse movement never interfere with each other. I'll probably open it up one day and lube it better, but so far I'm glad I went with wireless and better buttons.

Hope that helps anyone deciding between the two or people who have an expert right now.

Also, for new users,face oil will help lube the ball pretty well, but I've found using lightweight silicone lube on the bearings helped A LOT with the smoothness and even precision of the mouse since the slight bumpy feel at low speeds made the mouse less precise for something like selecting a specific portion of text. I used some lubicle speedy which is a lube for Rubik's cubes, but Traxxas 10k on Amazon would be a cheap easy alternative, and a good lube to keep around, especially for any plastic-plastic purposes. It didn't make the ball gummy or anything to the touch, but I put a very small amount, just wet my finner and spread on the bearings. Silicone lube is also non toxic if anyone is concerned with that.

5$ on Amazon atm:

https://www.amazon.com/Traxxas-5135-000-Weight-Differential/dp/B000BOR0C6

The thicker 50k lube is better for all-purpose stuff, and would probably still do the job here and lst slightly longer without having to re-lube, but I haven't tried it.

TL;DR found on the bottom of the WALL OF TEXT

So it all started with me finding an old T-BB13 in a relative's cellar one day. I was super excited, since not only would I get to try out a trackball, but it was also old and grimy - means I could attempt my first restoration. Sadly, I forgot to take pre pics, sorry.

I got used to the trackball in about 3 hours. It felt MUCH more comfortable than my old G700, going back to which felt weird - it was so tiny and cramped. Uncomfortable. My only gripe is that I occasionally get tremors which can affect my precision on the trackball (the old marble seems to be much looser than the ones in both the new trackballs) more than a standard mouse, and the lack of extra buttons.

And so, the old Trackman Marble Wheel fuelled my hunger. Obviously Ripster has already provided the first fuel - indicated by the (impulsively bought) FC660C. So I got both the thumb and finger operated trackballs (also love how the M570 is wireless) to try different things.

Here's the exact links I bought them from - if you want to try the trackball world first-hand(I guess the £ indicates that this is for UK)

£20.80 Trackman Marble
£21.00 M570

Pros (M570)

• Ball axis are remappable in Logitech SetPoint - you can angle the mouse in any way comfortable
  
  
• Wireless
  
  
• Apparently long battery life
  
  
• Back and Forward buttons
  
  
  Cons (M570)
  
  
• No wired port like on G700 for wired usage
  
  User Preference (M570)
  
  
• Small size - should be comfortable for people that prefer smaller size
  
  
• Thumb ball - more "traditional" mouse feel
  
  
  ---
  
  Pros (Trackman)
  
  
• Extremely comfortable.
  
  
• Surprisingly accessible buttons.
  
  
• Appears to be the quietest of the three ^^^(holy ^^^shit ^^^where ^^^did ^^^I ^^^get ^^^so ^^^many) trackballs that I have - buttons on both others are quite a bit stiffer and louder. Flicking or rolling the ball also makes the least amount of sound. (Something I never thought I'd care about in a mouse)
  
  
• Shaped in a way that I didn't need to remap the ball axis at all since this is the first mouse which I can actually hold straight.
  
  Cons (Trackman)
  
  
• WHERE IS MY RIGHT+LEFT CLICK TO MIDDLE CLICK?!
  
  
• The small buttons are a bit harder to reach with the pinky than the thumb.
  
  
• Seriously, why does two-click-scrolling work on Linux but not on Windows?!
  
  
• *more ranting about no scroll on Windows*
  
  
  User Preference (Trackman)
  
  
• Large and comfortable. I really like this point since I can stretch and spread my palm. No cramps, yay!
  
  
• Finger ball - took me a few more minutes to get used to - but I actually prefer it this way. It's actually way more comfortable for me to left click with my thumb.
  
  
  Conclusion:
  
  I fucken love trackballs.
  
  I have used both for 2 hours each to play some Skyrim and I have to say - it's glorious. The only time I had such a feeling of upgrade was when I switched from a 8600GT to a 6950Crossfire and later on when I switched from a rubber dome to mechanical.
  
  If you ever wanted to try a trackball for a long time - you should try it now. If you have used a trackball for years and can share any wise knowledge - please do.
  
  I'd love some advice on how to make scrolling viable on the Trackman (Logitech's solution works like ass in browsers, and doesn't even have any effect in N++ or applications like games)
  
  Also if anyone can recommend a guide on making a sidecar for these guys (I guess it's a bit harder than when making one for a CST) I'd love to see those. I already have a cheap rubber dome that I can salvage for the controller.
  
  Thanks for reading!
  
  TL;DR: impulse bough two new trackballs for cheaper than the current mouse that I got secondhand. Trackballs are glorious. UK! UK! UK! Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! BUT SERIOUSLY LOGITECH WHY THE FUCK IS THERE NO TWOCLICK FOR MOUSEWHEEL/SCROLL FEATURE ON WINDOWS?! Playing games is actually comfortable with trackballs. You should also become a baller. TL;DR. Recursion.
  
  
  

Ah Thank you for such good feedback.

My friend has this orbit scroll ring and raves about it. Which one precedes it though, I thought this was the one?

Wow I hadn't seen that MacMice one. Not my type though, too.... Mac-ish and seems like I will spend more than what it is worth.

I agree that weight wont be too much different for most. I am worried though, I heard some reviews claim that the nice Kensington balls weigh close to a pool table ball.

Damn honestly I have been down to the Deft Pro and Orbit w/Scroll. I was leaning towards the later. I have bought so many mice this year. I made the MX Ergo my expensive mouse buy because I thought it would be the end of my search. I think another reason I am leaning towards the Orbit is that i can use my left hand if my right gets sore.

Here is a case for Deft Pro I found on Amazon BTW

Edit: I meant to ask whether center balls are supposed to be better for the wrist. I find my pain is from clicking with my fingers rather than in my thumb (although it may all be connected).

Edit2: Sorry I realized that the case is the Deft HUGE.. You right I couldnt find one from the PRO. Seems like they should have one for the PRO before the HUGE.

Note: I have smallish hands for a guy.

I have the Elecom wired version, and I love everything about it. It's a little smaller than the Logitech, but I don't have any problem with it. For $48, I suggest you take the plunge. Give it a couple weeks to get used to the size if your first impression is "wow this is small".

What I do have problems with are huge trackballs the size of pool-balls, e.g. the CST trackballs.

Note: previous trackballs were the Microsoft Trackball Explorer and then the Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman. The MS was my all-time favorite, but I wore it out in about 5 years. The Logitech was good, but I wasn't in love with it. I actually prefer the Elecom to it. The MS is still the winner, and if I found a stash of a dozen new ones at a reasonable price I'd snap them all up. :)

The Elecom DT2DRBK is currently £45 with shipping. A little over your budget, but a good trackball. I got the wired version and I love it. Trackballs are kind of a niche product and are kind of expensive. You might be able to get something cheaper, but the one I linked to has tons of customizable buttons, and a sniper switch for going between fine movements and regular usage. That may sound like stuff that's only needed for gaming but having thigns like copy/paste and undo/redo can make you much more efficient at getting work done.

They also have similar models with a thumb ball if you prefer that.

Thanks for the detailed response. I really miss the Rollermouse Red I had at a previous job, but they're both really expensive and I just can't see using them for gaming.

Someone saying they picked a Logitech product for the software though is a first. Usually Logitech hardware is pretty first rate, but then the software is as bad as the hardware is good. I was intrigued by the idea of being able to transfer files using the Logitech hardware. I don't have two computers right now, but at some point I will probably get a laptop. You happen to know how that works? Is it just a BT file transfer that will take a few days to transfer anything larger than a Word document, or how exactly does that work?

So far leaning towards the Logitech, primarily because where I live is lousy with Best Buys and I can walk into any one of them and pick up the mouse. Plus, they have a strong presence in the US, which Elecom does not, in the event I have an issue. Also looks like there are a few minor ergo related design features of the MX Ergo which would be nice to have long-term. I just really wish it didn't have a built-in battery.

I'm thinking about doing the same some time later this year. I think I'll go one of 2 routes, maybe one of them will work for you too.

1. Buy cheap trackball, take the some and sensor from there, add buttons and make a new case. I was thinking of buying Lynx-r15 or Adesso iMouse (same thing). It's cheap and not very ergonomic, but has quite good resolution and big-ish ball, should be perfect to disassemble for components.
   
   
2. Complete DIY. I'm not sure where I'll get a sensor. Probably the cheapest way would be to disassemble a cheap laser mouse, but then Y axis would have to be reversed for it to work properly. As for the buttons, these should be good enough at the beginning. These should be good enough for bearings to guarantee smooth rolling. As for the ball - probably a standard billiard ball would suffice.
   
   You can check the threads at desktority and geekhack - they seem to have started researching things. Or ask the guy at thetrackball.com

No worries man I understand took me a while to find some that I liked as well. Below is the knock off that I used. It is a little different but held the hand at pretty much the same angle as the Evoluent that I used.
https://www.amazon.com/EV-Ergonomic-Rechargeable-Adjustable-Breathing/dp/B01MQFQR71/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1506704372&sr=8-12&keywords=vertical+mouse


Also Anker has a "newly designed" one that a co worker I have uses and he loves it. It did not fit my hand however. Link for that is below. Hope this helps you find a input device you like.
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Anker-Ergonomic-Vertical-Adjustable/dp/B018LR04B8/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1506704372&sr=8-10&keywords=vertical+mouse

O man! it is so comfortable! I'm shocked no one sells anything like this yet.

Lean back in your chair and rest you arm on you chest across your heart with your trackball in hand. It feels great.

Also, sometimes just resting my arm straight down feels great. Lean a notebook or old shelf against the side of your chair and use that as a mouse surface. It is cumbersome to keep from falling but if the surface had a small hard-shell pocket to rest the mouse when typing it could be great. When using my mouse this way I find the left to right movement doesn't effect me at all. Its much easier to let all the movement happen in your arm. The only thing you are holding up is the weight of the mouse in your fingertips. Pressing the buttons is also helped by gravity.

Also, I am using this mouse which may just take getting used to. I find myself just switching hands and mice before I seem to get used to it though.

It depends on your hand. I bought two different kinds

This one

https://www.amazon.com/Handstands-55510-Beaded-Ergonomic-Cushion/dp/B001CWI0XY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=handstands&qid=1550930572&s=gateway&sr=8-3

And this one

https://www.amazon.de/wristee-Handauflage-Handgelenkauflage-Handballenauflage-ergonomisch/dp/B00795LVMK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550930629&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=wristee

The first one gives more height than i need so i am not using it all.

The second one levels my wrist completely. Its ergonomic heaven for my case at least. If your hand is small i recommend the second one. It isn't gel type but it has like beans inside i think buckwheat which feels better for my wrist. Its a try and error process until you find the one with the best results

I have mine on a keyboard tray below my desk top. I use towels underneath it to prop up the back and angle it to one side or the other. (I switch which hand uses it during the day. I draft all day on a CAD software that's almost completely mouse driven, so my keyboard doesn't actually sit on my keyboard tray most of the time.)

The other thing I do -- and this might sound weird -- I bought a NSD spinner thing to help with wrist strength (and hopefully alleviate some wrist pain too). I'm not very certain about this, but I think that using it may have helped my ability to hover my wrist over the wrist rest of the CST, rather than letting my wrist bear weight onto the device. When I started using my left hand with my CST, I had to make a point to get strong with the NSD spinner in both hands.

https://www.amazon.com/NSD-Power-Essential-Gyroscopic-Exerciser/dp/B007GGCLK8/

Also, see this guy's photos of his CST on his desk: https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/6tjv3s/replaced_my_trackpad_for_a_trackball_best/

https://puu.sh/x9v4h/d2d15f15a5.jpg

I was just browsing Amazon and came across this thumb trackball. I assume it's pretty new, never seen it before.

​

Looks a bit like an M570 but not exactly the same. Not sure if it's a rebranded item or an original Amazon design. If Amazon decide to do a finger trackball it'll be interesting.

​

It's listed as out of stock at the moment on the UK site. Price is £28.49

Link to Amazon uk

Unfortunately logitech doesn't make anything good anymore, so I recommend going back to when they did make something good. The corded version of the M570 isn't made anymore, but you can get it on amazon for about $65 used (ignore the $300 for a NIB one) and they often go on ebay or second hand store for less. I've been using the same one for at least 8 years and it's still going strong.

Here's an example of the Elecom Deft and Deft Pro. Another example: Elecom M-X and M-X Pro.

Some of the changes include:

1. Optimizing the button layout and ergonomics.
   
2. Replacing the black ball with a red ball
   
3. Three selectable connection types: wired, wireless USB, and Blutooth.
   
   In the case of the Huge Pro, it's main gain would probably be point 3.

Don't have one, but Perixx's PeriMICE-717 looked like a fairly comfortable design; German company so I'd hope quality to be reasonable, though the reviews seem rather mixed.

I had a wireless version of that elecom trackball that I got from amazon japan about a month after it was released back in 2014-15? It broke down about a year later, it also seemed to have trouble with the receiver.

I switched to the finger version of the trackball, and went with a wired this time. It's my favourite trackball right now, but it does take some getting used to if you have large hands because it's rather small compared to other trackballs. One thing to note is that I think they've updated the elecom trackball the one linked shows the model M-XT1URBK, but a search on amazon japan shows M-XT3URBK. One more thing is I believe the m570 balls will fit in either of the elecoms, I believe there were a few complaints about the stock balls not rolling nicely.

I too have given up on logitech a long time ago and went with kensington, and got a slimblade and an orbit. They both work well, but the slimblade is pricey, and the orbit lacking in buttons.

Now I've switched to buying japanese trackballs, like sanwa and elecom from amazon japan, I currently use these trackballs.
Elecom M-DT2URBK: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0171QQ7IY
Sanwa MA-TB39BK: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0042UINC6

That's part of the reason I preferred the Huge over the Deft Pro. You can try some rubber lid openers for the placement issues. Something like https://www.amazon.com/Chuangdi-Rubber-Jar-Gripper-Pads/dp/B07FLM3YSF?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001PQG1ZG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1505408159&sr=8-2&keywords=grand+kafa&dpPl=1&dpID=41mGCENb2HL&ref=plSrch



Here you go. If they ship to you.
You brew it but boiling some water, and then add 1-2 tea spoons of coffee. Let it rise and watch that it doesn't go over. Afterthat, just pour it in a cup. And drink it. :)

This year, I bought this version of the Elecom trackball to replace my old one, and it made a huge difference. The old one had a tiny white plastic bearing of some sort, but the bearings on my newer one are dark red, are bigger, and feel like they are made out of a harder material. The result is that it just rolls much smoother, and it also doesn't gunk up as quickly. I can end up going much longer without popping the ball out to clean. I usually end up doing it before even noticing a problem out of habit now.

You probably had the older one. The newer one actually doesn't have a sniper button. The physical button is there, but on the M-XT3, that button has been re-purposed to just being a bindable 6th mouse button.

I might. Will see about cost and if any others seem to work. I also have an old one - not sure of brand, but nothing like anything available now - that I found on ebay - it was a bit grotty but is working ok. Have just ordered the only other similar cheap one from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008RF863S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .

With yours, it's worked fine so far? I can't work out how to take the ball out for cleaning, if that's even possible. The buttons and wheel work, but the ball itself has stopped moving the pointer.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DE83RSC

I’ve seen this at my place of work. It does the job surprisingly well.

The silver Logitech Trackman Wheel is a pretty bulletproof unit. They can be had right now starting around $40 on ebay. I got lucky with mine, I found it at a small computer shop in town that carries older used stuff for a whopping $15. I've been using it at work for a few years with no faults (and remember, I bought it used). I also own an M570 and the ergonomics are nearly identical.

German company:

http://perixx.com/en/about.htm

On Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIMICE-717-Wireless-Programmable-Trackabll/dp/B01EV02RNM

It helps to drop a link to the device you're reviewing: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-G5W-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse/dp/B07G28NF3L

My suggestion would be the Elecom M-DT2DRBK. I have the thumb ball version, the M-XT3DRBK. Both have the same gaming quality optical sensor (1600+ DPI), synthetic ruby bearings, and multiple programmable buttons. All in all, a stellar trackball.

https://www.amazon.com/Sanwa-Wireless-Trackball-Mouse-MA-WTB43BK/dp/B00QSZXI28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467058571&sr=8-1&keywords=sanwa+trackball

https://www.amazon.com/SANWA-SUPPLY-Trackball-Mouse-MA-TB39/dp/B0042UINC6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467058571&sr=8-2&keywords=sanwa+trackball

Check out the Elecom trackballs. Prices have REALLY come down since I bought mine, I think I paid $70 or $80 for the wired version.

Amazon link for wired - $35

Amazon link for wireless version - $50

This one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELECOM-Wireless-trackball-function-M-DT2DRBK/dp/B0171QQ7FM/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504967903&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=M-DT2+elecom

Elecom Deft is my go to after using the Logitech Optical Trackman.

Elecom optical trackball [USB] (5 button Black) M-XT1URBK OR ELECOM Wireless Trackball Mouse w/5 button & tilt function Black M-XT1DRBK from Japan Seem to be near gaming quality.

GLAD YOU ASKED

In January 2016 I got a SANWA SUPPLY PC Trackball Mouse USB MA-TB39 Black, but the action on the ball wasn't very smooth and the whole thing was awkward in my hand.

In January 2017 I got an Elecom EX-G, popped in the ball from an M570, and I haven't looked back. I think the mixed reviews on this one are due to quality control issues, and I guess I lucked out. My only complaint is that holding down the right mouse button binds the scroll wheel, so it can get difficult to switch/use throwables in Far Cry games for example.