Which pointing device do you use?

[Journeyman 0]

OK I am really just curious here, but there is probably an awareness issue that needs addressing too! I started using a trackball mouse about 5 years ago when I decided I needed more precision for photo editing etc. I was apprehensive as everyone else but decided to try one out. I was already into PC games by then too and 5 years later I have never looked back! Whether it is photo editing, scrolling the Internet or playing FPS games I find the thumb trackballs I have (below) to be the most natural way to point with ease of precision and effortless in use! My wife is converted too and has difficulty now with normal mice!

There are not that many on the market and mostly now only on the Internet. My local PC stores no longer stock them. But how many people would actually buy them if they only had a chance to use one rather than being force-fed the common old ‘push around’ mouse with every PC system that’s knocked out?

As a looking around and aiming device for PC games I find that a thumb trackball kicks a normal mouse into touch every time! I guess it’s what you get used to though!  

[ran 0]

Takes a little time getting used to them but they're quite nice and I appreciate their ergonomy, we have some of those at works and some machines for particular applications.

[oneoff 0]

these days i hardly use a mouse at all.

this is my flight stick , on the left it has a built in mouse that i direct with my thumb and just before it is my left mouse button.

on the opposite side unseen is a wheel thats also a button.

i drive in lfs with it and fly in ofp with it , if i could i would probably

eat with it . hmm i wonder if that what the hook is for on the right stick lol, never knew before what it is for.

[kegetys 2]

I prefer a mouse, however for a laptop an integrated trackball is great. Too bad almost no laptops seem to have them today.

[Donnervogel 0]

Well trackballs make my hand hurt after a while (at least the ones you pictured). I stick to my mouses. I bought a laser mouse lately and it is much more precise compared to my old optical and ball mouses. So I am quite happy with it.

[Ian Malcolm 0]

I'm tablet man (Wacom Graphire3), wich isn't included in pool. Discrimination! Sadly you can control just very few games with it :P

[CameronMcDonald 146]

Used to use a trackball on ye ole laptop, now use a wireless optical mouse - whoops ass.

[JdB 151]

I'm tablet man (Wacom Graphire3), wich isn't included in pool. Discrimination! Sadly you can control just very few games with it :P

I have the Graphire 4, but of course it is not meant for all kinds of uses like the trackballs are

Unless you want to get fragged alot

I am missing the option "I use whatever is best for the type of application I am using".

I have what is probably the cheapest Logitech mouse available, and it works great (can even use it in both hands). Also I despise wireless devices, they always run out of power just when I am at peak performance

[Mr_Tea 0]

I`m using an Logitech G7 wireless Lasermouse. The only other mouse i use, is the same that oneoff discriped, the integrated "Magic Mouse".

[NeMeSiS 11]

Behold!

Well, it does what its supposed to do (mine has a line though, otherwise i would lose it). Its cheap, can be used for both hands and it doesnt have some weird sci-fi design wich hurts my hand after 30 minutes

[chipper 0]

I use a razor copperhead the best gaming mouse on the market!!

[VictorTroska 0]

Mouse man all the way..... bought Logitech MX Revolution and i love it

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

I use logitech MX1000 cordless laser mouse - I find it the most precise of all the other mices I have tried, including trackball (which I used on my old computer).

[Messiah 2]

Quote[/b] ]Question: Which pointing device do you use?

This one

but seriously, i've used alot of differnt 'mice' through the work I do, and general gaming, but the mouse i've been using for the last 2 years, and has been the most reliable and perfect for my needs is this:

http://www.claygatecomputers.co.uk/images/shop/microsoft_mouse_wh.jpg

suprised? I was - its cheap, its cheerful and it does the job. Had so many problems with logitech not working with some programs and games etc and the laser ones are overpriced for what they do. I was thinking of buying a tablet soon though... its high time i got one

[Journeyman 0]

Yea, I did not include the tablets because they are not universal pointing devices. I have a Wacom tablet but only use it for writing or fiddly line drawings.

Those of you who have tried the trackball mice, were they the thumb type or the more awkward to use marble mice which I have never got on with? These trackballs are different because they force you to use your thumb for LMB which takes a lot longer to adjust to whereas the thumb type are much similar to a normal mouse except that you use your thumb for scrolling the ball. As far as I know there are no left handed versions of these though, so if you are left handed like Placebo then you are gonna have to use the marble mouse or stick with the conventional ones! Also you need to get used to using these thumb trackballs, just like with any other device playing around with one in a PC store for a few minutes isn’t sufficient time to master one!

It looks like my wife and myself are out on a limb at the moment though, although we have no intention of reverting! I still have a conventional mouse on one of my other computers so I use both types regularly but still find the trackball more natural and actually less tiring than the conventional one!  

[Donnervogel 0]

Well I used a thumb type for a few weeks and it's not that it is tiring but it's hurting my hand after a while. It's like the bones and muscles get all tangled up inside my hand and then I get stings combined with a general "dull" pain in the hand.

I guess my hand just isn't made for this kind of movement...

Btw, whoever mentioned laser mice were expensive. I actually went to buy the cheapest optical corded mouse with more than 2 buttons I could find and it was a Microsoft Laser Gaming mouse

I simply bought it because it was the cheapest one that met my conditions and I was actually very surprised with its performance.

[PainDealer 0]

tracks are kinda good in normal use but to play games... that's a no no

[Balschoiw 0]

I use trackballs for almost 10 years now.

I am left-handed and mice are mostly produced for right-handers today.

Besides that I didn´t like the mouse-habit of collecting dust and other things. Trackball is much more easy to clean and I don´t need any space for moving the mouse.

Quote[/b] ] but to play games... that's a no no

That´s a myth.

I use Logitech trackballs for years now. In fact I don´t want to go back to a mouse ever.

This is the one I am using right now

[Baff2 0]

Cheapest available laser mouse, Å3 a pop.

If I play MMO's I go through one a month. No sense buying anything special.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Cheapest available laser mouse, Å3 a pop.

If I play MMO's I go through one a month. No sense buying anything special.

Hehe... Maybe that's because you buy that crap it only last a month ?

[Journeyman 0]

I use trackballs for almost 10 years now.

Phew! .... Reinforcements at last!  

[NeMeSiS 11]

Cheapest available laser mouse, Å3 a pop.

If I play MMO's I go through one a month. No sense buying anything special.

?

I have a 7€ mouse and it has worked for at least 3 years, do you chew on your mouse when playing MMO's?

[mr burns 132]

I am left-handed and mice are mostly produced for right-handers today.

Me too but "learned" using right hand for mouse stuff back when pc´s didn´t even need passive cooling yet...might be something like 10 years now.

And yes, i´m a mouse man

[Baff2 0]

Cheapest available laser mouse, Å3 a pop.

If I play MMO's I go through one a month. No sense buying anything special.

?

I have a 7€ mouse and it has worked for at least 3 years, do you chew on your mouse when playing MMO's?

I just constantly click so I can fight without looking, or while typing or scratching my bum. If I don't play MMO's the mice last for years/indefinitely.

I do about 2 clicks a second so after 300 hours and a couple of million clicks..... new mouse. Buggered if I'm going to buy an expensive one.

[blackdog~ 0]

I was stuck with using a trackball once and it was truly awful.

Even worse, I had one of those damn "ergonomic/natural" keyboards as well... wow... what an awful combination it was...