/r/Trackballs

Photograph via snooOG

A place to discuss the weird and wonderful world of that rodent alternative, the TRACKBALL!

Trackball Wiki

See tab up above or click

http://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/wiki/index

Be sure to check out our sister peripheral input subreddits: /r/keyboard, /r/MechanicalKeyboards, /r/MouseReview, and /r/CatsOnKeyboards

/r/Trackballs

20,627 Subscribers

1

Windows PC keyboard shortcut to reinitialize Mouse Buttons

This keyboard shortcut has been around for a long time. I'm not sure where I found this shortcut listed, but I'm sure this went back to at least Windows NT Sometimes a misbehaving program will switch mouse buttons.

If your mouse buttons get "Switched" right for left, press all 6 keys simultaneously.

Left-Ctrl Left-Alt Left-Shift Right-Ctrl Right-Alt Right-Shift

This will reinitialize the button layout to normal. Does anyone know how to create a utility to perform this keyboard shortcut as it is hard to press these keys on a full size let alone a laptop where not all keys are present?

0 Comments
2024/11/01
22:00 UTC

7

My M570 died; suggestions please?

Well technically I killed it after taking it apart (due to double-clicking issues) and messing up the gold leaves.

I've had this mouse for a good 3-4 years (3 years of heavy use). Even got a hard cover for it (I bring it everywhere). Am looking for a good replacement, preferably upgrade, for my beloved trackball mouse.

The consensus seems to be that M575 is a direct upgrade. For people who've used both, is it really an upgrade? Will the M575 fit into the hard cover I've gotten for my M570? Or are there other suggestions for that I can consider? Am not opposed to trying out new things.

Where could I get a different colored trackball? I really like green but the balls that come with seems to be only blue :(

13 Comments
2024/11/01
04:05 UTC

11

Best way to clean this?

13 Comments
2024/10/31
20:38 UTC

15

Protoarc EM03 CASE

Hey guys! I just bought my new trackball, it is a Protoarc EM03 ,(index trackball) but now I have a HUGE problem: Where can I get a case for this?

I found one for my EM01 thru AliExpress some weeks ago but with this one there is no case anywhere :(

Do you know some place where I could buy it?

Thanks a lot!

4 Comments
2024/10/31
19:25 UTC

3

MX Ergo S Trackball tracking is painfully slow

Using it on a Mac, bluetooth mode. My previous M570 could traverse a 27" monitor in one swipe (on the highest setting), making it possible to get from far left to far right on two monitors, in two swipes. To get to the far right, from far left with the new trackball, it takes 7-8 swaps, again with tracking set to max.

Is this just how it is on bluetooth, or is there another setting somewhere?

9 Comments
2024/10/30
13:48 UTC

1

Recommendation: Elecom EX-G or Kensington Pro Fit

Hey! I could use some guidance!

I have(had) a Perixx PERIMOUSE-720 but the scrollwheel has broken, I wasn't a big fan of the build quality of this mouse anyway but it was alright for the price I paid!

I want to now get something which I hope will last a bit longer and am willing to spend more. I've tried both thumb and finger balls but Thumb is what I find comfortable, Finger didn't work for me!

I've narrowed it down to 3: Elecom EX-G Elecom EX-G Pro Kensington Pro Fit TB550

I have an Elecom EX-G wireless mouse (the tilted one) which I really like but the wrist movement can still cause me some discomfort so I want to get a decent trackball for everyday use.

Which would be the best recommendation out of those three? Is it worth going for the EX-G Pro over the EX-G, are they repairable?

I did some searching on this sub but it seems very split!

3 Comments
2024/10/30
09:38 UTC

0

Slimblade Pro: Wake-up time is too loooonge

5 seconds or so, Speechless. Logitech has the best wake-up time.

Can it be done by firmware update? My firmware is 4.49


I tried the wireless dongle, which is good. The Bluetooth on this is pretty subpar, even comparing to low-priced products.

11 Comments
2024/10/30
00:41 UTC

1

[vendor] One last build still availabe for 20% off at Wylderbuilds!

2 Comments
2024/10/29
17:45 UTC

1

Logi MX Ergo trackball label for remapped buttons

Is there a way to rename a button so that it tells me what it does instead of showing he "Keyboard shortcut" and the actual keys pressed?

https://preview.redd.it/ub7nbu6uypxd1.png?width=576&format=png&auto=webp&s=59efd139593e4c2cf3c363759e6b90c81a570bc8

0 Comments
2024/10/29
16:09 UTC

7

Is this supposed to be this expensive?

21 Comments
2024/10/29
14:49 UTC

0

Can it continuously scroll?

Sorry, but I have not found an example of someone setting the scroll to scroll continuously, hands off!

Please can someone describe how this can be done with the Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse.
I scroll through documents this way a lot and can't live without it. Evelyn Wood style. LOL

Answered: It's "...the middle mouse click to scroll is baked into windows". Just set a button for middle click.

And thanks for the help, serious AND funny! Wut? I'm not touchin that!

18 Comments
2024/10/29
08:05 UTC

3

LEFT Handed WIRED Trackball?

Where can I find a wired trackball mouse? I have done my own research but maybe I am missing something- so far I found only wireless- thank you

18 Comments
2024/10/28
18:06 UTC

7

scroll wheel mod - build log on my mx ergo and m575.

anyone here a fan of smooth, "stepless" scroll wheel too?

5 Comments
2024/10/28
16:50 UTC

4

Any tips to improve accuracy for someone new to trackballs?

I've just got a SlimBlade Pro, and I do really like it. I have just started at the base of the learning curve, I've been using Mouse Accuracy - Mouse Accuracy and Pointer Click Training for trying improve my accuracy, but I'd welcome any tips from more experienced people.

I have an online assessment coming up and I don't want to be hindered by slow mouse use!

9 Comments
2024/10/28
12:26 UTC

61

Because I can

4 Comments
2024/10/28
06:36 UTC

0

Because I can

Trackball’n with little 7.8” eink tablet

5 Comments
2024/10/28
04:24 UTC

7

Slim blade pro scrolling issue

Hey all! I’m having kind of a unique issue I’ve been unable to resolve- I decided to update my mouse and grabbed a Kensington Slimblade pro, and for whatever reason the scrolling goes the same direction both ways.

I initially thought it was a hardware issue and got a new one, and the same issue is here. I took a video of it- one direction scrolls down at a normal speed and the other jumps at a much quicker rate.

I’ve tried updating drivers, using the official Kensington software, and am kinda lost on what to do. I tried googling my issue and can’t seem to find anyone else who’s gone through this. I suspect my computer might be doing it, but if it is I don’t know how to fix it. Thoughts?

2 Comments
2024/10/27
22:42 UTC

20

How hard would it be to get a vintage trackball like this to work on a modern pc ?

29 Comments
2024/10/27
20:38 UTC

35

ProtoArc Vertical Trackball EM05-NL Review

I've been using the ProtoArc EM05-NL for the last few weeks and here are my thoughts as a EM01 user.

Note that ProtoArc sent me the trackball for free in exchange for an honest review. As seen in my EM01 and EM04 review, I don't hold back regarding the products' weaknesses despite receiving them for free. I'm not affiliated with ProtoArc and so I have no monetary motivation to try to sell you the trackball.

Cursor movement issue has been fixed.

I made a post a while back about some cursor movement issues I found with the EM05. I can confirm that the issue is now fixed in the EM05-NL.

The cursor movement now feels really natural. Thanks ProtoArc for addressing this issue so quickly!

What I like

Build quality

The build quality of this trackball is awesome.

It has a matte finish and it feels premium. It does feel pretty light, so if you lift it, it can feel kind of cheap in that sense, but since it's a trackball, it's will be stationary during actual use so that's not gonna be a factor.

Vertical design

The vertical design keeps my forearm at a really natural position, and not rotated to the left:

https://i.imgur.com/oaad5j2.jpeg

It might not look like a big difference from the photos, but it's a significant improvement in terms of ergonomics.

The ball

As with all the ProtoArc trackballs I own—which include EM01, EM04, EM05 (original) and EM05-NL—EM05-NL's ball is incredibly smooth. It just glides. It's way smoother than MX Ergo and M575.

ProtoArc told me no lube was used on it, so I don't know what it is.

It gets a bit less smooth after a few days, but I've been using Smitty's Glass Wax on all ProtoArc trackballs and it does a good job, though I could never get the ball to be as smooth as when it was fresh out of the box.

Some buttons & Scroll wheel

The forward and back buttons offer great tactile feedback. They are clicky with a bit of give, so it offers very solid tactile feedback, better than those on the EM01, MX Ergo and the M575. Big fan.

The scroll wheel click is even more clicky, and more “solid” feeling than the forward and back buttons. It's great.

The scroll wheel has really good quality. It doesn't suffer from the same “looseness” found in the EM01. Nothing to complain here.

Small, quality-of-life features

I like that you can pop the ball out for cleaning with a finger instead of having to use a much thinner object. It just encourages me to clean it more often.

USB-C charging port is great.

What I don't like

Ball placement

I think the vertical design is a great idea, as it works well at keeping your forearm at a neutral position.

The problem is that, to me, the ball is placed too close to the right, and as a result, when operating the ball, my thumb is really close to my index finger:

https://i.imgur.com/2RrmfsI.jpeg

The issue with this is that you now no longer have a “grip” on the trackball, and so when making clicks—especially with click-and-drag situations—your index or ring fingers are pushing the trackball to the left, and the grip pads on the bottom of the trackball are not strong enough to keep the trackball from moving.

Additionally, I feel like I have to put extra effort to keep my thumb closer to my palm because when I relax my thumb, it naturally position at a lower angle:

https://i.imgur.com/XKppmUh.jpeg

I understand that the thumb-to-index-finger distance is similar to that on the EM01. However, I feel like as I rotate my hand clockwise, my thumb naturally doesn't rotate with the rest of the hand as much. Here's a gif to show you what I mean:

https://imgur.com/a/I1ZQNlZ

To sum up, I feel like the ball should be placed a bit lower, so the user can form more of a grip to accommodate the vertical shape of the trackball.

I don't know if this will vary on an individual basis, so I feel like ProtoArc might need to do some large-scale user group testing to see what the best position for the ball is for most people.

Mushy left & right clicks

Left and right clicks are very silent and as a result, very mushy feeling. The silent click is a feature, but personally I'm not a fan. I just find myself making accidental clicks occasionally.

But also, what's the point of the silent left and right clicks when the rest of the buttons on the trackball are much louder, as mentioned above?

Final Thoughts

The EM05-NL is a great trackball, overall, and I think it does what it's supposed to do—offering you a slightly more ergonomic option than trackball shapes like the EM01, EM04, MX Ergo and M575.

My only major gripe is the ball placement, but I'm not sure if that's just me or others also feel the same way.

I would recommend giving it a try if you are interested in keep your forearm at a more neutral position!

Happy to answer any questions :)

14 Comments
2024/10/27
18:40 UTC

1

LTrac Upgrade Opinions?

Hey guys, I play a lot of FPS games using trackballs (im sure some of you probably remember me from way back on the discord server). Im getting an Ltrac soon and wanted to know your opinions on whether or not buying a pool ball would "upgrade" the sticktion. I have heard the stock ball is completely fine, but I have also heard that the pool ball is smoother. What are your thoughts on this?

21 Comments
2024/10/27
02:36 UTC

5

Tried out ProtoArc EM01, don't like it.

Wanted to go cheaper than logitech mx ergo for trying out a trackball for the first time so I tried out the EM01. I have a couple issues with it.

  1. Janky bluetooth. I couldn't connect it on my windows machine and on my linux setup it doesn't show up on the device list but seems to actually be connected.
  2. The ball seems pretty "loose", it is hard to click small buttons unless I turn the dpi way down. Then I have to spin the ball to get my cursor across the screen. It seems I would have to consistently use the dpi buttons with this mouse.

I know logitech will not the bluetooth issues but is the ball on logitech trackballs "loose"?

10 Comments
2024/10/27
01:33 UTC

1

does anyone have the Nakabayashi Digio2?

I currently have a elecom bitra and a deft. Deft is a bit big and bitra is too small, wondering if this would be a good in between size for me. Never used a thumball but I'm willing to give it a go.

4 Comments
2024/10/26
18:57 UTC

1

Brand new Protoarc EM01 stiction/sensor issue?

I'm new to trackballs and I thought I would dip my toes in by trying a cheaper option, but I'm a little disappointed because the trackball seems to be very jumpy and difficult to find precision with, which I find odd as I've read that trackballs are great for precision movements. Additionally, while researching this problem I've seen a number of people say that the EM01 is their smoothest performing trackball which is making me doubt myself.

As I mentioned, I'm new to trackballs so I've been trying to practice my accuracy and I've found it's so incredibly difficult to select words or text when moving side to side because the cursor just jumps so far. I've even started noticing that I can feel the ball move in it's housing, yet the cursor doesn't move at all on my monitor. The problem isn't as bad with vertical movements, but I have still noticed this problem in the vertical direction as well. I'm not sure if maybe that's a sensor issue? And I'm really not too sure what to expect with this being a new technology for me, but it's frankly been a little frustrating so far.

I've also seen those posts discussing how the EM01 has had housing defects, but that was supposedly taken care of months ago, so I'd be surprised to find that I got one of those old defective units so long after the fix came about. I've tried the forehead trick and using vaseline, and I've seen mention of sanding some nubs down but I don't want to do that when I might be returning this mouse with the performance I've experienced.

Any ideas on things to try or maybe something I'm doing wrong?

Thanks

2 Comments
2024/10/25
21:49 UTC

4

This 3D Print Makes the L-Trac So Much More Comfortable!

9 Comments
2024/10/25
20:54 UTC

51

I have 13 fully assembled USB C mod pcbs for the Mx Ergo ready to ship!

23 Comments
2024/10/25
19:48 UTC

1

SlimBlade Pro scrolling

Hi, Im curios about scrolling experience on slimblade, can you scroll a lot by spinning the ball a lot with one finger? Like you can do with scroll ring.

Also how are the buttons? Are they soft and easy to click? On Orbit they are little bit too stiff for my taste.

Thanks

5 Comments
2024/10/25
15:41 UTC

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