Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!romp!auschs!d75!sabre!robin
From: robin@sabre.uucp (Robin D. Wilson/1000000)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: AmTRAC Amiga TRACKBALL
Keywords: TRAKCBALL HARDWARE AMTRAC INPUT DEVICE GRAPICS
Message-ID: <2820@d75.UUCP>
Date: 8 Nov 89 18:55:18 GMT
References: <1980@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> <2845@convex.UUCP>
Sender: news@d75.UUCP
Reply-To: robin@reed.UUCP (Robin D. Wilson/1000000)
Organization: IBM AWD, Austin, TX
Lines: 37

>In article <1980@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> swan@jolnet.UUCP (Joel Swan) writes:
>>AmTRAC has three buttons located directly above the trackball, with left
>>and right buttons performing tha same functions as the two buttons found

In article <2845@convex.UUCP> swarren@convex.COM (Steve Warren) writes:
>Why do they keep coming out with trackballs that have the buttons up top?


I personally would rather have the bottons on top.  I am much better able to 
move a trackball with my thumb and palm, than I am with my fingers (my fingers
tire easily :-) ).  Also, I completely disagree with the assertion that the
shift-lock mouse button is a workaround for a bad design.  EVEN IF the buttons
are on the bottom, the shift-mouse is a good idea, because it is naturally 
more difficult to hold down a button while moving the ball.

For the best design, one would have a user configurable trackball, maybe with
a 360 degree rotatable socket for the ball; so you could rotate the socket 180
degrees if you wanted to switch the position of the bottons to the bottom or
top (depending on the default), or 90 degrees if you want them on the side, 
or 45 degress... never mind.   (Okay, I was getting excited already!)


I do; however, agree with the fact that the bottons should have a "good" feel.
They shouldn't be spongey, wobbley, loose, or stiff, OR HARD TO PUSH!!.  But
they should probably have a noticable click (not neccessarily audible) so 
that you can feel them going down.  

I'm ready to buy one right now.  Anybody want to build it??

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