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From: rock@warp.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill Petro)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Trackball
Message-ID: <7746@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 91 21:10:08 GMT
References: <89.27AB6128@busker.fidonet.org> <1027@eplunix.UUCP>
Sender: news@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM
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mrn@eplunix.UUCP (Mark R. Nilsen) writes:

>in article <89.27AB6128@busker.fidonet.org>, Mark.Hollingsworth@f1.n354.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mark Hollingsworth) says:
>> 
>>>> 
>>     Hi, I have a friend who wants advice on a trackball. He just purchased a
>> Mac Classic, and he has a disability from WW II  , which makes it hard for him
>> to move his hand and click with the mouse. So, I suggested a trackball, and
>> am
>> wondering which is most comfortable specially for someone slightly handicapped
>> in the hand. I heard good things about the new Curtis. He would like to get
>> an

From my review on MACWORLD Expo in comp.sys.mac.misc:

-- Rats

This year saw a variety of new input devices, not just keyboards and
rodents, but some non-traditional beasts.  I have been using a
trackball on my Macintosh for about 4 years now.  I have the
Assimilation Trackball (later acquired by Kensington).  It took me a
few days to get used to it originally, but once I did, I gave up my
mouse and never went back!

Logitech

This Fremont-based company offers both a 3-button mouse and trackball.
MouseMan ($129) has a Control Panel device (cdev) that allows you to
reprogram the additional buttons for other functions in different
applications.  The TrackMan ($149) is a stationary 3-button trackball
that uses a thumb rollerball and the same button reprogramability.
This reprogramming functionality is not unique to Logitech, and is
offered by other manufacturers,  like Kensington - although the
Kensington Trackball requires dipswitch reprogramming. The Logitech
input devices are also available for Sun Microsystems computers.

What I did not see at the show was the new radio controlled mice.
Instead of an infrared device, like the one below, it uses radio waves
that can transmit up to 11 feet away.  They also will come in different
sizes.

Spark International

I asked them if they had had any problem with their name being so close
to "SPARC International."  The person at the booth had never heard of
it.  This company makes a cordless infrared mouse ($170) and trackball
($180).  The trackball seemed rather large and clumsy.

Curtis

Curtis Manufacturing Company sells a number of accessories for the
Mac.  The also produce a trackball that looks rather like a small
bathroom scale, complete with raised bumps.  It has three large buttons
that surround the ball, and offers reprogramming of the keys through a
cdev.

MicroSpeed

While MicroSpeed was not at the show, I think they are the ones to
watch.  They were picked by MacUser Magazine as Honorable Mention in
category of Best Input Device.  Although they've been in the business a
few years, their new ergonomic design and low cost could make a big
splash.  They offer a three button mouse for the Mac, Amiga, and PC.
They also will be offering their new design for Sun Microsystems
computers as well.  The design offers a slanting leading edge, rather
than the raised lip of most trackballs.  Ergonomics and workplace ease
were emphasized by a number of vendors at the show this year.  The
MicroSpeed MacTRAC trackball offers two large buttons on either side of
the ball, and one button above the ball that acts as a click-lock.
While the Macintosh is essentially a one button machine, I am looking
forward to trying this three button tool on my Sun workstation, which
uses a three-button input device.  The MicroSpeed trackball can be
obtained from many mail order companies for around $65, much less
expensively than its competitors.  One difference I notice though, is
that its ball is not set as high as some of the other new trackballs,
meaning that the range of movement is more limited (but the ball is not
going to fall out either).  The Mac Plus version does not offer any
custom Control Panel device to modify the tracking, and you must use
the Mouse cdev that Apple supplies with the Mac.


Bill "Rock" Petro - System Software Marketing  
--
     Bill Petro  {decwrl,hplabs,ucbvax}!sun!Eng!rock
"UNIX for the sake of the kingdom of heaven"  Matthew 19:12