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From: rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Has anyone tried out the new laptop-oriented trackballs?
Message-ID: <1991Apr19.163656.29665@watson.ibm.com>
Date: 19 Apr 91 16:36:56 GMT
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In <1051@crl.LABS.TEK.COM> ellis@daffodil.LABS.TEK.COM (Cynthia Ellis ) writes:
> A variety of magazines have had mini-reviews about the new laptop-
> oriented trackballs. The reviews I have seen have been about
> Microsoft's BallPoint, Logitech's new product (I can't remember the
> name right now), and a product called "Thumbelina".
>
> Compaq is giving away a BallPoint with each new laptop/notebook
> sold between now and June 30, but I've checked with three different
> authorized Compaq dealers, and none of them has a BallPoint to
> demo.
>
> Has anyone out there in the great net world had a chance to use
> any of these new products?

I heard from someone who tried the Microsoft Ballpoint and they seemed to
like it. I have one on order, but the scheduled ship date is not until
the middle of next month. According to Microsoft, they sent the entire
first shipment to Compaq! Based on what I have seen, the Microsoft looks
to be the best of the bunch, at least for me.

The Logitech model won't be available until June, according to their
announcement. I have not seem Thumbelina, but it doesn't look all that
interesting to me.

For what it's worth, IBM announced a similar box with the L40 laptop.
It's novel in that you can use it as either a trackball or a mouse by
just turning it over.  Unfortunately, it's mouse port only, not serial,
so it will be of limited usefulness on most laptops.

Isn't it too bad that given the obvious need for a product of this sort,
the industry had to wait until one company announced a model so the
others could then come out with a me-too variety?

-- Bill
rubin@watson.ibm.com