Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!ubc-cs!uw-beaver!zephyr.ens.tek.com!crl!daffodil!ellis
From: ellis@daffodil.LABS.TEK.COM (Cynthia Ellis )
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Has anyone tried out the new laptop-oriented trackballs?
Summary: A follow-up to my query; I tried one out for myself (and liked it :-)
Message-ID: <1113@crl.LABS.TEK.COM>
Date: 20 Apr 91 00:37:16 GMT
References: <1991Apr19.163656.29665@watson.ibm.com>
Sender: news@crl.LABS.TEK.COM
Reply-To: ellis@daffodil.LABS.TEK.COM (Cynthia Ellis )
Organization: Computer Research Laboratory, Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton OR
Lines: 54

In article <1991Apr19.163656.29665@watson.ibm.com> rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin) writes:
>In <1051@crl.LABS.TEK.COM> ellis@daffodil.LABS.TEK.COM (Cynthia Ellis ) writes:
>> 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.

My SO finally found an authorized Compaq dealer who had a demo BallPoint
unit. He and the salesperson had some trouble with the keyboard attachment.
I went there today and (maybe because I have more experience with the
SLT keyboard? or because I chased the salesperson away?) popped the same 
BallPoint on the side of the same keyboard quite easily and proceeded to 
play SimCity using it. The keyboard attachment was solid and actually very 
secure-feeling; I was pleasantly surprised.

The BallPoint is approximately the same size and shape as the "top half" of 
a Microsoft mouse. There are four buttons on the thing, so the same unit
can be used either left or right handed. The buttons are a little bit
close to each other, but I think one would get used to this quickly.
I had never used a trackball before, so I wasn't sure what to expect,
but I found using it quite natural after a couple of minutes (I'd need
more practice to be accurate, however). It's a very different feeling
than using a mouse!

I, like Bill, can't find anyone to sell me one of these marvelous
little toys. Various stores are willing to put it on order for me
but tell me to expect to wait until at least the end of the month
before the order even goes in. Argh! And they are expensive - the
best price I can find locally is $125 (compared to a best local
price of $70 for a MouseMan).

>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.

I'm so thrilled by my new serial MouseMan from Logitech that I may wait 
for the Logitech offering (since I can't get immediate gratification by
buying a BallPoint now anyway), to compare prices and features. I was a 
die-hard Microsoft mouse user until the MouseMan came along. But I agree 
with Bill, from the pictures and descriptions, the BallPoint seems like 
the best, and I sure liked the size and feel of using it. I would buy one
now if I could get anyone to sell one to me.

I'd enjoy reading other people's impressions of the BallPoint, and 
would especially appreciate any first- or second-hand reviews of the
Logitech Portable Trackman. (I agree with Bill that the Thumbelina
doesn't look appealing, at least from its pictures - the ball is too small.)


Cindy