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From: glen@intelca.UUCP (Glen Shires)
Newsgroups: net.works
Subject: Re: Track Ball a la Centipede instead of a mouse.
Message-ID: <169@intelca.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Jan-84 19:51:04 EST
Article-I.D.: intelca.169
Posted: Fri Jan 13 19:51:04 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Jan-84 01:13:26 EST
References: <15312@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: Intel, Santa Clara, Ca.
Lines: 31

I have used a system with a track ball briefly, I believe it was a
Xerox system.  I found it very easy to work with after a brief
"getting used to" period.  It also has these advantages:

  - A trackball requires less space.
    I despise the fact that mice require
    an open area on one side of the desk just to move the mouse.
    I like to work with my papers on either side of the machine.

  - One never has to pick up the trackball and start over.
    The second thing I despise about mice is the fact that the
    open area on one side of the desk is never big enough.  This
    means that when moving the mouse a great distance, one runs
    into the machine or off the table and has to pick up the mouse
    and move it back and set it down and move it some more.  Not
    a natural motion.  Track balls of course can spin forever in
    any direction.

  - Track balls can be more reliable.
    A mouse has a long, breakable cord, and often a ball that rolls
    (and sometimes don't roll) only due to gravity and friction.
    You'll never see a mouse survive in a video arcade.  (A track ball
    could be used instead of a mouse as a locating device for a public
    terminal, such as the information terminals used in some airports).

^ ^
O O
 >
\-/   ----mellow

Glen Shires