Why are trackball mouse so expensive

To remove the ball, you need to shove a thin stick such as a pen through a hole underneath the device. As with the Expert Mouse, you should do this every couple of weeks to clear out dead-skin bits and other gunk. The Ergo M has five buttons, three of which are programmable, as well as one non-programmable button on the bottom to switch between connecting with Bluetooth or the USB dongle. Like every other trackball we tested, the Ergo M lacks fast scrolling.

Made of molded hard plastic with a section on the bottom right molded to fit a pinky, the Ergo M is comfortable to hold, and in my tests all the buttons were easy to reach. At a weight of g, the Ergo M is heavy enough not to slide around on a desk during use. You can connect the Ergo M to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth or a Logitech Unifying dongle; using a button on the bottom of the Ergo M, you can swap between the computers.

This problem is typically covered by the warranty, so if you encounter it, contact Logitech for a replacement. One Wirecutter editor, who has owned three Kensington Expert Mouse trackballs over the past decade, notes that the wireless one she bought a year ago has a much smoother scroll ring than previous, wired versions did. Though the battery life has been unremarkable—and slightly better when the trackball is using rechargeables —the Bluetooth tends to cut out for a few seconds every other week or so.

Another staffer and trackball devotee has been using our budget finger-operated pick, the Kensington Orbit Trackball Mouse with Scroll Ring, comfortably and without problems, even when gaming.

To fix the issue, instead of using the built-in Mission Control option in Logitech Options, we had to select a keystroke through System Preferences F12 in our case and then bind the button to that function in Logitech Options. In a survey published by trackball maker Kensington, respondents listed their top three reasons for switching to a trackball: speed and accuracy, ergonomics, and a lack of mouse space. Trackballs can be useful for people with a repetitive strain injury in their shoulder or wrist because using one of these devices requires different muscles than using a mouse.

Trackballs come in two variations: finger-operated and thumb-operated. Finger-operated trackballs place the ball in the center, so you can use them right- or left-handed. And they often have a larger ball, which makes it easier to fling the cursor across a larger space, such as on a 4K monitor or across multiple monitors. And many people have used thumb-operated trackballs for years or even decades with no problems. He told us that making larger pointer movements with the entire arm and making smaller movements by rotating the arm and wrist instead of bending the wrist helped him avoid hand and wrist pain.

But RSI is dependent on the type of work you do and your desk setup. In the Kensington survey, participants who used trackballs over mice said they found them easier to control for accurate movements. We found trackballs more precise than trackpads and more usable for design work or anything else that required accuracy.

We then used each contender for at least eight hours of work before eliminating models that were awkward to use, suffered from build-quality issues, or had confusing software. Then we used the remaining trackballs for several days of work, paying attention to the build quality, accuracy, and general comfort.

Depending on your needs, the tilted angle of the MX Ergo may be more comfortable than the neutral position of the M The Kensington Expert Mouse Wired Trackball is nearly identical to our finger-operated pick, the wireless Expert Mouse, aside from its wired connection and different colors. Our tester experienced the same problems noted in a number of Amazon reviews, namely connection issues and erratic tracking. We encountered issues with the left-click working reliably, and the forward and back buttons felt awkwardly placed.

If the tilt is comfortable for you, it might be worth dealing with the quirks. Although the Logitech TrackMan Marble lacks a scroll wheel or ring, it has buttons for paging up and down. The TrackMan Marble bears a shape similar to that of the Kensington Orbit with Scroll Ring, but the button placement makes accidentally hitting the page-up and page-down buttons too easy; even after a few days of use, we never got comfortable with that placement. Thorin Klosowski is the editor of privacy and security topics at Wirecutter.

He has been writing about technology for over a decade, with an emphasis on learning by doing—which is to say, breaking things as often as possible to see how they work. The best trackball mouse can make a difference, primarily if you work on a computer all day or play games. People who want high-level precision with their pointing device should go for a trackball instead of a regular mouse.

A trackball has the ball on the top, so you move the ball with your finger or thumb. The humble mouse and trackball mouse, in particular, has seen a lot of changes over the years. Now, you can find some advanced models that come at a price. However, there are affordable options as well for your pointing device needs. Most people go for mouse trackballs for their accuracy, especially in CAD. This trackball has an ambidextrous design so that you can use it with either of your hands.

The four buttons on it can be customized. For scrolling, it features a scroll ring with a textured surface. The ball is 55 mm in diameter and moves pretty smoothly. You can easily remove it to clean out all the dirt accumulated on and underneath the ball. The device itself has an ergonomic design, but for even more comfort, they have added a detachable wrist rest.

As for connectivity, this wireless trackball uses BT4. The Logitech MX Ergo combines quality and comfort in a device that you use every day. Its convenience and useability make it ideal for someone who needs pointing and clicking solution for everyday work. The wireless trackball comes with a rechargeable battery, which, once charged, gives you 70 good days of use the company says four months.

As for buttons and customization, the MX Ergo features eight buttons that can all be configured according to your needs through the Options software. The sensitivity is very high, which comes in handy when dealing with very little pixel graphic work. However, it delivers precision and performance nicely.

You also have optical sensor technology that gives a degree tilt for added comfort. The non-programmable button at the top is for switching between paired PCs. With the best design that accommodates most natural movements, the Logitech MX Ergo is perfect for anyone looking to increase their overall productivity working on a computer. It has a flatter shape and overall similar design to a traditional mouse, so it is easy.

For those who have never used a trackball before, this model may be a good option break-in. The 40 mm finger-operated ball moves slightly slower than higher-end models on this list, but it does a decent job. You can use it in a multi-monitor setting quickly, although you may have to increase sensitivity a bit. The scroll ring is easy to use and replaces the traditional scroll wheel on a conventional mouse. The optical sensor provides precise movements, making it an accurate trackball option, albeit at a relatively lower price.

This one only has two buttons, but they are programmable through the Trackball Works software. The controls and the trackball itself is relatively more prominent, so it might take some time to get used to it. It comes with a detachable wrist rest, which comes in handy because it lacks a steeper slope.

This two-button trackball is suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users. You have both Bluetooth and 2. This trackball offers high sensitivity ranging from dpi to dpi. This thanks in part to its high-quality optical sensor that precisely detects motion. You can change sensitivity with the DPI controller.

It comes with eight programmable buttons, which you can set according to your specific needs. In the case of the M a trackball that will constantly be referenced , you get a strong 2. Trackballs are about solving problems, so they are also well-designed to prevent and solve problems that are evident in regular mice.

When you pay more for a premium trackball, you are getting improved build quality, smoothness, added comfort like integrated wrist-rests , and customization in the form of adjustable angles and functionality-buttons.

If you choose to use your thumb, your best choice is to get a side-mounted trackball meant for your thumb. Side-mounts typically also have a more traditional layout of buttons, so you may feel more familiar with a thumb-ball than a top-mount trackball.

You may find it difficult at first to get used to a thumb-ball, especially if you have smaller hands, due to limited range of motion. You should choose a top-mounted ball if you would prefer to use your fingers or other methods to control the trackball. Top-mounts may feel more intuitive to you if you are familiar with using trackpads, joysticks, and touch-screen devices. For more info on thumb vs finger trackballs, check out this article. Larger diameter trackballs mean a greater range of motion required to rotate the globe and move the cursor, but also means more precision and control over a thumb-ball.

Bigger mean more control for you because greater surface area and diameter allows you to make movements less suddenly. A smaller ball is typically meant for use with thumbs, but some top-mount one-finger trackballs also use smaller sizes. Your thumb will have better control over a small trackball because your thumb has greater range of motion and strength than your index finger. Smaller balls have less surface area, and thus a smaller movement warrants a greater change in position.

Ergonomic and Ambidextrous designs each have their benefits and disadvantages, and define comfort in different ways. Ergonomic trackballs tend to be much better at giving you natural hand positions and maximize the usage of your digits. With a more traditional button layout and ergonomic design, you are still able to choose your grip style as you would a normal mouse. Palm grip is still preferred, though. By reducing your angle of pronation, and bringing your hand position closer to normal, ergonomic trackballs look to reduce wrist pain and the dangers of RSI and long-term computer use.

No hands? Want to use your feet? Wireless connectivity, and more importantly fast wireless, is usually a premium feature at a premium cost in gaming mice. This is not the case with trackballs. From cheaper trackballs to more expensive options, you have wired and wireless options at every price point. Of course as with all wired peripherals, you are more limited in your placement and reach, being tethered to your device. You also have to deal with more cable management.

You can always find a way to hide or personalize your cables though. While Bluetooth is of course an acceptable option, the Big 3 tend to roll with fast 2. A few premium trackball models even offer dual-mode wireless, and some like the Elecom Deft Pro offer all 3 options in one device, so you never have to choose or worry about running out of power. If your hand is on the smaller or larger end of the spectrum, you may find that some trackballs require too much range of motion or awkward ergonomics.

Ergonomic fingerballs and top-mounted trackballs may be a better choice for you as they allow for greater range of motion and usage options. Some thumb-balls may offer too little range of motion, or that the size and shape is too restricting. Some hands may even overshoot intended buttons, forcing you to be more mindful of your dexterity. Your hand will not be moving the sensor, so you are also not required to grip a trackball like you would a traditional mouse.

If your hand will be resting in a certain shape for extended periods of time, it should be supported in a natural curved position. Support is especially important for larger hands, as smaller mice may cause your hand to cramp or hold unnatural, uncomfortable positions that may lead to strain or injury in the future.

Being able to go vertical sometimes can help your longevity, but not all trackballs give you the option. Trackballs are stationary by default, so ballers everywhere have found affordable ways around this.

Trackball users hacks for this include cutting your own foam wedges, using doorstops, and even 3-D printing for DIY angle adjustments.

So far we have been talking about the big balls. What about the little balls? Those are important too! The material that your ball bearings are made of are a huge factor when it comes to smoothness and friction-free flow.

While some trackballs have bearings that make the trackball feel weightless and easy, others may cause the trackball to feel rough and difficult to move.