[Mongoose]

I'd love to be able to do that, but my case is down on the floor a good three or four feet away from my mousepad, so I can't really avoid using the whole cord.

[Kazan]

I'd love to be able to do that, but my case is down on the floor a good three or four feet away from my mousepad, so I can't really avoid using the whole cord.

wireless trackman wheel .. plenty of range

[Mongoose]

I won't deny that trackballs have their merits, but I think I'm more comfortable sticking with a traditional mouse.  When you've been using one type of thing for over 15 years, you kind of get stuck on it.

[LHN91]

I've had issues with Microsoft wireless mice being sketchy at best, but that may just be because I have one of their more notoriously finicky wireless sets. Personally, I like most every Logitech wireless mouse I've used, the range is good and they work consistently within that range (unlike my Microsoft set where moving the base 2-3 inches changes how well it works entirely).

In terms of wired mice, though it's a bit flatter then I personally like, a good friend of mine loves his R.A.T 3. The only issue is that it doesn't work properly in Linux without modifying the Xorg.conf file. Again, Logitech mice are generally excellent, that same friend had a Logitech G series for quite a long time, and didn't get rid of it until it started registering random clicks after having Pepsi spilt on it. I also personally happen to have a soft spot for the good, basic Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse. Basically a more well constructed, solid feeling version of an OEM mouse.

[jr2]

Never had that problem unless my batteries were about to die.  Maybe you got a lemon or a bad model.  Although I buy my keyboard and mouse separate (I do like MS keyboards as well) so maybe some of the sets are garbage.  Who knows.

They're all (all electronic devices that can be had for reasonable $$$) made in China anyways so you will get a certain percentage that just fizzle.  Return for replacement usually fixes that.

[LHN91]

Never had that problem unless my batteries were about to die.  Maybe you got a lemon or a bad model.  Although I buy my keyboard and mouse separate (I do like MS keyboards as well) so maybe some of the sets are garbage.  Who knows.

They're all (all electronic devices that can be had for reasonable $$$) made in China anyways so you will get a certain percentage that just fizzle.  Return for replacement usually fixes that.

Like I said, other people have said that they've had issues with the set I have, and besides that it's a refurbished set, and the accompanying keyboard is just as finicky. I might try swapping out for a different receiver at some point, but as I said, the set I have is my primary reason for being leery of Microsoft wireless sets. Actually, from an aesthetic and feel standpoint, I quite like the one I have, it's just a pain for any detail work/gaming.

I've just picked up many Logitech wireless sets that had been used on public computers, discarded, and left outside for several days that still worked flawlessly, which is why I generally recommend them.

[Klaustrophobia]

i used to get a tad bit of the cut in and out on my microsoft wireless.  moving the reciever from on top of the tower to the desk level with the mouse fixed that.  now for whatever reason, it doesn't mind being on top of the tower again.  i haven't had reception problems in a LONG time except when i try to use it on the edge of the range.  not bad considering this thing is over 8 years old, and really early in the technology.  the only wireless mouse i can remember seeing before this one had an antenna sticking up from the front of it.

[jr2]

Hmm, I don't like Logitech cause the wireless mouse/KB set I got (LX710) doesn't have much range, and also the F1-F12 keys are changed into little flat buttons (yuck!), and the Insert Delete Home End PgUp PgDn keys are in an odd configuration (although more and more keyboard use that config)  EDIT: Oh, and the dumb buttons on the sides get pressed when I pick up the keyboard from wherever I've set it to go get something.

[Nuke]

meh, wires throw off my speed and accuracy. trick is to find a mouse with really good battery life. and then get some batts with a high mah rating and a fast charger. figure out how long they last on a full charge, half that, and do a charge and swap cycle at that interval. charge immediately before swapping instead of after removing depleted cells from the mouse. i find that letting charged batteries sit in the charger for days at a time really ****s up their life span. having a standby mouse also helps a lot as well.

as far as keyboards go i say keep it simple. i dont like extra buttons or anything with "configuration software", after all, all you are doing is pushing buttons. i decided i didnt like wireless keyboards after my last $100 kb bit the dust. it was huge and somewhat impractical to use anywhere but on your desk. im currently using a keyboard i spend $8 for on ebay.

[jr2]

Yeah, that's one reason I like the MS mice, they last months at a time on a single AA.  However, the Logitech that I have does, too.

[Nuke]

my trouble with logitech mice is they all have the same damn design flaw. i have maybe 6 logitech mice, from the late 90s to present, ps2, usb, optical and old skool. they all have the same problem, left clickey no workie. i mean its not the keyswitch used in the mouse, its your typical high quality switch. you can take the mouse apart and press the keyswitch directly and the thing works fine. the problem is the plastic doohickey that makes contact with the keyswitch gets worn down so fast. you can usually fix this with a small blob of epoxy and a little dremel work, but its something that happens a lot with logitech's designs, even relatively modern ones. its something they should really look into.

[Fury]

I see trackballs have been mentioned, so let me get a few words in for them.

First, unlike traditional mice there are several different types of trackballs. You've probably seen a trackball that has a large central ball that you use your palm or fingers to move. These are usually used for work that requires high accuracy. Second type has a smaller ball in front and is operated by index and/or middle finger, you have button placement that resembles traditional mice. Third type has ball where your thumb is located and obviously the ball is operated by your thumb.

When Kazan mentioned Logitech Trackman series, last two types belong to the Trackman family. What Kazan missed that no Trackmans are currently produced. The only Logitech trackball that is produced now is the M570, a thumb operated trackball. I just so happen to use the M570 at home and at work. I have not used traditional mice since I got my M570's. I use the M570's for everything, including games and I'm no worse off than I used to be with old mice.

All my life I had used only regular mice, at first I really couldn't use these M570's accurately or comfortably. After a few days use I adjusted and using them started to feel more natural and comfortable. After a few weeks my accuracy was only slightly less than I used to have with regular mice. I once tried to play a game using a regular mouse and I totally sucked, I've gotten used to the M570's. A lot of people won't even give trackballs a chance because it's not what they've gotten used to. I was very skeptical at first, but now I couldn't go back. Hell, I don't even want to.

I'd argue that my M570's are more accurate than any Logitech and Razer mice I used before. And best of all, I don't need to move my hand or wrist around to move the cursor. That is a significant amount of strain off from my hand and particularly wrist. Instead you use your thumb to move the ball. It's more comfortable even. The M570 is wireless but batteries can last well over a year, true story.

Like with usual Logitech mice, you can use Logitech software/drivers if you want to. But it's not necessary and I actually prefer to use without. The Logitech software uses its own cursor acceleration methods even if you set it to use Windows standard and I hate Logitech's cursor acceleration. I much prefer to use Windows' own "enhanced pointer precision" with mice and trackballs alike.

So my suggestion would to try out the M570 for two weeks. If you can't get used to it, then so be it. But if you do, you might never want to use traditional mice again. If you do get M570 or any other thumb-operated trackball, my suggestion would be to pay attention how you place your thumb on the ball. I've found that for me that best position is to keep the ball under the joint. Trying to control the ball with tip of your thumb doesn't work, at least for me.

Right, so I've only given praise for the M570, anything bad about it? Well yes there is. Remember the mice before they became optical? They had balls underside that accumulated crap over time and you had to clean them and the chassis every now and then to keep movement smooth. Same applies here too. You gotta keep the ball and its chassis clean, otherwise accumulated dirt will hamper movement of the ball.

http://www.logitech.com/en-roeu/mice-pointers/trackballs/devices/7365

[jr2]

Don't they have an optical version of that mouse that has dots in the trackball and an optical tracking system to detect movement?  Or maybe it was someone else that developed that, but I think I remember something like  that.

EDIT: They've got it, but they haven't seen fit to do one that has the ball on the side; the trackballs I can see that are optical are only on the front (where the left/right click are).   http://www.logitech.com/en-us/mice-pointers/trackballs

[Fury]

You probably mean the M600. http://www.logitech.com/en-roeu/mice-pointers/mice/devices/9480

Edit: I see what you mean. The M570 uses laser sensor, not optical. But dirt still affects movement of the ball itself.

[CommanderDJ]

I agree with everything Fury said. I've been using the M570 for about half a year now and haven't looked back. The ability to just lean back on my chair and put my feet up when I'm watching a movie or browsing while resting my mouse in my lap is awesome. The battery life is brilliant, I haven't had to change the battery yet (the box claims 18 months, and I've only been using it for about 6). I've packed the wireless receiver into the mouse and taken it with me to uni when I've had to do work there for several hours. It took me a day or two to get used to it, but once I did the benefits were obvious.

[Nuke]

trackballs have their place. im sure anyone who does a lot of cad would definitely have one on their desk. im a fan of the big honking trackball. as opposed to the little finger/thumb balls. a big ball has some serious inertia, so you can set the thing to be really sensitive, but it might take forever to cross your screen, but give it a good spin and it will get there in no time.

[jr2]

* jr2 wonders about dual-wielding an M570 + MS optical laser mouse in FS...

(Have the sensitivity for the mouse off the charts; then you use regular mouse for flying and trackball for aiming.)

Hmm... I wonder if PPJoy or similar could set up one mouse device as a 'joystick', sort of like the mousejoy script, and have another mouse as regular mouse...

[Fury]

trackballs have their place. im sure anyone who does a lot of cad would definitely have one on their desk

More than that really. M570 has replaced traditional mice in everything I used to use a mice for.

[pecenipicek]

Logitech G400

I swear by it. If you loved the mx518, you'll love this.

(the only reason i didnt get a mx518 was that no retailers here carried it anymore)

[TwentyPercentCooler]

Wow, a lot more support for trackballs in here than I thought. I've never actually seen someone else use one, besides an RL best friend of mine that I've known for going on 15 years now and is something of a kindred spirit in most ways. I wouldn't mind using one again, if my laptop had a PS/2 port. I know I can get a converter, but I'm lazy. They're pretty darn great, though. And the one I have has lasted for just about forever.